I am currently the Gender Issues Committee chair, and I am on the Gender Studies Minor Steering Committee, the Campus Wellness Council, and the McGregor Visiting Artist Committee at Wabash College. I am also a faculty advisor to 'shOUT, Wabash College's gay-straight alliance. Many years of collaboration with colleagues and students at a variety of institutions have helped me to identify specific opportunities for growth and innovation.

Within my first semester at Wabash College there was a clear expression from students in need of queer representation among the faculty. This was most evident as I found myself advising multiple students—some of whom were not enrolled in my classes. Students called for more explicitly queer representation and support on campus. And so I organized LGBTQ+ initiatives, including education, social events, and public displays. Not only was my exuberance met with overwhelming support, there was a clear hunger for this work. I have never felt so welcome, motivated, and fulfilled.

In October 2020, I coordinated Wabash College’s first celebration of LGBTQ+ History month with ‘shOUT, the gay-straight alliance of Wabash College. I constructed flyers to promote the event and our local histories. This was an opportunity for me to learn about the rich LGBTQ+ history of Wabash College, to raise awareness, and thus connect students and myself to an important heritage. (For example, Wabash was one of the first colleges to perform Kushner’s Angels in America, a gay fantasia; Wabash is the alma mater of Andrea James, a leading trans advocate; and Reginald Steele, a recent finalist on RuPaul’s Drag Race, who mentions his Wabash experience on the show.) With funding from the Gender Issues Committee, we planted a Pride flag display in the central mall of campus, and made additional flags available to faculty and staff to signal support.

I also organized complementary events. Collaborating with Chris French and Chris Amidon, we promoted a series of safe sex workshops with one specifically crafted for gay, bi, and questioning men. Then, paired with Derek Mong, we launched QueerRead, a social gathering that begins with a text that represents LGBTQ+ cultures, followed by a group discussion. The campus was overwhelmingly supportive and grateful for such representation, but there was some friction after a few students made disparaging comments and one faculty member publicized a rebuke steeped in homophobia. Despite our outstanding progress, especially during a global pandemic, these few negative voices hurt some of our most vulnerable students. And yet, this too was an opportunity to learn about activism, organizing, and the strength of our LGBTQ+ community. I met with current ‘shOUT students and alumni. It was endearing to see them find strength with each other. I shared my own experiences organizing with queer and Black Lives Matter activists in Pittsburgh, Kalamazoo, and Tampa. In response to these hurtful comments, gay, bi, and queer Wabash scholars spoke out. Their narratives dominated The Bachelor for weeks, and the Student Senate circulated an anti-homophobia statement promoting diversity and inclusion. Behind the scenes I responded to interview questions and provided some direction for crafting these documents. These students not only healed the wounds of homophobia, they also made this community stronger.

This energy reverberated beyond the boundaries of Wabash College, along the alumni network, strengthening those bonds between past and present students. Multiple alumni contacted me to express gratitude just for supporting the students. In conversations with notable graduates, Marc Nichols and Rob Shook, we recognized the importance of these social networks, and so in the following semester I wrote a Wabash College LGBTQ+ newsletter entitled Wabash Always Unites. These six pages provided a brief overview of our annual progress, a celebration of students’ success, and links to The Bachelor articles mentioned above, as well as additional resources and future goals. The newsletter was shared with the all students, staff, and faculty, as well as any individual affiliated with ‘shOUT via email. Once again, the response was overwhelmingly positive. I received numerous responses from graduates who recalled their experiences and shared how uplifting it is to see such representation and support on campus today. Retrospectively, this was an excellent way to commemorate ‘shOUT’s thirtieth anniversary on campus. I am proud to keep these torches burning from generation to generation of Wabash students.

And so, I am proactive in responding to the needs of students. In a public statement, ‘shOUT decries:

Beyond our queer faculty, what systemic supports are in place for queer folks on campus? Where do we belong? In the cracks between the MXI, International Center, and Detchon? Where and what can we call ours? Imagine the impact if queer students had a place to go . . . .

Once again, there was a clear need expressed by our marginalized students, and I felt compelled to respond. I drafted a proposal to identify an office space on campus that ‘shOUT could use safely after the pandemic in order to plan community events, archive the group’s progress, access disciplines such as Gender Studies, and maintain strong alumni and intercollege networks. I argue that a simple office space will provide students with a foundational resource that empowers their leadership, and thus enhances LGBTQ+ representation in our community as a clear example of the Wabash College commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Beyond individual student attention, I use my background to help shape the curriculum. In Fall of 2020, I led a workshop for faculty about incorporating queer pedagogies into the curricula. I presented the foundations of Queer Theory and directed a short exercise involving multimedia analysis that can be replicated in multiple classrooms, along with resources for other queer-inclusive lesson plans, followed by a discussion about the interdisciplinary relevance of such pedagogies at a college for men.

Moreover, I collaborate beyond the walls of the college to maintain good relationships with the community in which my institution is situated. In Florida I worked closely with local activists to raise awareness about immediate social concerns effecting trans and Communities of Color. In Pennsylvania, I coordinated public displays at the local library to promote open-access resources. Also, in Indiana, because I represent queer faculty, I provided an interview that is included in the Journal Review and I assisted with a local Pride celebration in June of 2021. I continue to coordinate with local leaders as an ally who supports diversity, equity, and social justice in our broadest social contexts.