Nicholas Cicchinelli: Championing LGBTQ+ Rights Through Policy and Research

“As a financially independent student, support from the Gamma Mu Foundation has been instrumental in making my academic journey possible,” shares Nicholas Cicchinelli.

Nicholas is a proud recipient of six named scholarships from the Gamma Mu Foundation, including the Steve Lotterer Memorial Scholarship, the Gamma Mu 50th Anniversary Scholarship, and the Robin McDonald Memorial Scholarship. These awards have played a vital role in supporting his education and ambitions.

After earning his degree in Russian Studies from Wheaton College (MA), Nicholas continued his academic journey at The Fletcher School at Tufts University. During his graduate studies, he served as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Moldova and later contributed his talents to the National Endowment for Democracy in Washington, D.C. Nicholas is now pursuing a Ph.D. in international affairs at The Fletcher School, where his research is dedicated to advancing LGBTQ+ rights through scholarship and policy.

Nicholas’s graduate journey has been marked by meaningful opportunities, including a public service fellowship at the U.S. Embassy in Riga, Latvia, and a role as a Diverse Democracy Fellow at Tufts’ Tisch College. These experiences have strengthened his dedication to inclusive policy and global democratic values.

“I hope to use my research to shape public policy that empowers LGBTQ+ people everywhere to live freely and fearlessly,” Nicholas says.

Nicholas’s journey illustrates that the impact of scholarships extends beyond individual recipients. By supporting students like Nicholas, the Foundation’s scholarship programs help cultivate a new generation of leaders who, in turn, work to create positive change in their communities and beyond.

Watch his video message from 2021 below:

Bridgercare Expands Lifesaving HIV Prevention in Rural Montana

Bridgercare, a nonprofit sexual healthcare clinic in Bozeman, Montana, provides compassionate, affordable care to more than 5,500 patients each year across three rural counties in southwest Montana. As a trusted provider, Bridgercare fills critical gaps in reproductive and sexual health services for communities that often lack access to traditional healthcare.

With generous support from the Gamma Mu Foundation, Bridgercare is expanding access to PrEP and PEP—essential medications for HIV prevention and post-exposure treatment. This initiative prioritizes outreach to gay men and other men who have sex with men (MSM), who continue to face disproportionately high risks of HIV.

Nearly 80% of the clinic’s PrEP and PEP services are accessed by patients who identify as gay men. The program also serves Two-Spirit and Indigenous patients, reflecting Bridgercare’s deep commitment to inclusive, culturally responsive care for underserved populations.

“With federal funding currently on hold, Bridgercare relies on support from partners like Gamma Mu to continue offering these critical services, especially for uninsured gay men who need access to PrEP, PEP, and HIV care. Gamma Mu’s support is vital in sustaining our work in rural Montana communities that are too often overlooked,” said Stephanie McDowell, Executive Director of Bridgercare.

This grant reflects the Gamma Mu Foundation’s commitment to advancing LGBTQ+ health equity. By directing resources to where they’re needed most, the Foundation helps expand services, improve outcomes, and strengthen long-term sustainability for communities on the margins.