LGBT+ College Conference

2016 LGBT+ College Conference Detailed Schedule

Note: This is an archival copy of the schedule from the 2016 LGBT+ College Conference. The links below are not being maintained. You may use this page to learn about the 2016 conference events and participants.
 

Conference Theme

This year’s conference program will explore how key facets of identity—gender, race, culture, ethnicity, age, social class, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression—play a significant role in how we experience the world. Moving beyond external markers to ideas, ideologies, and environment, we will explore the impact and level of importance placed on one or multiple parts of our individual identities. We will hear from students, professionals, practitioners, and leaders on how access and opportunity intersect with identity to influence our interactions with education, commerce, community, government, and, most importantly, each other. 

Quick links


Thursday, April 7 - Research and Examination

 
10:00 AM – 10:30 AM CONFERENCE REGISTRATION AND CHECK-IN
James Union Building, Tennessee Room
James Union Building (JUB), 516 Alma Mater Drive, MTSU campus map coordinates B4
Parking: Bell Lot (green section), MTSU campus map coordinates A4
 
10:30 AM – 10:50 AM RESEARCH OPENING SESSION
Presented by: Dr. Jackie Eller, Interim Dean, College of Graduate Studies and Vice-Provost for Research, Middle Tennessee State University
 
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM POSTER PRESENTATIONS
The 2016 LGBT+ College Conference will host poster presentations of research related to LGBT+ issues, especially research focusing on issues affecting LGBT+ college and university students. The theme for this year’s conference is all identities. Conference events will focus on identity at all levels, and research related to identity is especially encouraged. All research with an applied focus, even if it does not focus specifically on LGBT+ communities, is welcome. The goal of the research symposium is to showcase how research can be applied to practical problems.
 
 
2015 LGBT+ College Conference Poster session
2015 LGBT+ College Conference Poster session
 
12:15 PM – 1:15 PM TENNOVATION keynote
Implementing a Service Learning Program to Address Critical Needs in the Community
This session focuses on what we have learned about identifying needs in the community, forming community partnerships, and implementing a research-based health literacy intervention. A unique aspect of this program is that it provides service learning opportunities for undergraduate psychology, allied health, and premedical majors at MTSU. We will also discuss how to: broaden community engagement by responding to feedback from constituents; identify stakeholders in the community; identify funding agencies; and bridge the gap between our own ideas and expertise with what the community needs and wants.
Presented by: Dr. Stuart Bernstein, Professor, Department of Psychology, Middle Tennessee State University, Stuart.Bernstein@mtsu.edu, and Dr. Catherine Crooks, Senior Lecturer, Department of Psychology, Middle Tennessee State University, Catherine.Crooks@mtsu.edu
 
This year's Tennovation keynote is not a product of the Tennovation initiative, but is intended to showcase the types of projects that Tennovation is hoping to spark. The Tennovation initiative is designed to bring together faculty researchers with members of the community who have research needs. Tennovation is made up of faculty and centers in higher education in Tennessee who can contribute research expertise to address critical research needs of the Tennessee community.
 
1:30 PM – 2:45 PM LUNCH AND NETWORKING
The lunch break offers conference participants a chance to network and discuss potential research needs and collaborations.
 
3:00 PM – 4:30 PM DATA BLITZ
The data blitz is an open mic opportunity for researchers to share proposed work, current efforts, some of their newest research findings, and identify critical research needs. Anyone (students, community members, conference partners) is welcome to present ideas or research needs.

Thursday evening - Film Festival

 
6:00 PM CONFERENCE FILM FESTIVAL and reception (program begins at 6:30 PM)
Keathley University Center, Theatre
Keathley University Center (KUC), 1524 Military Memorial, MTSU campus map coordinates C4
Parking: Jones Lot, MTSU campus map coordinates C3,4
 
The festival will feature one (or two)-minute films submitted by attendees and community members. Themes of the films will include: coming out (to yourself, to your friends, to your family), love and relationships, hopes and dreams (getting married, starting a family), and being an ally/LGBT+ supporter. Short films will also be presented.

Host: Allie Sultan, Assistant Professor, Electronic Media Communication, Middle Tennessee State University, allie.sultan@mtsu.edu

Sponsored by: MTSU Intercultural and Diversity Affairs

2015 LGBT+ College Conference Film Festival
2015 LGBT+ College Conference Film Festival

Friday, April 8 - Intersections of Identity with the Broader Community

 
8:30 AM – 9:00 AM CONFERENCE REGISTRATION AND CHECK-IN
Unless otherwise indicated, Friday events will take place in the Student Union Building, Ballroom A/B
Student Union Building (SUB), 1768 MTSU Boulevard, MTSU campus map coordinates E4
Parking: Student Union Lot, MTSU campus map coordinates E3
 
9:00 AM – 9:20 AM CONFERENCE OPENING ADDRESS
Presented by: Ron Snitker, Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis, LLP, conference advisory board co-chair
 
2015 LGBT+ College Conference Veterans Panel, Brigadier General Tammy Smith takes the microphone to commend Sgt. Kimberly Ligon
2015 LGBT+ College Conference Veterans Panel, Brigadier General Tammy Smith takes the microphone to commend Sgt. Kimberly Ligon 
 
9:30 AM – 10:45 AM OPENING PLENARY DISCUSSION—All Identities
Examination of the conference theme all identities is intended to provide insight into how to break down barriers that often exist between identity groups (race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression). The panel will examine broader civil rights issues facing society to include a reflection on how to measure when a group or community “has overcome.”
Moderator: Terry Bird, Chief Counsel to the Director of Immigration for Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina, Retired
Panelists:
Beverly Watts, Tennessee Human Rights Commission
Lynn Cothren, Civil Rights Activist and Consultant
Marian Wilson, Middle Tennessee State University Compliance and Title IX Officer
Nancy VanReece, Nashville Metro Council Member
Lon Hurst, Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Nashville Steering Committee Co-Chair
 
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM KEYNOTE PRESENTATION AND LUNCHEON
Film Presentation of The New Black with the film's director Yoruba Richen. A buffet luncheon will be served immediately prior to the beginning of the film, and a moderated discussion with conference attendees will follow.
Discussion Moderator: Dr. Barbara Turnage, Professor, Department of Social Work, Middle Tennessee State University, Barbara.Turnage@mtsu.edu
 
"Yoruba Richen is a documentary filmmaker who has directed and produced films in the U.S., Africa, South America, and Southeast Asia. Her latest film, The New Black, premiered...at the Los Angeles Film Festival and won Audience Awards at AFI Docs, Philly Q Fest, and Frameline LGBT Film Festival, as well as a special jury mention at Frameline." "The New Black is a documentary that tells the story of how the African-American community is grappling with the gay rights issue in light of the recent gay marriage movement and the fight over civil rights." (http://www.newblackfilm.com)
 
Sponsored by: MTSU Distinguished Lecture Fund
 
2015 LGBT+ College Conference Bringing Your Whole Self to Work panel
2015 LGBT+ College Conference Bringing Your Whole Self to Work panel 
 
1:15 PM – 2:30 PM PLENARY PANEL DISCUSSION—Bringing Your Whole Self to Work
A foundational element of the conference’s initial conception, this panel explores the “bottom line value” that organizations place on their capacity to create a culture in which differences are respected and inclusion is strategically leveraged as an organizational strength. Students preparing to enter the employment pipeline will have an opportunity to gain insights on how potential employers' policies and practices address various dimensions of diversity, including gender identity or expression and sexual orientation. D & I professionals and other leaders in attendance will benefit from open and honest dialog in building their knowledge and exploring new thought leadership for the benefit of the work unit and organization.
Moderator: Dr. Patrick McCarthy, J.D., Professor, Industrial/Organizational Psychology, Middle Tennessee State University, patrick.mccarthy@mtsu.edu
Panelists:
Anthony Dudley, Director of Development, Nashville Sports Council
Nicole Gibson, Southeast HR Lead, Dell
Diane Hatley, Nissan
Lynda R. Williams, Deputy Assistant Director, Office of Human Resources, United States Secret Service
Robert Weiss, Recruiter, Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis, LLP
 
Sponsored by: MTSU Department of Psychology
 
2:45 PM – 4:45 PM CONCURRENT SESSIONS
SESSION I – AN “ACRONYM-OUS” DEBATE
Student Union Building, Ballroom A/B
LGBT+, GSRM, and MOGII, oh my! Names matter. Each of the proposed acronyms has pros and cons. This will be a lively debate intended to make the case for each without denigrating anyone’s preferred identification.
Presented by: The MTSU Debate Team (Dr. Patrick Richey, Director of Forensics and Debate Coach, Middle Tennessee State University, patrick.richey@mtsu.edu; Natonya Blackmun Listach, Individual Events Coach, Middle Tennessee State University, natonya.listach@mtsu.edu)
Check out the pre-conference exercise for this event (filed under An "Acronym-ous" Debate)
 
SESSION II – SAFEZONE TRAINING
Student Union Building, room 224 and room 210 (if a second session is needed)
Learn how to create a network of community and campus staff, faculty, and students to support people of all sexual orientations, gender identities and/or gender expressions.
Note: You must pre-register for SafeZone training; participation is limited to the first 40 people who register for the event.
 
SESSION III – SORORITY HOOKUP CULTURE
Student Union Building, room 220
Dr. Jessica Kratzer will present her research on the sorority hookup culture.  Student researchers will present their findings from a qualitative research project conducted in the fall semester.  Dr. Kratzer will make connections with this research to her past research on the fraternity hookup culture to show gender and communication issues involved in hooking up.
Presented by: Dr. Jessica Kratzer, Assistant Professor, Communication Studies, Middle Tennessee State University, jessica.kratzer@mtsu.edu
 
2015 LGBT+ College Conference Vernice "FlyGirl" Armour keynote
2015 LGBT+ College Conference Vernice "FlyGirl" Armour keynote

Friday evening - Singer-Songwriter Ryan Cassata

 
6:00 PM AN EVENING WITH SINGER-SONGWRITER RYAN CASSATA
Keathley University Center, Theatre
Keathley University Center (KUC), 1524 Military Memorial, MTSU campus map coordinates C4
Parking: Jones Lot, MTSU campus map coordinates C3,4
 
"Ryan Cassata is an accomplished singer-songwriter and award winning LGBTQ activist based in San Francisco. The 21-year-old Long Island native has tallied over 500 performances touring across the United States and internationally, including dates on the Van’s Warped Tour and at the world’s biggest pride festivals. With features in Billboard Magazine, The New York Times, and The Daily News, Ryan has made the most of his young career, which started when he was just 13. In addition to The Advocate saying he’s a 'Transgender singing sensation', LOGO put him on the '9 Trans Musicians You Need To Get Into' list." (http://www.ryancassata.com/)
 

Sponsored by: MTSU Student Activity Fees


Saturday, April 9 - Working and Learning Sessions

 
8:30 AM – 9:00 AM CONFERENCE REGISTRATION AND CHECK-IN
Unless otherwise indicated, Saturday events will take place in the Student Union Building, Ballroom A/B
Student Union Building (SUB), 1768 MTSU Boulevard, MTSU campus map coordinates E4
Parking: Student Union Lot, MTSU campus map coordinates E3 (overflow to Greenhouse Lot, D,E3)
 
9:00 AM – 9:20 AM WELCOMING ADDRESS
Presented by: Bea Perdue, Development Director, College of Behavioral and Health Sciences, Middle Tennessee State University
 
2015 LGBT+ College Conference Ilona Turner keynote
2015 LGBT+ College Conference Ilona Turner keynote 
 
9:30 AM – 10:30 AM PLENARY DISCUSSION—All Identities
How do you identify yourself? Is there a part of your identity that stands out, or does your identity change depending on where you are in life? Individuals representing the identities in the LGBT+ community will discuss what their identity means to them. Panel participants will share how they define their identity, and respond to questions related to identity and intersectionality.
Moderator: Dr. William Langston, Professor, Department of Psychology, Middle Tennessee State University, William.Langston@mtsu.edu
Panelists: Panelists will be selected from conference attendees who will volunteer to participate.
 
10:45 AM – 11:45 AM EMPLOYING YOUR PRIVILEGE
Privilege varies from person to person and everyone enjoys some level of privilege. Allies may have opportunities to employ their privilege to effect positive change for the community that members of the LGBT+ community may not. How can those with more privilege employ their privilege to advance the cause of those with less privilege? Can this be done with respect and without patronizing more marginalized groups? Is it possible to do harm when employing privilege?
Presented by: Joshua Rigsby, OutCentral Board Member, OutCentral, joshua@outcentral.org
 
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM LUNCH Break
Conference attendees will find many lunch options available on the first floor of the Student Union Building.
 
1:15 PM – 2:15 PM STRATEGY SESSIONS
Strategy session themes, derived from the identity and privilege panels, are goal driven and led by thought leaders with subject matter expertise. At the end of the strategy sessions, participants will have developed a plan of action and/or next action steps to take back to their campus/workplace.
 
SESSION I – BREAKING DOWN the BARRIERS WITHIN THE LGBT+ COMMUNITY Strategy Session
Student Union Building, Ballroom A/B
Participants will identify tensions within the LGBT+ community that are affecting their campus and/or workplace, and they will work to develop concrete strategies to alleviate those tensions and help community members to come together.
Led by: Justin Fox, MT Lambda, Middle Tennessee State University,  Amanda Haynes, MT Lambda, Middle Tennessee State University, Rebekah Dawson, MT Lambda, Middle Tennessee State University, and T. Etheridge, Pellissippi State Community College.
 
SESSION II – Bystander Intervention Interactive Strategy Session
Student Union Building, room 220
The bystander training is an interactive training designed to equip participants with the necessary connection, knowledge and skill to increase their proactive and reactive bystander behaviors. Throughout the training video, role-plays, and other exercises are utilized to maximize the level of engagement of participants and help them apply the concepts in the curriculum to their own lives and practice the skills they need to be proactive bystanders. This interactive session will give students, faculty and staff the tools to STEP UP and SPEAK OUT by using once of the active 4-D bystander model, Direct, Delegate, Distract or Delay.
Led by: Barbara Scales, Director, June Anderson Center for Women and Nontraditional Students, Middle Tennessee State University, Barbara.Scales@mtsu.edu
 
SESSION III – BEING AN EFFECTIVE ALLY Strategy Session
Student Union Building, Ballroom A/B
Whether it is the workplace or the classroom, LGBT+ people need to feel safe and included. Allies play a significant role in helping LGBT+ people feel both. This workshop was designed and used by Cracker Barrel’s LGBT Alliance to educate and support our membership, especially allies. It will share why allies are important and how to be a good ally. It will also provide some “Equality Guideposts” as well as easy to follow “Step By Step” instructions, including the importance of support when coming out as an ally. Resources for allies to use will be provided.
Led by: Matt Lively, Project Manager Product Development, Cracker Barrel (and Director of Community Outreach for Cracker Barrel’s LGBT Alliance), matt.lively@crackerbarrel.com; Jane Horne, Corporate Communications Coordinator, Cracker Barrel (and MTSU alumnus)
 
SESSION IV – employing YOUR PRIVILEGE strategy session
Student Union Building, room 224
Participants will present problems that they would like to address, and will explore ways in which they can leverage their privilege to achieve goals. Specific connections between the Employing Your Privilege presentation and participants’ personal projects will be discussed.
Led by: Joshua Rigsby, OutCentral Board Member, OutCentral, joshua@outcentral.org
 Inaugural LGBT+ College Conference Elizabeth Birch keynote
Inaugural LGBT+ College Conference Elizabeth Birch keynote 
 
2:30 PM – 4:30 PM CONCURRENT SESSIONS
SESSION I – STEMMING THE TIDE OF LGBT+ YOUTH HOMELESSNESS
Student Union Building, Ballroom A/B
One approach to stopping LGBT+ youth homelessness is to help parents to understand their children better. This session will share parent resources with people who are likely to encounter parents struggling to understand a child who is LGBT+.
Presented by: Dr. Justin Bucchio, Assistant Professor, Department of Social Work, Middle Tennessee State University, justin.bucchio@mtsu.edu; Pamela Sheffer, Program Director of Just Us at The Oasis Center
 
SESSION II – SAFEZONE TRAINING
Student Union Building, room 224 and room 210 (if a second session is needed)
Learn how to create a network of community and campus staff, faculty, and students to support people of all sexual orientations, gender identities and/or gender expressions.
Note: You must pre-register for SafeZone training; participation is limited to the first 40 people who register for the event.
 
SESSION III – Welcoming Churches and Religious Organizations Fair
Student Union Building, room 220
Churches and religious organizations that welcome LGBT+ individuals will be available to share information and talk with participants about welcoming communities of faith in Middle Tennessee.
Participating organizations: Open Table Christian Church; Advent Lutheran Church, Murfreesboro; United Methodists for Inclusion.
 
Session IV – LGBT life in Middle Tennessee before Stonewall
Student Union Building, Parliamentary Room
See recorded and transcribed interviews with 28 subjects ranging in age from 63 to 85. The Brooks Fund History Project is a time machine that unlocks a secret chronicle of Nashville: a world of carefully constructed covers, of teens trying desperately to conform, of bygone bars and night spots passed along like secret handshakes. It documents a city where closeted businessmen brokered weddings to lesbians to deflect their bosses' suspicion, where devout LGBT citizens sought to reconcile faith and family.
Presented by: Michael McDaniel, The Community Foundation
 
4:30 PM – 5:00 PM CONFERENCE CLOSING and ACTION PLAN REVIEW
Participants will "report out" key learnings from the conference, complete conference evaluations, and make recommendations for next year's agenda.
Led by: Joshua Rigsby, OutCentral Board Member, OutCentral, joshua@outcentral.org

2015 LGBT+ College Conference Awards Dinner Brigadier General Tammy Smith keynote
2015 LGBT+ College Conference Awards Dinner Brigadier General Tammy Smith keynote
 

Saturday evening - LGBT+ College Conference Awards Dinner

 
7:00 PM LGBT+ COLLEGE CONFERENCE AWARDS DINNER
James Union Building, Tennessee Room
James Union Building (JUB), 516 Alma Mater Drive, MTSU campus map coordinates B4
Parking: Along Old Main Circle, MTSU campus map coordinates B4 (overflow to KOM Lot, B3)
 
Join us in a celebration of the conference attendees and presenters, and help us recognize the remarkable achievements of our  nominees and award winners.
Host:
Greg Cason
Music:
William Coleman and Wendy Payne
 
KEYNOTE PRESENTATION—Renee McLaughlin, MD FACS
Senior Medical Director, Cigna HealthCare

Dr. Renee McLaughlin is a senior medical executive with Cigna Healthcare and is responsible for building collaborative partnerships with health care delivery systems to improve health outcomes. She has extensive experience in the development, implementation, and operation of successful population health management partnerships and speaks regularly in both regional and national forums on value-based health care delivery. Dr. McLaughlin has a strong interest in LGBT health and workforce issues, and specifically those affecting gender-diverse people. Prior to joining Cigna in 2005, Dr. McLaughlin was a practicing general and vascular surgeon in a single-specialty practice. She earned a BS at Adrian College, MS at Wayne State University, and completed her graduate and post-graduate medical and surgical training at the University of Pittsburgh. She served in the United States Army during the first Gulf war. She currently lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee where she spends her free time enjoying Southern culture as well as the waters of the Tennessee River.
 
Inaugural LGBT+ College Conference Awards Dinner
Inaugural LGBT+ College Conference Awards Dinner

Conference Contacts

Program Presentations and Participation
Professor William Langston (william.langston@mtsu.edu)
 
Sponsorships and Support
Development Director Bea Perdue (bea.perdue@mtsu.edu)
 
Corporate and Community Engagement (Corporate Advisory Board Co-Chairs)
Greg Cason – Nissan (greg.cason@Nissan-Usa.com)

Ron Snitker – Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis, LLP (ron.snitker@wallerlaw.com)


Presenting Sponsors
 
Deloitte
 
Nissan 
Conference Champions
 
 Waller
 
Cracker Barrel
 
 Middle Tennessee State University

Middle Tennessee State University Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance

 
Conference Allies

 

Dell
 
 

 United States Secret Service

Neighborhood sponsor
 

Vanderbilt Human Resources

Additional support provided by
MTSU Distinguished Lecture Fund
MTSU Student Activity Fees
MTSU Department of Psychology
MTSU Intercultural and Diversity Affairs
National Women's History Month Committee
June Anderson Center for Women and Nontraditional Students

 Logo

Lambda hosts weekly meetings and membership is open to all currently enrolled MTSU students who act in good faith of Lambda's Constitution and Community Standards. Membership dues are announced at the beginning of each academic year and can be paid at any time.