What is your favorite VCU memory?
Taking literature classes taught by Dr. David Golumbia, who was able to bring insight and relevance to texts that I would otherwise have found unapproachable. He passed away in 2023, and I’m grateful to have had him as a professor.
What were you involved with when you were a student at VCU?
I was a member of Queer Action, an LGBTQ+ student organization that was active at the time. In my senior year, I also volunteered at the VCU radio station, WCVW, where I learned some basic audio editing skills and polished raw recordings of radio shows before uploading them to the radio station’s website. As a transfer student and a commuter, I didn’t have as many opportunities to get involved in campus life, but I have fond memories of attending VA PrideFest for the first time with other Queer Action members.
In your opinion, what is the legacy of LGBTQ+ people and efforts on VCU?
LGBTQ+ people and their allies have been a vibrant part of the VCU community for decades. And the LGBTQ+ community in Richmond is full of VCU alumni. One of my favorite things about having been a part of the VCU community for over a decade has been seeing the progress over time. For example, when I graduated with my B.A., it was perhaps the second year that VCU offered Lavender Graduation for graduating students. When I see how much the event has grown and how special it has become for students, I’m proud that I was there at the (almost) beginning and that I’ve had opportunities to help plan the event as a VCU employee. I'’m also happy that students today have some resources that I didn't have as an undergrad, such as being able to list their name of use on their university profile and university ID without legally changing their name.