The University of Idaho Women’s Center has hired Julia Keleher as the LGBTQA coordinator for the center.
Keleher is moving from Minnesota State University in Mankato, where she served as the Program Advisor in the campus-based LGBT Center since 2009. Keheler has a lot of experience interacting with the LGBTQA community and among other achievements, has established and coordinated a queer peer-mentoring program. Keleher has also served as a key volunteer coordinator for Mankato’s Pridefest for two years.
Women’s Center director Heather Gasser said the University of Idaho was looking for someone with a good grasp and understanding of the LGBTQA office and the issues they face.
“We were looking for someone who has worked in a LGBTQA office before and has a good handle on addressing the issues people in the LGBTQA office face,” Gasser said. “One of our first qualifications was a master’s degree but Julia has two Master’s degrees. One in Gender and Women’s Studies and the other in Educational Leadership. She also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology so she brings a really great academic background.”
Keleher’s plans for the LGBTQA community at the UI include strengthening the already existing programs on campus and creating more inclusion.
“I believe that this position has the great potential to create great change and strive for a more inclusive environment for all students on the University of Idaho campus. I know that the Women’s Center and the LGBTQA office have already made great strides and it is my plan to continue this amazing work. This can be done by continuing the campus discussion about LGBTQA issues and creating strong collaborative relationships with other offices on the University of Idaho campus and the Moscow community,” Keleher said.
Keleher also plans to build a strong sense of community and help it thrive because she said that is of utmost priority in any organization.
Gasser included that Keleher would not be changing much in her first year, but would be getting accustomed to the LGBTQA program this year.
“The first year is usually the hardest because everyone is watching you. Julia would not be changing much this year but just adding a few tweaks to the programs we already have and getting settled into the system,” Gasser said.
Paige Davies, a graduate and member of the LGBTQA hopes that Keleher would be able to promote inclusion in the LGBTQA community on campus.
“I hope she would be able to build the bridge between queers from other races and white queers on campus because they all face different challenges and have different needs that have to be met. I also hope that allies can be more involved in the LGBTQA community,” Davies said.
Keleher is currently on a summer leave and is supposed to officially resume her position at UI on July 9.
Toluwani Adekunle can be reached at [email protected]