History
Key individuals and collectives throughout history have paved the way for future generations to continue to advance Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, and Asexual (LGBTQA) support and initiatives. The formal push for an administration support center at Â̾ÞÈËÊÓƵbegan in 2009 with the creation of the LGBTQ+ University Wide Task Force. Active collaboration with the Dean for Students, Counseling Center, Development, Alumni Relations, University Relations, Affirmative Action, Admissions, Women and Gender Studies, The Office of Multicultural Affairs, Career Services, the Office of Student Success, and the Grant Department strengthened our efforts.
Marijo Russell O'Grady, the Dean for Students at Â̾ÞÈËÊÓƵat the time, made our work a priority and secured a space for the LGBTQA Center in 41 Park Row. These actions enabled us to begin the work of building a center as a unified community. The first LGBTQA+ & Social Justice Center was located at 41 Park Row on the 9th floor in room 901. After a semester with only one space, it was clear that the number of students being served in the Center far surpassed the amount of space allotted. By the spring of 2012, an additional space was acquired to meet the growing demands of the Center. By the end of the year, the LGBTQA+ & Social Justice Center served over 4,000 students, held hundreds of programs, and Safe Zone Trained over 200 students, staff, and faculty on campus.
In February of 2016, under the leadership of now Sr Associate Dean for Students, Todd Smith-Bergollo, we acquired a large lounge space and several offices, along with a conference room. The Center grew from two rooms into a space that truly embodies the goals of creating an LGBTQA Student Center. Today more than 150 students visit the Center monthly to hang out, seek community, watch TV, learn about themselves, attend our discussion groups and events, and find a place to be affirmed. We continue to be the leading trainers of LGBTQA+ topics on campus and work with many campus stakeholders to ensure that LGBTQA+ students at Â̾ÞÈËÊÓƵ feel supported, safe, and affirmed.