Office Of LGBTQI Life

Chris Purcell, director of Vanderbilt’s Office of LGBTQI Life since 2013, will leave the position Dec. 31 to become assistant dean of students at Chatham University in Pittsburgh. Rob Nelson, assistant director of LGBTQI Life, will serve as the interim director while a national search is conducted to fill the role, William H. Robinson, vice provost for academic advancement and executive director of the Provost’s Office for Inclusive Excellence, has announced. Read More

Vanderbilt’s Provost’s Office for Inclusive Excellence and identity centers coordinated a number of initiatives and events during the fall 2020 semester to support the university community—in particular, those members with systemically nondominant identities—amid the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing social and political unrest in the country. Read More

Vanderbilt University has launched the Gender Affirmation Toolkit to reinforce its commitment to providing a safe and inclusive working environment for all employees. The toolkit was developed in collaboration with the Office for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, Human Resources, the Equal Opportunity and Access Office, the Office of LGBTQI Life and other campus partners. Read More

Vanderbilt community members are invited to attend an online vigil in honor of International Transgender Day of Remembrance on Friday, Nov. 20. Read More

The Office for Inclusive Excellence and Identity Centers are partnering with the University Counseling Center and Center for Student Wellbeing to provide the time and space for students, postdoctoral fellows, faculty and staff to be in community with one another Nov. 2–9. Read More

"Stories of Intersex and Faith," a documentary in which five intersex people offer insight into their extraordinary challenges, will be screened online Oct. 26 with a panel discussion to follow. Read More

LGBTQI History Month—a time to come together, reflect, celebrate and educate—will be observed at Vanderbilt throughout October. Events are sponsored by the Office of LGBTQI Life in partnership with others on campus and in the community. Read More

Faculty and staff who identify as LGBTQI+ and their allies are invited to join a virtual launch party and brainstorming session of the new employee LGBTQI+ Affinity Group. The event will take place on Wednesday, Aug. 26, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. via Zoom. Read More

Read about recent faculty, staff and student awards, appointments and achievements. Read More

The Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex Life will offer its Pursuing Respect, Inclusion, Diversity and Equity training program on Thursday, June 11, via Zoom. The program is open to all Vanderbilt staff, students, faculty and postdoctoral scholars. Read More

The Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex Life has announced the recipients of its annual LGBTQI Life awards, including the Allyship in Action, Advocate of the Year, Intersectional Advocate of the Year, and Spotlight awards. Read More

In high school Andrew Brodsky wanted to become a middle school or high school science teacher. He chose Vanderbilt because of Peabody College’s top rankings, and enrolled as a secondary education and chemistry double major. But sometimes plans change. Read More

The Provost's Office for Inclusive Excellence, through its identity centers, has continued to promote academic success, cultural and professional education, and inclusivity and belonging for the Vanderbilt community throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Read More

LGBTQI Life will host Zach Stafford, co-host of the “Buzzfeed News Morning Show AM to DM,” for a moderated conversation on Saturday, Feb. 22, at 4 p.m. in Sarratt Cinema. The program is free and open to the general public. Read More

The P.R.I.D.E. (Pursuing Respect, Inclusion, Diversity and Equity) program aims to create a visible network of support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex individuals and their allies by providing an avenue through which any member of the Vanderbilt community can show their support. Read More

Vanderbilt Athletics will host the university’s first-ever Pride game on Sunday, Jan. 12, when the women’s basketball team takes on South Carolina beginning at 4 p.m. in Memorial Gym. Read More

Celebrate the beginning of the spring semester at the Welcome Back Brunch on Monday, Jan. 6, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the K.C. Potter Center. The event is hosted by the Office of LGBTQI Life. Read More

Vanderbilt community members are welcome to attend a vigil in honor of International Transgender Day of Remembrance on Nov. 20. The ceremony begins at 7 p.m. at Scarritt Bennett Center. Read More

Vanderbilt marked LGBTQI History Month in October with a series of events honoring lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex narratives and history, and by engaging community members in meaningful reflection, programming and education. Read More

Join the Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex Life at Vanderbilt in closing out LGBTQI History Month with an event at the K.C. Potter Center on Oct. 31. Read More