Service to the Wider Community and World...

As a member of the Maryville College campus community since 2002, I have come to love and respect our mission and purpose. Many of the foundational beliefs and values of the institution have influenced my own personal growth and identity (and professional growth/identity). In the ways that our community embraces and celebrates all the "peoples of the world," I have been challenged to similarly embrace and celebrate those people of the world who have been marginalized, oppressed, pushed out, and served unjustly.

The importance of serving others is a lesson I learned from very wise Maryville College alums. In the early years of my tenure, a small group of courageous students fought for the equitable inclusion of a newly formed student organization--CLOSET (Campus League of Students for Equal Treatment). The student leaders, Tony Murchison and Jen Rock, made huge impressions on me as a young faculty person. I had never witnessed such focused and committed passion in fighting for the very basic rights to gather with affirming people, to explore diverse identities, and to share authentic stories of becoming whole in safe spaces. These fearless, youth leaders were doing exactly what Maryville College had inspired them to do--search for truth, to work for justice, to grow in wisdom . The resistance in some offices and spaces across campus was palatable. In the face of resistance, their resolve was steadfast and they stood firm in their beliefs. They did it with poise, grace, dignity, and reverence. I remember numerous campus and community discussions debating the "need" for a Gay Straight Alliance--although no one could speak those words! I attended almost every town hall, forum, informal session, secret meeting... I was fascinated by the strength, power, and beauty I saw in that group of students who desperately needed to be seen and needed to be. That early experience of witnessing true advocating for LGBTQ students, faculty, and staff on campus prepared me for my own journey as a committed and focused ally and advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion of LGBTQ youth, students, and their families.

My work in the LGBTQ community has included the following adventures...

• lobbying my TN legislators to consider LBGTQ-inclusive school policies

  • • • LGBTQ-inclusive Counseling bill

      • Safe Bathroom bill

      • Don't Say Gay bill

• presenting numerous workshops and trainings

  • • • Maryville College (see CV for list)

      • National Bonner Scholars Conference

      • OmniVisions Foster Parent Training

      • Safe Harbor Child Advocacy Center

      • Douglas Cherokee Education Center

      • UTK OutStanding Conference

      • National Creating Change Conference

• serving on multiple Advisory Boards

  • • • Knoxville Gay Men's Chorus

      • East TN GSA

      • GLSEN East TN/GLSEN TN

      • Foothills LGBT Center

      • TN Equality Project

• hosting and organizing many Trans Day of Remembrance ceremonies and roadside vigils

• co-founding, planning, and hosting the East TN Diversity Prom (2010-18 hosted at MC)

• advocating for and successfully influencing placement of gender neutral bathroom in renovated Anderson Hall

• co-planning Southeatern LGBTQ Youth Leadership Conference

• gifting gender neutral bathroom signs to Thaw Hall (through PFLAG Maryville)

• writing for local LGBT magazine "One4All" (over 15 monthly contributions)

• establishing and leading the first PLFAG chapter in Blount County (holding monthly, open meetings on campus w/ active MC community involvement)

Identified Strengths

• able to connect with people from various backgrounds

• effective communicator and collaborator with a large social network

• personal and professional commitment to the equitable treatment of all people

Identified Challenges

• straight ally privilege

• limited financial support to sustain future goals

• burnout

Future Goals

• continue to work with schools, community members, and other advocates to establish youth support services (educational, housing, social, mental/physical health)

• establish a scholarship at Maryville College for LGBTQ prospective students in need

• seek out opportunities to mentor and model "teaching as activism" in current roles

• continue to serve as a resource for teachers, families, work places, and faith organizations through social media venues

The focus of my service to community bleeds into and enhances the other areas examined for promotion: teaching, professional growth, advising/mentoring, and service to the College. This important work informs everything I do and has become a defining dimension of my identity. While this may be the least important promotion criteria to the institution, this work/this service will define the contributions to my community, to youth, and to the world. Serving the "peoples of the world" is a great gift.

Selected Workshops/Trainings/Presentations

Below are curated collections of articles related to my work w/ PFLAG Maryville and East TN Diversity Prom.

Photo Slideshow

Letters of Support in this area...