The LGBTQ community at Syracuse University and SUNY-ESF held the first of three presentations on Wednesday as the LGBT Resource Center searches for a new assistant director.

Kaelae Shaner, the first of the three candidates to speak this week, gave a 30-minute presentation focused on fostering active outreach through a social media plan, scholarship assistance and various programming changes. About 10 people attended the forum. Two other candidates will speak on Thursday and Friday.

Shaner said the university needs to make sure students feel comfortable on campus.

“The first person you come out to is yourself,” Shaner said. “So we have to start from there as a baseline. Is someone comfortable enough to come out to themselves?”

She said SU needs to be a safe place for undergraduate students to develop their identities, as well as their professional and academic careers. She said implementing curriculum changes, establishing role models and building a sense of community can help do that.

Candidates were asked to develop a presentation describing their background as it applies to advising and supporting the LGBTQ student community, according to a sheet given to the audience. The presentations needed to articulate the developmental needs of the community and discuss a plan to develop a year-long leadership program, per the sheet. Participants were asked to assess and rate the candidate in terms of strengths and concerns.

Shaner, a transgender woman, was the president of the undergraduate Gay Straight Alliance at Penn State Brandywine and an admissions officer at Strayer University. She has also worked in student financial services.

Based on her previous experiences, she pointed to the need for LGBTQ inclusion in the classroom and across disciplines. She also said resources needed to be available for students who may be marginalized.

An inclusive admissions policy and access to financial resources are a facet of LGBTQ inclusion, she said.

“Not a lot of students within our community are aware of scholarship opportunities, financial aid opportunities … those are huge,” she said. “So I think those will be massively helpful.”

Shaner used the ADDIE model to outline her plan for a leadership program. ADDIE stands for assess, develop and design, implement and evaluating. Shaner said she’s seen success using the model with LGBTQ community members before.

This model at SU, Shaner said, would include the following:

• Identifying challenges in the campus climate
• Expanding programs already offered, such as developing an LGBT Resource Center-specific social media presence
• Launching an LGBT Resource Center app
• Fostering a sense of familial ties among the LGBTQ community on campus
• Increasing peer mentorship
• Using available resources to create active connections

This process involves constant self-evaluation, she added, and being ahead of the curve compared to the national climate.

“Our campus policies really should not wait for national policy,” she said.

The LGBT Resource Center, located at 750 Ostrom Ave., aims to serve people with marginalized genders and sexualities by offering support, building community and educating community members. Part of its mission is to create a safer campus that promotes the understanding and empowerment of people with these marginalized identities.

khristian kemp-delisser was appointed as the center’s permanent director in February. They started at SU on April 2.

In a Monday email, kemp-delisser said a strong pool of applicants was carefully screened before bringing the three candidates to SU.

The other two presentations will take place in Bird Library on Thursday and Friday, both from 11 a.m. to noon. Jorge Castillo will present on Thursday, and Carl Kalmick will present on Friday.

Published on May 9, 2018 at 4:33 pm

Contact Colleen: cefergus@syr.edu | @ColleenEFergus2