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

For me, being queer has to do with defining my self outside of the expectations that society might otherwise place on my identity OR its expression. It's not always an easy fit, but I am consistently astounded by the network of support that my queer friends and colleagues create for me. As it is for many, family can be a difficult concept for me to grasp, but being part of the BGLTQ community is as close to feeling like I belong somewhere as I ever have. I am beyond grateful for it!

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

When I still lacked the word 'nonbinary' to describe myself, I felt as though I existed apart from everyone else around me. The simple task of existing inside of my body was an unbearable reality some days. Experimenting with my gender identity made me feel like an enormous weight just up and evaporated from where it had rested on my shoulders. With the freedom that replaced this weight, I found that any hardship I encountered at work paled in comparison to the knowledge of self that I gained. I was free to start enjoying being who I am and living a life with some approximation of personal integrity. It is this kind of freedom for self-determination that I bring into my art and into every aspect of my life including my job here.

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

I would advise myself to embrace the uncertainty of change and experimentation. Sometimes it is very difficult and even terrifying to risk making a mistake, especially with something that feels as important as figuring out who you are. It turns out that failure and success are two sides of the same coin. There is no mistake you can't recover from with the right support. Take the risks. The people who support you whether you succeed or fail are the ones you should hold onto.

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

I am happy to speak to anybody about my own journey trying to navigate the many conflicting needs of making a difference in my career, creating space for my own artistic practices, and doing it all as an outspoken nonbinary person. Although professionally there are limits to the help that I can provide, you can rely on me to find the right resource to direct you to for assistance.

What are your areas of expertise?

Working for the Harvard Box Office has given me the opportunity to work with both nationally renowned performers and student organizations here at the university. I learn just as much from both of them. I'm a person you can rely on to help an event run smoothly. I've worked front of house at a variety of film, music, and theater venues in the Boston area for almost a decade. If there a conflict while I'm working, I know how to diffuse it and I know how to do that while still advocating for my colleagues. Outside of work, I am a good writer most days and an excellent editor on the other ones. I am good at making playing a musical instrument a part of every day. I have been involved in community events from running the film section of a local underground newspaper to living in an Allston home that hosted punk shows in its basement.