LGBTQIA+ Community Center

LGBTQIA+ Visibility, Education, and Advocacy

Forms and Policy Events Title IX Resources

An on-campus, safe space dedicated to advocating for the needs of LGBTQIA+ students and their allies

The Worcester State University LGBTQIA+ Resource Center works to create an open and inclusive environment for all students, faculty and staff. The center aims to affirm all sexual orientations, forms of gender expression, and gender identities through advocacy, education, and events.

Message from President Barry Maloney

As Worcester State University strives to become one of the most accepting and inclusive campuses, we launch this web site providing information and resources not just for those who identify as LGBTQ+, but for everyone.

We established the Campus Climate Committee several years ago. Survey research the group undertook uncovered that we must do more to improve the experiences of all underrepresented groups, and, especially, those who identify as LGBTQ+. The Gender Identity working group (now the LGBTQ+ Advisory group) has since revamped our policies and procedures in areas such as data collection and campus records related to gender identity, chosen name, and pronouns.

Workshops and skill building sessions were held in academic year 2018-2019 to promote awareness and facilitate implementation of those changes. I appreciate the leadership the Gender Identity working group has demonstrated in moving us forward.

From this site, you can learn about resources available to, as well as the achievements and experiences of, our LGBTQ+ students, faculty, and staff. I ask you to explore it, and to do your part to make Worcester State University one of the most welcoming and inclusive campuses.

Campus Pride Index

Campus Pride Index award icon

In the Spring of 2021, the Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Equal Opportunity, in collaboration with the LGBTQIA+ Advisory Group, participated in the Campus Pride Index initiative to evaluate the University’s current environment and review recommended changes as well as a means of measuring future progress. The Campus Pride Index is an overall indicator of institutional commitment to LGBTQ-inclusive policies, programs and practices. Worcester State University is proud to receive a Campus Pride Index score of 4.5 out of 5. For more detailed information, please visit Worcester State’s Campus Pride Index.

Chosen Name and Pronoun Forms and Policy

In a recent update to university policy, students, faculty, and staff can now designate a chosen first name, pronouns, and non-binary gender identity within our information system. Chosen name will be used on internal campus communications wherever a legal name is not necessary.

Your chosen name will be reflected throughout the university’s computer information systems (including course registration lists, OneCard, Blackboard, and email addresses), and will be the official way you will be addressed throughout your daily life in our campus community. Students who would like to update information can visit the Registrar’s Office and fill out the “Chosen Name, Gender Identity, and Pronoun Request Form.”

After the form has been processed, you can update your OneCard and email address. For email address updates, submit a help desk ticket.

Faculty and staff interested in updating their information should contact Employee Services, hr@worcester.edu

For more information about records and data collection, please see our Chosen Name and Pronoun Policy.

Out and Ally List

The Worcester State University Out and Ally list is a resource provided by the Worcester State University LGBTQIA+ Resource Center. By agreeing to be part of the Out and Ally list, you are helping to promote LGBTQIA+ awareness and visibility on campus in the community.

The Out and Ally List serves as a community engagement resource for all LGBTQIA+ students seeking guidance, academic and non-academic support. Self-identified out and proud members show a rainbow flag icon.

Faculty and Staff

Ally	Email Address	Self-Identifies	Department

Deborah Alvarez O’Neil	doneil2@worcester.edu		Director of Communications, Communications/Marketing
Jeremy Andreatta	jandreatta@worcester.edu	🏳️‍🌈	Associate Professor, Chemistry
Anne Armstrong	aarmstrong3@worcester.edu		Assistant Professor, Earth, Environment and Physics
Laxmi Bissoondial	lbissoondial@worcester.edu		Director, Office of Multicultural Affairs
Erika Briesacher	ebriesacher@worcester.edu		Professor, History and Political Science
Andrew Burkhardt	aburkhardt@worcester.edu		Assistant Professor, Department of Earth, Environment, and Physics
Casey Brown	casey.brown@worcester.edu	🏳️‍🌈	Area Coordinator, Residence Life and Housing
Tiana Carrasquillo	tcarrasquillo@worcester.edu		Associate Director of Admissions, Admissions Office
Kim Carrell	kcarrell@worcester.edu		Theatre Faculty, Visual and Performing Arts
Marina Casto	mcasto@worcester.edu		Assistant Director, Residence Life & Housing
Laura Caswell	lcaswell@worcester.edu		Assistant Director Administrative Computing, Information Technology
Darlene Danielson	ddanielson@worcester.edu		Clerk, Residence Life and Housing
Sarah Eagan	seagan@worcester.edu	🏳️‍🌈	Assistant Professor, Psychology
Mary Flibbert	mflibbert@worcester.edu		Clerk, History, Political Science & Philosophy
Kathryn Frazier	kfrazier@worcester.edu		Associate Professor, Psychology
Jenna Glazer	jglazer@worcester.edu		Associate Director, New Student Advising, Academic Success Center
Julie Glovin	jglovin@worcester.edu		Assistant Director, Counseling
Drew Goins	agoins@worcester.edu	🏳️‍🌈	Counselor, Counseling Services
Rachel Graddy	rgraddy@worcester.edu		Associate Director, Student Accessibility Services
Aleel Grennan	agrennan@worcester.edu		Associate Professor,Biology
Vicki Gruzynski	vgruzynski@worcester.edu	🏳️‍🌈	Teaching and Learning Librarian
Julie Habjan Boisselle	jboisselle@worcester.edu		Center for Teaching & Learning/Academic Affairs
Charlotte Haller	challer1@worcester.edu		Professor and Chair, Department of History and Political Science
Tiffany Hexter	thexter@worcester.edu		Academic Advisor, Academic Success Center
Bobbi Kyle	rkyle@worcester.edu		Associate Vice President, Continuing Education/ Dean, Graduate Studies
Ben McElroy	bmcelroy@worcester.edu		Coordinator, Transfer Admissions/Undergraduate Admissions Office
Riley McGuire	rmcguire@worcester.edu	🏳️‍🌈	Assistant Professor, Department of English
Sandra Medina-Vazquez	smedinavazquez@worcester.edu		Clerk IV, Department of Graduate and Continuing Education
Kym Meyer	kym.meyer@worcester.edu		Assistant professor, Communication Sciences & Disorders
Nellie Miller	nmiller5@worcester.edu	🏳️‍🌈	Receiving Teller, Student Accounts
Rita Mookerjee	rmookerjee@worcester.edu	🏳️‍🌈	Assistant Professor, Interdisciplinary Studies
Edgar Moros	emoros@worcester.edu		Director, Intensive English Language Institute
Eric Nichols	enichols@worcester.edu		Assistant Professor, Communication
Gabrielle Noe	gnoe@worcester.edu	🏳️‍🌈	Staff Assistant, Coordinator for Non-Benefited Hiring, Employee Services/Human Resources
Katey Palumbo	kpalumbo2@worcester.edu		Director, International Programs
Sarah Potrikus	spotrikus@worcester.edu		Assistant Director, Office of Student and Leadership Development
Jennifer Quinn	jquinn@worcester.edu		Assoc. Dean, Student Affairs
Nancy Ramsdell	nramsdell@worcester.edu		Director, Operations and Planning Support Services Facilities
Kathleen Rogan	krogan@worcester.edu		Early College Director, Enrollment Management
Nicole Rosa	nrosa@worcester.edu		Associate Professor, Psychology
Joan Safford	jsafford4@worcester.edu		Clerk V, Registrar’s Office
Noa Shaindlinger	nshaindlinger@worcester.edu	🏳️‍🌈	Assistant Professor, History and Political Science
Shay Shuler	sshuler@worcester.edu	🏳️‍🌈	Assistant Professor, Health Sciences
Elizabeth Siler	esiler@worcester.edu		Professor, Business Administration and Economics Department
Nafisa Tanjeem	ntanjeem@worcester.edu		Associate Professor, Department of Interdisciplinary Studies
Amanda Taylor	ataylor9@worcester.edu		Faculty, Health Sciences
Tammy Tebo	ttebo1@worcester.edu		Assistant Dean, Academic Success Center
Stephanie Teixeira	steixeira1@worcester.edu	🏳️‍🌈	Director, Military Affairs & Veteran Services; Deputy Title IX Coordinator
Lynn Thompson	lthompson6@worcester.edu		Jumpstart Site Manager, Jumpstart
Allison Vickstrom	avickstrom1@worcester.edu		Staff Assistant, Enrollment Management
Lori Williams	lwilliams1@worcester.edu		Nurse Practitioner, Student Health Services
Lois Wims	lwims@worcester.edu		Provost & Vice President

If you are interested in joining the Worcester State Out and Ally list, please click on the link below

Join the out and ally list

Training

If you would like to have a training for your group, organization, or department please reach out to LGBTQIA@worcester.edu 1 on 1 appointments to speak with an LGBTQIA+ Resource Center staff member are available at your convenience as well.

LGBTQIA+ Resources

This 30 minute training discusses all the LGBTQIA+ resources and connection points on campus.

Allyship Training

This 45 minute Allyship Training includes best support practices for the LGBTQIA+ community by learning basic terminology, key concepts, and resources.

This training is recommended before taking the Beyond the Binary training.

Beyond the Binary

Take a deeper dive with LGBTQIA+ education following the Allyship training.

Title IX & the LGBTQ+ Community

LGBTQ+ individuals are at greater risk for being victimized by acts of sexual violence and experience higher rates of gender-based and sexual discrimination. Title IX, Title VII, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), and the Worcester State University Title IX policy collectively prohibit discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression and sexual identity. Worcester State is committed to protecting people of all genders and sexual identities from harassment and discrimination as expressed in our Equal Opportunity, Diversity and Affirmative Action Plan.

If you have experienced any form of sexual violence or discrimination based on sex, gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation, please contact the Title IX Coordinator, Jennifer Quinn (jquinn@worcester.edu, 508-929-8243) to report the incident and receive any support and guidance that may be needed.
Additional Resources:
Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Equal Opportunity: diversity@worcester.edu or 508-929-8053
Bias Incident Response Team: All members of the Worcester State community who experience or witness a bias incident should immediately report the incident via the Bias Incident Reporting. All reports of bias incidents are directed to the EO Officer and/or their designee(s) and then taken to the Bias Incident Response Team (BIRT). Find out about additional reporting options.
Find out more about confidential reporting options and resources.
Worcester State University is committed to a policy of non-discrimination, equal opportunity, diversity and affirmative action, and dedicated to providing educational, working and living environments that value the diverse backgrounds of all people. Worcester State University does not discriminate in admission or access to, or treatment or employment in, its educational programs and activities on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, marital or parental status, or veteran status.
For more information or to report discrimination please contact the Office of Inclusive Excellence and Belonging.
You have the right to present your gender however you choose.
You have the right to have your correct name and pronouns respected.
You have the right to engage in romantic and intimate relationships with people of any gender.
You have the right to safety in an environment free from harassment, intimidation, or threats of harassment or intimidation.
You have the right to knowledgeable and respectful healthcare providers.
Abusers might attempt to wield control by threatening to “out” the survivor to friends, family or employers.
Fear they will not be believed if they report an incident.
Fear they will lose the support of their community.
Fear that reporting the crime to the police or local agencies will expose them to discrimination, homophobia, or gender policing.

Resources

For additional resources for LGBTQ+ faculty, staff, and students, including a list of Single-Use Restrooms, the Chosen Name Form, the Gender Inclusive Housing Policy, and much more, please visit our LGBTQ+ Resources Page. Follow us on Instagram!

LGBTQ+ Resources

Instagram

@woostatepride