What does identifying (or not identifying) with the BGLTQ community mean to you?

Identifying with the BGLTQ community means living my life from a standpoint of honesty and authenticity; recognizing who I am and acknowledging the deeper connection I have with other BGLTQ people. It's also meant publicly taking a stand in a society that doesn't always treat people like us fairly or kindly. And it means that I'm part of a community filled with diversity, passion, creativity, and energy.

How, if at all, has your identity shaped your academic and/or professional journey?

I'm don't know that it's consciously shaped my professional journey, but I suspect that my long (25+ years) career in academic administration is in part because a university setting has generally provided an affirming, welcoming, supportive atmosphere. I'm not sure other workplaces, especially in the 1990s, would have been quite so supportive of having an openly gay worker, unlike the universities that I've worked for.

What advice would you give to yourself when you were an undergraduate?

Come out of the closet, and connect with the appropriate student group(s)! I was an undergrad in the 1980s, and was influenced by that decade's negative stereotypes about being gay. It was incredibly stressful, trying to stay in the closet in college, and I think (in retrospect) I would have been far happier and more productive had I found "my tribe" and felt more comfortable being my true self. Undergraduate years can be filled with a lot of changes, a lot of melodrama, even without struggling with your orientation or identity. Finding people who know how you feel, who are living through similar struggles, can make all the difference. Don't wait to reach out and find them.

What support can you provide to current undergraduate BGLTQ students who are hoping to enter into your field?

Well, I studied psychology but my career is administration, so if there are any students interested in that kind of work or work environment, I'd be happy to talk. Additionally, if there are questions about interviewing for jobs, working in a diverse workplace, or navigating through college bureaucracy, I might be able to help discuss some of those issues as well.

What are your areas of expertise?

Administration, management, supervision, interpersonal communication. On a personal note, my husband is Chinese, born and raised in Hong Kong, so I'm also open for discussions about being in a mixed-race or mixed-culture relationship.