Consortium Members,

The Consortium Executive Board is saddened to learn of the passing of Robert “Bob” Schoenberg, one of the founding members of the Consortium of Higher Education LGBT Resource Professionals and founding Director of the University of Pennsylvania. 

Known as one of the three Pocono Parents, Bob worked with Sue Rankin and Ronni Sanlo to build what is now the Consortium. During his time with the Consortium and his local communities, he was known as someone who deeply cared about supporting others through outreach, education and advocacy. We will miss his caring words and presence in the Consortium community yet his legacy will continue in the work that we all do together. 

For members who did not have the opportunity to know Bob, our team wants to highlight a few select testimonials from fellow Consortium members that speak to how dearly he will be missed: 

Ronni Sanlo, Ed.D.

UCLA LGBT Center Director Emeritus/Retired

Professor, UCLA Masters of Education in Student Affairs/ Retired

“Many in Philadelphia know and remember Bob Schoenberg for his pioneering work in LGBT issues in town and at Penn, but his reach goes much further. Bob was one of the three Pocono Parents – with Sue Rankin and myself – who laid the foundation for what is now the Consortium of Higher Education LGBT Resource Professionals. Bob hosted the first meeting of a small group of campus directors who in 1994 wanted to connect with others for support of this new lesbian and gay (as it was called then) campus work. We met more formally at Creating Change Conference in Dallas (1994) and Detroit (1995). 

At the 1997 NASPA/ACPA conference in Chicago, we met again to consider creating a professional organization for the still-few of us doing this work. Bob and Sue and I agreed to meet at Bob’s bungalow in the Poconos – hence Pocono Parents – in the summer of 1997 to create a structure, a vision, and an identity for LGBT campus directors, and the National Consortium of Directors of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Resources in Higher Education was born (the name has sense been changed). I was the first executive director; Bob was the second, but we did this work in tandem. In 2002, Bob and Sue and I again collaborated, this time on the book Our Place on Campus: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Services and Programs in Higher Education (2002, Greenwood Press). The book focused on the transformation of college and university campuses into places of welcome and respect, where social justice prevails…exactly as Bob desired. Bob Schoenberg was a pioneer, a national activist, and a powerful voice for LGBTQ people, for students, for us.

His work will live on in the Consortium and with those who do LGBTQ work on college and university campuses. Bob was more than a colleague; he was my friend and I miss him.”

Sue R. Rankin, Ph.D.

President/Owner

Rankin & Associates Consulting, LLC

“Bob was a dear friend and colleague whose legacy is his passion and dedication in creating safe, brave campus environments for LGBTQIA and non-binary students. His scholarly work laid the foundation for campus centers across the country. His contributions to the creation of the Consortium and mentorship of young scholars in our field are immeasurable.”

Erin Cross 

Director of the University of Pennsylvania’s LGBT Center 

“Bob truly was a pioneer,” said Erin Cross, director of Penn’s LGBT Center. “He helped create the LGBTQ+ student services field, laying the foundation for the over 200 LGBTQ+ campus centers across North America. His legacy will live on through all who use their services, but especially those who are part of the Penn LGBT Center’s family. Our touchstone for LGBTQ+ issues has passed, but we will carry Bob in our hearts as we continue his fight for equity and justice.” Read more of Erins’ words and others through this article. 

Debbie Bazarsky, Ph.D. 

Director of the Boston University LGBTQIA+ Center for Faculty & Staff 

“Bob was a living legend who contributed mightily to the profession, his campus at the University of Pennsylvania, his local community of Philadelphia, and to other colleges and universities. He was cofounder of the Consortium, founding director of the second center in the country—a role he was in for 35 years, a servant leader to his core, a tenacious advocate, a fundraiser extraordinaire, and hugely successful in his work at Penn and nationally. Bob was a trailblazer and the advocacy work and support services on his campus were models that set the stage for change nationwide. Bob was incredibly generous with his time and energy, thoughtful, and kind hearted. He mentored and provided support for countless colleagues, students, and alums. Bob always had time for you, whoever you were, and he was always quick to offer his support to others to help them personally and professionally. Bob’s legacy is tremendous. His work and love for those he supported and mentored lives on in the people, organizations, and campuses he influenced during his journey. Bob will be missed. May his memory as well as his fierce commitment to and tremendous love for the LGBTQIA+ community and profession be carried forward and live on in our work, our lives, and in our hearts.”

We send our deepest condolences to all who knew Bob including his family, friends, faculty, staff and alumni of the University of Pennsylvania. Those with the available financial resources can donate to the University of Pennsylvania’s LGBT Center in Bob’s honor. 

In solidarity and with love,

Consortium Executive Board

Dear Consortium Membership,

The Consortium Executive Board is saddened to learn of the passing of a long-time Consortium member and friend, Dr. Andrew Dowe.  Andrew served as the Associate Director of the Office of LGBTQ Resources and Lecturer and Director of Undergraduate Studies in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Yale University. 

Many of you may know Andrew from Creating Change where, like many of us, he brought Yale students and attended many Consortium functions.  Andrew was deeply committed to the support, empowerment, and advancement of QTPOC communities, specifically Black folks, in research, teaching, programs, and his personal and professional practice.  This can be seen throughout his entire life’s work, including but not limited to, his recently completed dissertation, “Cruising Homophobias: Race, Gender, Sexuality and the Triangulations of Empire;” programs and events he organized through Yale University’s Office of LGBTQ Resources; and through all the students, faculty, staff, and alumni that Andrew served during his time at Yale.  You can learn more about Andrew and his impact on the Yale community in this recent article from Yale Daily News.

For members who did not have the opportunity to know Andrew, we wanted to highlight some testimonials from fellow members that speak to how special Andrew was and how dearly he will be missed:

Maria Trumpler, Director of LGBTQ Resources and Senior Lecturer in Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Yale University

“Andrew was cherished in so many ways—as a friend, a cousin, a first year roommate, a fellow grad student, a boss, a mentor and teacher—that the story of his work mentoring and supporting LGBTQ students, staff and faculty and working with me to create both the physical and community spaces of Yale's Office of LGBTQ Resources has not been told—and this group seems like the perfect audience for that.

Andrew came to Yale from a Catholic boy’s school in Florida.  He came out right away and took on leadership roles in PRISM (for queer POC) and the Coop (the umbrella LGBTQ group). He majored in African-American Studies and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.  I met him in 2007 when I was teaching the WGSS junior seminar and he impressed me with his curiosity, willingness to question accepted practices, and his joy in living.

When he returned to Yale for graduate school in 2010, he worked with me in the newly founded Office of LGBTQ Resources which provided education, outreach and advocacy for students, faculty and staff (but had no space of its own).  Undaunted, he developed programming including Queer Yoga and brunches where he fried eggs to order on a two burner stove.  He created film series with directors in person afterwards. He developed a workshop “Creating Inclusive Events” and brought campus leaders together for the Queer Leadership Roundtable each semester.

In spring of 2017, he was the associate director of the Office (accompanying an appointment as lecturer and Director of Undergraduate Studies in WGSS) and we were offered a beautiful new space—though it was dusty and unloved when we first saw it.  Andrew engaged deeply with all aspects of the design and finish process, able to imagine what would look both Yale and queer, and how our students might use the space.  I and many others treasure both the care and simple beauty of the interior design and the care and simple beauty of the community he nurtured. 

Some aspects of the way he stewarded the LGBTQ Community that were extraordinary: he knew everyone (and had patience for them all, too!), even though he faced many personal challenges at Yale, he loved the institution and wanted to work to make it better, his academic position and his student affairs position enhanced each other, his sense of color and visual style and graphic design.”

Angel Collie, Assistant Director at the Duke University Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity

“It’s hard to imagine Yale or the world without Andrew. He was one of the first people I met when I set out to connect with the Office of LGBTQ Resources. His humor, his kindness, his deep passion for love and justice drew me and so many others to him. Seeing him every year at Creating Change or anytime I made it up to New Haven was always a highlight. He was a beacon for queer and trans students, especially queer and trans students of color. My heart is with the Yale LGBTQ community, all who worked with him, and all who love him.”

 

Dr. Zaneta Rago-Craft, Advisor to the President for Diversity and Inclusion and Director of the Intercultural Center at Monmouth University

“Dr. Andrew Dowe always made those around him feel loved, listened to, and uplifted. He was an exemplary advocate, scholar, and student affairs practitioner who always made sure to center the voices and needs of those who too often navigate institutions at the margins. He was a colleague and friend.  His legacy and contributions to Yale, and in the field more broadly, will be felt for generations to come.”

 

Travis Becker, Director of the UC Santa Cruz Lionel Cantú Queer Resource Center

“The world is a better place because Andrew was here. Whenever we're all able to return to in-person conferences, I hope to find myself at Creating Change with friends and chosen family that I've come to look forward to spending precious time with; there may only be one or two nights a year where we can all actually get together like this... We'll be gathered around a bunch of tables near the bar at the hotel lobby, or dancing out at a local queer spot, and I know undoubtedly there will be a moment during that time that this loss will feel that much more profound for me, and for all of us who knew Andrew in these spaces. Andrew is sprinkled all over delightful memories like these for me over the past decade, and my life is better because of the conversations I had and memories I made with him annually. I will sincerely miss his radiant smile, warm hugs, joyous, amazing laughter, and most especially seeing those limbs waving about all over the place, dancing the night away, during our annual connections at CC. To a beautiful heart and a brilliant mind: may you rest in power, Andrew.”

 

Chris Woods, Director of the NYU LGBTQ+ Center and Outgoing Internal Coordinator

“Andrew’s bright smile, warm spirit, and joyous demeanor was infectious and drew in everyone around him.  In addition to the joy he brought to me personally, Andrew was also a deeply critical scholar and professional with a fierce commitment to centering queer and trans folks of color in all of what he was and did.  I wish we were together at Creating Change to have a drink and dance in your honor.  I will miss you, my friend, and it was an honor to know and learn from you.”

 

We send our deepest condolences to Andrew’s family and friends, as well as the students, faculty, staff, and alumni at Yale University who had the blessing to work with and know Andrew everyday.  Additionally, if you have the resources to give, there is a fundraiser by Yale community members to endow the LGBTQ Resource Center at Yale in Andrew’s name.

In Solidarity,

The Consortium Board

Dear Consortium Members,

The Consortium Executive Board would like to provide an update on the process of restructuring our Regions groups as we shift the final pieces into place. Part of the restructure included some merging and rearranging of the states and provinces making up different Regions in order to more equitably distribute membership population for Regional Representatives, as well as renaming the Region groups. In particular, we would like to direct your attention to the new structure and how the Regional Representatives have changed to match this structure and inform you of the new Facebook groups and Consortium e-lists.

The new structure is as follows:

Red Region

Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Brunswick, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont

Jxhn/J.T. Martin (they/them/theirs)

Jo Wang (they/them/theirs)

Red Region Facebook Group

Red Region E-List: [email protected] 

Orange Region

Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Washington DC

Eric Anglero (he/him/his)

Tiffany Thompson (she/her/hers)

Orange Region Facebook Group

Orange Region E-List: [email protected] 

Yellow Region

Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Ontario, South Dakota, Wisconsin

Jeff Gibson (he/him/his)

TBD - Vacancy

TBD - Vacancy

Yellow Region Facebook Group

Yellow Region E-List: [email protected] 

Green Region

Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia

Lo Denmon (they/them/theirs)

Rob Keel (he/him/his)

Tegra Myanna (they/them/theirs)

Green Region Facebook Group

Green Region E-List: [email protected] 

Blue Region

Arkansas, Arizona, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas

Andrew Herridge (he/him/his)

TBD - Vacancy

Blue Region Facebook Group

Blue Region E-List: [email protected] 

Purple Region

California, Hawaii, Nevada

Sarina Loeb (she/her/hers or they/them/theirs)

Megan M. Rush (she/her/hers or they/them/theirs)

Purple Region Facebook Group

Purple Region E-List: [email protected] 

Pink Region

Alaska, Alberta, British Columbia, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming

Debra East (she/her/hers)

Cindy Konrad (she/her/hers or they/them/theirs)

Pink Region Facebook Group

Pink Region E-List: [email protected] 

Regional Facebook pages are open to current Consortium members who live in the region in which the group indicates. To send something out over a regional listserv, just send your email to the indicated e-list using the email address associated with your Consortium membership.

For more information, including ways to contact your Regional Representatives, please visit the Regions page of our website.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to the Membership Engagement Collective.

In solidarity,

The Consortium of Higher Education LGBT Resource Professionals Executive Board

Dear Membership,

June 1st marks the beginning of Pride Month—a month of joy and celebration, taking pride in our queer and trans identities. However, this June 1st arrives during yet another collective moment of anger and uprising as Black lives are taken by white supremacy in the form of police/policing systems and other state-sanctioned violence. This June 1st brings a new month to the families and loved ones of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, Ahmaud Arbery, and so many others who go unnamed and whose lives should not be forgotten; a new month without their children, parents, siblings, friends. We intentionally want to affirm the identity and uplift the story of Tony McDade, a transgender man murdered by police in Florida last week who has been misgendered and dead-named in many reports.

The entire Executive Board of the Consortium of Higher Education LGBT Resource Professionals writes today in solidarity with our Black members, friends, and colleagues as the organizing, protesting, and uprising continues. We write today to offer support to our members who are suffering, who are carrying deep pain and deep fear, who are caring and serving with strength in their communities while holding their own grief and anger, who are moving forward as our institutions expect “business as usual.” 

In light of ongoing uprisings in response to police violence against and murders of Black people in this country and globally, we want to remind our membership that it was the Stonewall uprisings in resistance to police violence against LGBTQ+ communities, primarily against queer and trans people of color, that laid the foundation for us to celebrate what we now call Pride today. This legacy of resistance should call us all to honor, remember, and act in solidarity with Black folks in our lives, institutions, and broader communities. For those needing education to turn to—with a particular call to reading for white and non-Black POC members—here are some resources that we hope will also lessen the burden of education from our Black peers and students:

• A Timeline of Events That Led to the 2020 'Fed Up'-rising

• Anti-Racism Resources

• A Racial Justice Reading List: Benefiting The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund

• Donate to Local Bail Bonds across the Country.

• 75 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice 

In the spirit of moving beyond words and towards action, the Executive Board would like to present the following opportunities to engage and connect:

• Our organization will be hosting spaces for our Black members through our QTIBPOC Constituency Calls; more information will be sent to membership as those dates are planned. For Black members seeking immediate virtual community, please visit our Consortium QPOC Constituency Group on Facebook. 

• All upcoming constituency calls this week will center dialogue around racial justice and anti-Blackness.

• We are bringing back the Decentering Whiteness series, last offered in summer 2018. The series was successful in bringing colleagues together around how we can decenter whiteness in our practice and lives. While our intent was to continue the series on an ongoing basis, we would like to be accountable for not decentering whiteness in our own practice by not continuing. Our intention is to build a collaborative learning space and are seeking facilitators and participants—to learn more, click here. 

If there are additional ways we can offer support and engagement from our organization, please let us know at [email protected].

In solidarity,

The Consortium Executive Board