Group Overview
LGBTQ+ Ambassadors lead the way in representing queer Shockers across campus. They participate in panels, lead discussions, plan events and help coordinate our annual LGBTQ+ events. These students also work with community organizations to be mentors for local high school Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) students and invite them to be part of Shocker Nation.
Our Goals
- Build a sense of community at Wichita State University
- Provide a forum for understanding issues of concern to the LGBTQ+ community, where students from all academic disciplines can form meaningful relationships with peers
- Create networks with other organizations and groups with an interest in ensuring LGBTQ+ students, faculty and staff are safe, valued and are respected members of the University
- Advance career development
- Provide a platform to explore local, state and federal events and their impact on professional life as LGBTQ+ people
- Host discussions, training and events that advance LGBTQ+ students' professional skillsets
- Create opportunities for LGBTQ+ students to receive academic advising and mentorship from LGBTQ+ faculty and staff
- Mentorship
- Advocate for and assist in recruitment and retention of LGBTQ+ students, faculty and staff
- Provide opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students to connect with potential professional mentors in the community
- Connect leaders and professionals across the University with recent hires and students seeking professional mentorship
Aligning with the University Strategic Plan
- Student Centeredness: LGBTQ+ Ambassadors creates a supportive environment for present and future LGBTQ+ students to thrive as their full and authentic selves.
- Campus Culture: LGBTQ+ Ambassadors' emphasis on fostering relationships between students, faculty and staff empowers the LGBTQ+ community to create a campus experience that meets their unique needs.
- Inclusive Excellence: This group's emphasis on LGBTQ+ students' recruitment, retention and professional development will increase each graduating class' reflection of the evoling diversity of society.
- Partnerships: This group fosters corproate partnerships that provide educational and professional opportunities and collaborations to satisfy local workforce needs.
According to the 2019 LGBTQ+ Climate Study...
- Only 56% of LGBTQ+ students agreed that the "support services at WSU will help {them} graduate"
- Sixty-eight percent of LGBTQ+ students felt that Wichita State University should offer LGBTQ+ academic organizations
- Eighty-one percent of LGBTQ+ students indicated it is "very important" that a college or university's senior administrator should actively advocate for inclusive policies and programs
- One primary area of growth indicated by student responses was increased opportunities to socialize with other LGBTQ+ students, in which identity is not the central focus
How does LGBTQ+ Ambassadors address issues in the aforementioned study?
- Opportunities for academic advising and faculty mentorship create individualized support networks to help LGBTQ+ students graduate
- Fostering community across campus focused on LGBTQ+ students' academic and career success creats opportunities to connect with peers from similar academic backgrounds
- Professional mentorship between campus leaders, recent hires and students show LGBTQ+ students that the University supports them
- Our LGBTQ+ Ambassadors are concerned with academic and career development; although the LGBTQ+ identity is important, that is not the only reason for the existence of this group
Facilitators
LGBTQ+ Ambassadors has dedicated facilitators committed to empowering our LGBTQ+ students at Wichita State University through leadership and professional development.
