About Us

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History

The LGBT Resource Center was formally dedicated in April of 2002. The center was a result of a concerted student initiative that was supported by faculty and the university administration, which resulted in the establishment of an office on campus permanently located within the student union. The resource center is under the umbrella of both the Office for Student Equity and Diversity and Student Affairs. The goal of the center is to provide resources, a safe environment for student interaction, and outreach programs that will educate the university community in regards to sexual orientation and gender identity. The center has a media library, study lounge, and a number of computers. Our outreach programs include the safe-zone program, speaker's bureau, and queer peers anonymous e-mailing service. The center has current working relationships with the Utah Pride Center, Equality Utah, Utah AIDS Foundation, Rape Recovery Center, and the American Red Cross. The LGBT Center also has an association with the University Union, Center for Ethnic Student Affairs, University Counseling Services, University College, Vice President for Student Affairs office, Associated Students of the University of Utah (ASUU), and the Women's Resource Center.

Currently, the LGBT Resource Center is in the process of developing student outreach programs, an expanded speaker series, and online support sources and resources. In order to accomplish these objectives, the center is working with the above mentioned organizations to develop programs encompassing the principles of diversity as a resource for all community members dealing with minority issues.

Staff

C. Kai Medina-Martinez, Center Director

 

 

Mariana Ramiro-Gomez, Graduate Assistant

Mariana is a student in the M.Ed. Education, Leadership, and Policy (ELP) program.  She coordinates the office volunteers, the 5% Mentorship Program, and the Queer Buddies Mentorship Program.  And then some. She hopes to graduate in 2014 and continue working to fight for equitable access, retention, and graduation of under-privileged and under-served students (undocumented, immigrants, queer, people of color, differently abled, etc.).  She believes education is and should be a basic human right for everyone.  If she's not on campus, Mariana could be sleeping, watching movies, hiking, playing basketball or board games. 

 

 

Valerie Velarde, Student Staff 

Valerie is currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in Psychology B.S. and Gender Studies B.S. and is the new Safe Zone coordinator at the University of Utah's LGBT Resource Center. She is a member of the Honors College and also a member of multiple honor societies across campus. She hopes to graduate in 2014 and attend graduate school for Clinical Psychology with a strong social justice background. When her nose is not buried in a textbook or a leisurely read, one can find her fist pumping at the local concerts with a handful of her closest friends. Val enjoys the night, a cup of coffee, and a good dialogue.

 

 

Lauren Jensen, Student Staff 

Lauren Jensen recently graduated with her second degree the first a B.S in Human Development and Family Studies and the second a B.S in Psychology. She is currently pursuing medical school and hopes to enter in 2014. Some other activities she enjoys include snowboarding, longboarding, the outdoors, reading, rock climbing, and sports.

 

 

Mary Hatch, Intern

Mary is a Social Work student in her final semester at Salt Lake Community College. She hopes to continue her education here at the U in the BSW program in fall of 2013, but is also applying to Weber State. She would eventually like to work in social advocacy and social policy. When she isn’t in school or at work she enjoys cliff and high diving, aerial trapeze and hoop, anything outside spontaneous and crazy! She would love to travel the world someday and meet and experience as many different cultures as possible.

 

 

AJ Johnson, Intern

AJ is a freshman in the computer engineering program at the University of Utah. He is the Alumni Development Coordinator for Spring 2013, focusing on further developing the LGBT alumni program. In his free time, AJ enjoys jamming out on guitar, playing board and video games, sketching, reading, practicing yoga, and spending time with his family and friends.

 

Advisory Board

Board Chair

• Edwin Lyons (chair), Referral Development, Public Affairs & Marketing, University of Utah Health Care
• Ryan Randall (co-chair), Behavioral Intervention Manager, Dean of Students Office, University of Utah

Voting Members

• C. Kai Medina-Martinez,  Director, LGBT Resource Center, University of Utah
• Donna Hawxhurst, Training Coordinator, Women's Resource Center, University of Utah
• Matthew Fourth Street Clinic, Salt Lake City
• Kari Dockendorff, Academic Advising Coordinator, David Eccles School of Business, University of Utah
• Chris Hoglund, AAA of Utah
• Melissa Schaefer, Associate Professor, SLCC and University of Utah
• Annie N. Christensen, Dean of Students, University of Utah
• Michelle Call, Counseling Center, Westminister College
• S. Mikiko Kumasaka, Senior Director of Transfer Programs, Student Equity and Diversity, University of Utah
• Gita Rani Mehrotra, Assistant Professor, School of Social Work, University of Utah

Ex-Oficio Members

• Octavio Villalpando, Associate Vice President for Equity and Diversity and Associate Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy
• Kari Ellingson, Associate Vice President for Student Development/Assessment
• Jennifer Williams Molock, Assistant Vice President for Student Equity and Diversity