LGBTQI Life Advocacy/Ally award winners announced at Lavender Celebration
Each year, the Office of LGBTQI Life awards campus community members on their allyship or advocacy efforts at their annual Lavender Celebration ceremony. This year’s recipients are Kait Spear (she/her), Dr. Richard Willis (he/him), and Professor Nancy Nolan (she/her).
2016 ADVOCACY OF THE YEAR AWARDS
The LGBTQI Life Advocacy Award is given to a person who has served the LGBTQI+ community with a passion for justice and a heart for service. This person is someone who demonstrates the characteristics of advocacy in personal and professional ways by centering intentionality, challenging systems, and providing the opportunity for all to be their most authentic selves while here at Vanderbilt University.
STUDENT RECIPIENT: KAIT SPEAR (SHE/HER/HERS)
“Kait is a visionary leader committed to inclusive institutional policy change for many underrepresented and vulnerable groups on campus, with most of her advocacy concentrated on advocacy for LGBTQIA and sexual assault survivor communities. Her leadership and advocacy has resulted in the creation of the Vanderbilt Student Government Sexual Assault Prevention Committee, which will persist beyond her tenure at this institution of higher education.” -Lauren Beach (she/her/hers)
FACULTY RECIPIENT: DR. RICHARD WILLIS (HE/HIM/HIS)
“Dr. Willis has met with Vanderbilt Student Government throughout this academic year to discuss ways in which the Faculty Senate could better partner with undergraduate students to address campus climate concerns. Among other topics, efforts towards gender inclusivity were brought up, and the idea for faculty forums was soon born. His passion for change, desire to involve all stakeholders in the decision-making process, and commitment towards equity for all has donned himself as a powerful advocate for a gender-inclusive Vanderbilt.” – Jackson Vaught (he/him/his)
2016 ALLYSHIP OF THE YEAR AWARD
The LGBTQI Life 2016 Allyship Award is given to a person who demonstrates the courage to exist in solidarity with all members of the LGBTQI+ community and with the acknowledgement that our freedoms are linked. This person should exemplify the notion of allyship as an ongoing process and should actively do their part to provide space for LGBTQI identified persons to holistically exist at Vanderbilt University.
FACULTY RECIPIENT: PROFESSOR NANCY NOLAN (SHE/HER/HERS)
“Professor Nancy Nolan models good allyship in her classes and through her work, making sure to stay updated on the most recent research and terminology. She donated time and resources to the office during our annual Out In Front conference, and folds LGBTQI+ issues into the courses she teaches. Beyond her professional allyship, she has personally worked with me through my own personal emergencies and is one of the reasons that I have been able to stay at Vanderbilt.” – Shawn Reilly (they, them, theirs)