Meet Our Staff

Nora Spencer, Director
nora.spencer@vanderbilt.edu

Nora Spencer has been a professional sexuality educator and advocate for more than 12 years.  In 2008 she joined Vanderbilt University to become the first director of the office of Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex Life; in 2009 her responsibilities increased to also include directorship of the Margaret Cuninggim Women’s Center. Prior to coming to Nashville, Nora was the Assistant Director for Multicultural and Diversity Affairs and the Director of LGBT Affairs at the University of Florida, from where she also earned a Master’s degree.  Previously Nora served as a Resident Director at St. Norbert College and as the Director of Education and Training for Planned Parenthood of Nebraska-Council Bluffs.  Nora holds a Bachelor’s degree in English from Creighton University.  In addition to topics of sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, human sexuality, and feminism, Nora has taught literature, creative writing, rhetoric and composition, queer theory, cultural criticism, and English as a Second Language.

*

Michael Brown, Associate Director
michael.brown@vanderbilt.edu

Before joining the staff at Vanderbilt in 2009, Michael was the Coordinator for LGBT Student Leadership and Involvement at Washington University in Saint Louis. Michael serves the National Consortium of LGBT Higher Education Resource Professionals as the organization’s treasurer. Michael graduated from Iowa State University in 2007 with a Masters in Education. In 2008 he received the Val Du Montier New Professionals Award from the American College Professionals Association’s Standing Committee for LGBT Equality.

*

T.J. Jourian, Program Coordinator
tj.jourian@vanderbilt.edu

T.J. Jourian received his MA in Student Affairs Administration with an emphasis in Multicultural Education from Michigan State University in 2006. Before coming to Vanderbilt, T.J. worked as the Residence Director of the Living/Learning Complex at the University of Vermont.  T.J. serves NASPA’s GLBT Issues Knowledge Community as the Vice Chair for Transgender Inclusion, Co-Chair Elect, and representative on the 2011 NASPA Multicultural Institute Planning Committee. As a member of the Nashville community, T.J. volunteers at and is a part of the Founding Circle of the Just Us program for LGBTQ youth at the Oasis Youth Opportunity Center. Further, he serves on the Board of the Mid-Tennessee Chapter of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN).

*

Elizabeth Gaughf, Graduate Assistant
elizabeth.m.gaughf@vanderbilt.edu

After graduating from the University of Georgia in 2010 with a BS in Psychology and certificates of Leadership Advancement and Global Leadership from the Terry College of Business, Elizabeth enrolled in Vanderbilt’s M.Ed of Higher Education Administration program. In conjunction with her studies in Peabody College at Vanderbilt, she is the graduate assistant for the LGBTQI Life Office, a graduate assistant for the NCAA recertification project, serves on the Transfer Orientation committee, a member of the Conduct Council, and a practicum student in the compliance division of Athletics.