New Institute Aims to Create a Culture Change

With a desire to create a culture shift at Millersville University and in Lancaster County, a new institute has been established on campus. The Sexuality and Gender Institute (SGI) aims to create a culture at Millersville that openly and intellectually explores sexuality and gender.

Initiated by Drs. Dominique Didier, biology, and Scott Richardson, educational foundations, the SGI will offer an academic lecture series featuring experts from across the nation, as well as informal “brown bags” that will examine local issues and new research. All events are free and open to faculty, staff, students and the community in hopes that sexuality and gender issues will be openly discussed.

SGI 2012-13 Lecture Series speakers (L-R): Dr. Cris Mayo, Dr. Andrew Smiler, Dr. Simon LeVay, Florence Williams, Dr. CJ Pascoe and Joe Quirk.

“The Sexuality and Gender Institute will build on Millersville’s deep tradition and commitment to diversity. I believe the institute will convey a serious message that the University deeply cares not only about the complexity of sexuality and gender as an area of study, but as it relates to the holistic development of our students. I also believe that the institute will bring Millersville recognition among its partner institutions as a leader in this field. It’s time for a culture shift—the examination of sexuality and gender need not be taboo, but commonplace,” said Richardson.

The first-ever SGI Lecture Series event will be held on Tuesday, September 11. Dr. Cris Mayo, associate professor of education and gender and women’s students at the University of Illinois, U-C, will present “Opening the Subject: Sexuality, Gender Identity and Education for Possibility.” All 2012-2013 SGI lecture series events will be held from 4-5:30 p.m. in Myers Auditorium, McComsey Hall, and will be posted on Millersville’s online calendar.

“We are excited about having the Sexuality and Gender Institute, one of the first of its kind, here at Millersville University. We are committed to the mission of education, and the Sexuality and Gender Institute will provide a unique opportunity for our community to come together to understand and respect the diverse aspects of human sexuality in our society,” said Didier.

SGI is being supported by the offices of student affairs, social equity and diversity, the provost, as well as the women’s studies program at Millersville University.

For more information, contact Didier at Dominique.Didier@millersville.edu or Richardson at Scott.Richardson@millersville.edu.