Q. Is it possible to combine a position heading up an LGBT office or center with a faculty appointment? Are there models for this that work?

A. It is possible to combine a position as an LGBT center director with a faculty appointment; several current directors have these types of positions. No exact figures are available, but as of November 1997, when Dr. Ronni Sanlo surveyed center directors, six of the fourteen people who responded had faculty positions. Not all of these respondents were full-time center directors, however. By the 2001 salary survey conducted by David Barnett, this number had grown to only nine of the fifty-one campuses included in the sample.

There are several ways that faculty/administrative positions can be configured. In one scenario, the appointment is half-time as an administrator (i.e., Director of LGBT Resource Center) and half-time as faculty, in which case the person has dual lines of reporting and two sets of job responsibilities. Another possibility is for the appointment to be a full-time administrative one that carries with it faculty status in an academic department, often as adjunct faculty. This arrangement means that there is usually one line of reporting and one set of job responsibilities -- the administrative one. The person in the position decides when and how often to teach, and is given release time from administrative duties to do so. In some cases, she or he may be paid separately for teaching courses; in others, teaching is encouraged but is considered voluntary, and no extra compensation is paid.

If you are considering a job as an LGBT program administrator, and are also interested in teaching and/or research, pay careful attention to how the position is configured. Directing an LGBT center or office is a challenging and time-consuming job. Be sure that you will get enough support -- adequate staffing in your center or office, release time, sabbaticals if possible, adequate compensation, etc. -- to be able to teach and/or conduct research and also do the kind of job you want to do as an administrator. Be prepared to work long hours, and be sure you are willing to do that.

On the other hand, teaching can greatly enhance your effectiveness as an administrator. You will be able to reach out to students and colleagues who might never come to the lgbt center or office; those you already know will see in you an additional set of abilities/skills; your status as faculty will be higher than as staff only; and of course, if you enjoy teaching, it can be its own reward.

[This question was answered by Dr. Saralyn Chesnut, Director of Emory University's Office of Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender Life]

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