Nora Spencer has been a professional sexuality educator and advocate for more than 13 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 in English. 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.
Stephen Loveless, Program Coordinator
stephen.loveless@vanderbilt.edu
Stephen Loveless earned a M.Ed in College Student Personnel Administration in 2012, and a B.A. in Educational Studies at the University of West Florida. Since 2010, Stephen has worked as the graduate assistant in Student Transition Programs, overseeing living-learning communities for first-year students, running commuter student initiatives, and serving on the executive leadership team for Orientation and Family Programs. Stephen served as president of the Gay-Straight Alliance as an undergraduate, and has been involved in many local and national campaigns for LGBTQI equality.
Petey Peterson earned a M.Ed. in Higher Education from Iowa State in 2012, and a B.S. in Child, Adult, and Family Services & Communication Studies from Iowa State as well. For the past two years, Petey served as conference co-chair to the Midwest Bisexual Lesbian Gay Transgender Ally College Conference (attracting over 1700 students from 22 states). During this time Petey also advised the Iowa State LGBT and Ally Alliance and was a Graduate Assistant and Equity and Social Justice Educator at the Margaret Sloss Women’s Center. Petey was a NODA intern in the summer of 2011 at Macalester College, working with orientation and first-year students.
Caleb Chadwick is currently a M.Ed. candidate in Vanderbilt University’s Human Development Counseling Program. Prior to coming to Vanderbilt, Caleb earned a B.A. from the University of Georgia in 2005 and worked as a research study coordinator at the University of Washington’s AIDS Clinical Trials Unit, focusing on the long-term neurocognitive effects of HIV/AIDS and antiretroviral therapy. Caleb also worked as a drop-in center attendant at Seattle’s Lambert House, a volunteer-driven safe space dedicated to the development of leadership, social, and life skills in LGBTQI youth.
Megan Van Der Toorn, Graduate Assistant
megan.vandertoorn@vanderbilt.edu
Megan van der Toorn earned a B.A. in English with a concentration in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies from Furman University in 2011. At Furman, she served as president of the school’s LGBT student organization — increasing student engagement in LGBT issues on campus -as well as being a student representative of both Furman’s LGBT and Sexual Harassment and Rape Prevention administrative committees. Megan is currently enrolled in Vanderbilt’s M.Ed of Higher Education Administration program at Peabody College.
Terrie Barrow, Administrative Assistant
terrie.barrow@vanderbilt.edu
Terrie Barrow serves as administrative assistant for both LGBTQI Life and the Margaret Cuninggim Women’s Center. Previously she worked in the Dean of Students Office at Vanderbilt, where she was the receptionist. She has had many fascinating careers, including professional ballroom dance teacher, process technician at a chemical plant, and a professional baker and cook. Terrie is most proud of being a stay-at-home mom for ten years to her two sons, Ethan, 15, and Noah,13. She is also an active member and volunteer for Gilda’s Club Nashville. Terrie enjoys being at home with her husband Richard, kids, cats, and chickens; she and her family are interested in urban farming and living sustainably.
Nora Spencer, Director
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