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

Being out and honest with the Harvard community helps open doors of communication and trust, as well as letting students know that the AEO is a safe space for all identities. I am also committed to supporting a diverse staff and valuing individual identities. 

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

I began my career as an elementary school teacher, in a community and time in which being openly gay was not even a possibility. I realize how difficult it is to live two separate lives, professionally and personally, and how splitting in this way can cause emotional hardship. Upon entering graduate school and starting my path toward educational leadership and disability services, I made a personal vow to never hide my identity again. I have found that living authentically at work has allowed me to focus more on my professional goals and aspirations and feel like a whole person. 

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

Connect with the LGBTQ+ community, surround yourself with people who love you, and don't be afraid! 

What support or advice can you provide to current undergraduate BGLTQ students?

Higher education in itself has become a field in which diversity is a key focus, and it is (usually) safe to be out and proud. I suggest that students who are interested in educational leadership invest time in many different leadership opportunities, including those that focus on LGBTQ+ identity groups. Connect with mentors and attend conferences/professional development opportunities. There are many unique intersections of identity when it comes to disability, gender, and romantic/sexual orientation to learn about. 

Also, stop by and talk with me any time! 

What are your areas of expertise? 

- Accessibility/Disability Rights and Advocacy 
- Higher Education Policy and Leadership 
- Team building, management styles