Center for Trans and Queer Advocacy
The Center for Trans and Queer Advocacy is apart of the Division for Access, Compliance, and Engagement. You can find out more about on our divisional website: Division of Access, Compliance, and Engagement.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Center for Trans and Queer Advocacy is to create an environment where the intersectional experiences of trans and queer people are supported, celebrated, validated and affirmed.
Center for Trans and Queer Advocacy Values
Advocacy
We support trans and queer students, staff, and faculty. While gender and sexuality are foundational, our broader commitment is to create safer spaces on campus and work in solidarity to build an inclusive and equitable environment where all members feel valued and have agency over their own experience. We serve as active engaged members of our larger WCU community and work within an ethical framework to not only provide resources for those who may not have equal access, but to stay accountable to supporting underrepresented and underserved community members.
Social Justice
We are dedicated to celebrating and validating the intersections of everyone’s identities and working towards dismantling the structural inequalities that disproportionately affect communities. Through education, action, advocacy and accountability we work to uplift queer and trans people living in discriminatory conditions, so they can freely live their lives. Ultimately, we aim to work in solidarity to reimagine a globally and socially just environment.
Intersectionality
We utilize an intersectional framework as a foundation. Intersectionality is rooted in Kimberle Crenshaw’s work addressing the relationship between race and gender. Intersectionality highlights how our social identities are woven and interconnected to power structures and systemic oppression, which impacts people’s identities. To create a just campus and world, we advocate for all people.
Holistic Wellness
Holistic Wellness: We are committed to the personal and professional well-being of our WCU community. We care about the entirety of their experiences and acknowledge that prioritizing self-care within our communities is often overlooked, devalued, and neglected. We believe reclaiming self-care is an action towards self-love. We offer opportunities to deepen one’s individual sense of wellness, and encourage communal engagement in learning, development, fulfillment, and academic success.
Meet Our Team
Director
Center for Trans and Queer Advocacy
Name: Kristin English
Pronouns: She/Her
Phone Number: 610-436-3571
Email: Kenglish@wcupa.edu
Associate Director
Center for Trans and Queer Advocacy
Name: Aries Powell
Pronouns: They/Them
Phone Number: 610-436-3146
Email: Bpowell@wcupa.edu
Administrative Assistant
Center for Trans and Queer Advocacy
Name: Anthony Alford
Pronouns: He/Him
Phone Number: 610-436-3147
Email: Aalford@wcupa.edu
Chloé is a graduate student getting her masters in applied statistics with a concentration in data science. Before becoming the graduate assistant at the CTQA Chloé served as a member of the peer educator team for 3 years. In her free time you can find Chloé yapping about Dancing with the Stars.
Cassidy is your unofficial trans guidance counselor. She is working towards a Master’s degree in Social Work, and although she’s not a mental health professional yet, she’s an enthusiastic “mental health amateur.” She loves offering validation, practical life wisdom, problem-solving, and trans joy!
Meet Our Peer Educators
Laney is a third-year CRJ major at West Chester University, and it's her first year as a peer educator at the CTQA! Laney strives for advocacy in her academic pursuits, work, and personal life. She's eager for her time at the CTQA and can’t wait for all the fun events coming this year.
Dakota (he/him) is a second year Women’s and Gender Studies major. Dakota’s specific areas of interest are sex education and queer theory. During his time here, Dakota hopes to improve students’ general understanding of the queer community and to expand the campus communities’ knowledge of sex education to promote a safe and comfortable space here on campus.
Jane Keiser is a 2nd-year Music Ed major whose focus is in Voice. She is specifically interested in art and music in queer spaces. Fun fact: She can juggle and sing Opera at the same time.
Katie is a fourth-year Psychology major and Sexuality Studies minor. As a third-year peer educator at the Center for Trans and Queer Advocacy, Katie specializes in Queer Autonomy: providing resources to foster individual growth, self-sufficiency, and sustainability.
Klaus is a third year early grades preparation major. He works at the Sykes Student Union front desk and serves as the president for the Sexuality and Gender Alliance.
Miles is a dedicated member of campus life. He focuses his studies on advocacy and accessibility in music performance and education. His work is driven by his passion for the arts and the intersection it has with identity.