Read the latest health and safety guidelines for Fall 2021 here.
LGBTQI+ Hub
CUNY is committed to providing educational excellence to its students while creating a diverse, inclusive atmosphere for learning. CUNY is wholeheartedly committed to supporting the LGBTQI+ student, staff, and faculty population. This online LGBTQI+ Hub is updated and maintained by the CUNY LGBTQI+ Council.
CUNY LGBTQI+ Council
The CUNY LGBTQI+ Council is a CUNY-wide committee of faculty and staff dedicated to supporting the intersectional LGBTQI+ communities across the university system. Our mission is to ensure the visibility and inclusion of the entire spectrum of LGBTQI+ students, faculty and staff. We aim to be a collaborative resource to create connection and community, identify and troubleshoot gaps, increase representation, awareness, and equity. We are committed to leading with a social justice lens, offering support services and developing programs, events and opportunities for those who identify as LGBTQ+ or questioning. Read More
Gary Dillon
College: Baruch College
Job Title: Supervising Psychologist
Pronouns: He/Him/His
LGBTQI+ Council Subcommittee: Mental Health & Wellness, Security
Phone: 646-312-2158
Email: [email protected]
Teresa Hurst
College: Baruch College
Job Title: Director
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Department: Counseling Center
Email: [email protected]
Tammie Velasquez
College: Borough of Manhattan Community College
Job Title: Student Life Manager, Women’s Resource Center
Pronouns: She/Her/Her’s
LGBTQI+ Council Subcommittee: SafeZone Trainings/LGBTQ Centers
Phone: 212-220-8166
Email: [email protected]
Michael Hutmaker
College: Borough of Manhattan Community College
Job Title: Dean of Student Affair
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Department: Student Affair
Phone: 212-220-8130
Email: [email protected]
Emalinda (Emily) McSpadden
College: Bronx Community College
Job Title: Assistant Professor, Psychology; Director, LGBTQI+ Resource Room
Department: Dept. of Social Sciences; Office of Student Life
LGBTQI+ Council Subcommittee: Co-Chair of Council
Pronouns: All (no preference)
Email: [email protected]
Cell: 469-693-1141
Office: 718-289-5100 X3028
Resource Room: 718-289-5300
Donna Paroff-Sherman
College: Bronx Community College
Job Title: Counselor (LCSW)
Department: Office of Student Personal Counseling
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 718-289-5873
Bronx Community College LGBTQI+ Resource Room
The LGBTQI + Resource Room at Bronx Community College works to foster an inclusive, safe, and welcoming environment for students, faculty, and staff of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions. The Resource Room aims to sustain visibility and a sense of community by providing LGBTQI + education, programming, and support services on campus.
Sami Binder
College: Brooklyn College
Job Title: Senior Assistant to the Director
Department: LGBTQ Resource Center
LGBTQI+ Council Subcommittee: SafeZone Trainings/LGBTQ Centers
Pronouns: They/Them/Theirs
Email:[email protected]
Phone: 718-951-5739
Brooklyn College LGBTQ Resource Center
The LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and/or Questioning) Resource Center is both a welcoming space and supportive network for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, and asexual and/or ally (LGBTQIA) students, staff, and faculty at Brooklyn College.
Jasmin Salcedo
College: The City College of New York
Job Title: Gender Resources Social Worker
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
LGBTQI+ Council Subcommittee: Gender/Name Policies
Phone: 212-650-8222
Email: [email protected]
Yaari Felber-Seligman
College: The City College of New York
Pronouns: They/them/theirs
Email: [email protected]
Jeremiah Jurkiewicz
College: College of Staten Island
Job Title: LGBTQ Resource Center/Pluralism & Diversity Coordinator
LGBTQI+ Council Subcommittee: “SafeZone Trainings/LGBTQ Centers
Phone- LGBTQ Center: 718-982-3091
Phone – Google: 929-320-0422
Pronouns: He/Him/His
LGBTQI+ Council Subcommittee:
Email: [email protected]
College of Staten Island LGBTQ Resource Center
“The LGBTQ Center embraces the diversity of the CSI community and provides resources and programs for campus members who want to learn more about and advocate for LGBTQ issues.”
Charmaine Townsell
College: Central Office Of Student Affairs
Job Title: University Director of Student Engagement
Preferred Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Phone: 646-664-8808
Email: [email protected]
Christopher Rosa
College: Central Office Of Student Affairs
Job Title: Assistant Vice Chancellor for CUNY Student Inclusion Initiatives
Preferred Pronouns: He/Him/His
Phone: 646-664-8759
Email: [email protected]
Anthony Sweeney
College: CUNY School of Professional Studies
Job Title: Associate Director
Department: Student Life
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Phone: 646-483-9377
Email: [email protected]
Sarah Krusemark
College: CUNY School of Professional Studies
Job Title: Student Services Coordinator
Department: Student Life
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Phone: 646-664-8613
Email: [email protected]
Kevin Simmons
College: CUNY School of Labor & Urban Studies
Job Title: Academic Program Specialist
Pronouns: He/His
LGBTQI+ Council Subcommittee: Gender/Name Policies, Information Systems
Email: [email protected]
Kevin Simmons is an Academic Program Specialist at CUNY-SLU and is one of the schools’ LGBTQI+ allies.
Irene Garcia-Mathes
College:CUNY School of Labor & Urban Studies
Job Title: Senior Academic Advisor
Department: Labor Studies/Student Affairs
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Phone: 914-810-4616
Email: [email protected]
Lisa Davis
College: CUNY School of Law
Job Title: Associate Professor of Law; Special Advisor on Gender Persecution to the International Criminal Court Prosecutor
Department: Faculty
Pronouns: They/Them
Phone number: (718) 340-4148
Email:[email protected]
Bibi N. Amin
College: CUNY School of Law
Job Title: Admissions Coordinator
Pronouns: She/Her
Phone number: (718) 340-4631
Email:[email protected]
Elvis Bakaitis
College: The Graduate Center
Department: Library
Job Title: Interim Head of Reference
Pronouns: They/Them
Email: [email protected]
Sherry Adams
College: CUNY Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy
Job Title: Student Wellness Counselor
Department: Student Affairs
Pronouns: She/ Her/Hers
Phone number: 646-364-9526
Email: [email protected]
Velvet N. Brown
College: CUNY Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy
Job Title: Student Life Coordinator
Department: Student Affairs
Pronouns: She/ Her/Hers
Phone number: 646-364-9863
Email: [email protected]
CUNY Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy
CUNY SPH, 55 W. 125 5 Floor,
New York, NY 10025
646-664-8355
Anika Seidman-Gati
College: Hunter College
Job Title: Student Psychological Counselor and Health Educator
Department: Counseling and Wellness Services
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Phone: 212-772-4925, 212-650-3397
Email: [email protected]
Hunter College Counseling & Wellness Services
696 Park Avenue
Room 1119, East Building
New York, NY 10065
212-772-4931
Learn more about the Hunter College Counseling & Wellness Services
Michael Sachs
College: John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Job Title: Assistant VP/Dean of Students
Pronouns:
Email: [email protected]
Dominique Mendez-Rose
College: John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Job Title: Administrative Events Specialist
Department: Theater & Events Support Services
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Phone: 212-237-8739
Email: [email protected]
Alena Kastin
College: Kingsborough Community College
Job Title: Counselor
Department: TRiO Student Support Services
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Phone: 718-368-4589
Email: [email protected]
Deema Bayrakdar
College: LaGuardia Community College
Job Title: Director
Department: Women’s Center and LGBTQIA Safe Zone Hub
LGBTQI+ Council Subcommittee: Mental Health, Wellness, & Security
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Phone: 718-482-5179
Cell: 917-547-8411
Email: [email protected]
Nathan Tosh
College: LaGuardia Community College
Job Title: Program Coordinator
Department: Women’s Center and LGBTQIA Safe Zone Hub
Pronouns: He/Him/His, They/Them/Theirs
Cell: 352-250-3162
Email: [email protected]
LaGuardia Community College LGBTQIA Safe Zone Hub
The LGBTQIA Safe Zone Hub is a collaborative resource for celebrating the experiences, identities and expressions of LGBTQIA students, faculty and staff as well as increasing awareness about LGBTQIA issues, gender and sexuality at LaGuardia. We are committed to leading with a social justice lens, offering support services and developing programs, events and opportunities for those who identify as LGBTQ+ or questioning. Whether you identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, questioning or an ally, you are welcome here.
Chelsea Alterman
College:Macaulay Honors College
Job Title: Assistant Director of Student Development
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
LGBTQI+ Council Subcommittee: Outreach & Online Presence
Email: [email protected]
Chris Daversa
College: Macaulay Honors College
Job Title: Director of Student Development
Department: Student Development
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Cell: 212-729-2937
Email: [email protected]
Christina Chala
College: Medgar Evers College
Job Title: Career Specialist
Department: Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP)
Pronouns: She/her or They/them
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 718-804-8239
Lisa Evelyn
College: Medgar Evers College
Job Title: Assistant Director
Department: Women’s Center
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 718-270-6940
Deb Waksbaum
College: New York City College of Technology
Job Title: Counseling
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
LGBTQI+ Council Subcommittee: Outreach & Online Presence
Phone: 718-260-5030
Email: [email protected]
Deb Sisco
College: New York City College of Technology
Job Title: Academic Advisor/Transfer Evaluator
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Department: Transfer Student Center
Phone: 718-501-2640
Email: [email protected]
David Rivera
College: Queens College
Job Title: Associate Professor of Counselor Education
Founding Director, CUNY LGBTQI+ Student Leadership Program
Department: Department of Educational & Community Programs
LGBTQI+ Council Subcommittee: Co-Chair of Council”
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Email:[email protected]
JC Carlson
College: Queens College
Department: Student Development and Leadership
Job Title: Student Life Events Manager LGBTQIAA+ Programs Coordinator Associate Director, CUNY LGBTQI+ Consortium
Pronouns: They/Them/Their
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 917-659-2646
Sonal Soni
College: Queens College
Job Title: Counselor
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Email: [email protected]
Aliza Atik
College: Queensborough Community College
Job Title: Associate Professor
Department: English
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
LGBTQI+ Council Subcommittee: Outreach & Online Presence Subcommittee
Email: [email protected]
Robin Ford
College: Queensborough Community College
Job Title: Assistant Professor
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
LGBTQI+ Council Subcommittee: Mental Health & Wellness, Security
Email: [email protected]
Ebonie Jackson
College: York College
Job Title: Director
Department: Women’s Center for Gender Justice
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Pnone: 718-262-2008
Email: [email protected]
CUNY LGBTQI Related Policies
The City University of New York is committed to providing educational excellence to its students while creating a diverse, inclusive atmosphere for learning. In Student Affairs, we are dedicated to assuring this inclusive atmosphere for members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, and intersex communities and others whose identification extends beyond these borders.
Victory for LGBTQI + Workers!
In a landmark ruling, the United States Supreme Court has ruled that existing federal law, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, forbids job discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
New York Times: Civil Rights Law Protects Gay and Transgender Workers, Supreme Court Rules
CUNY Resources
Memo RE Gender & Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity and Gender Expression
New York City Resources
National Resources
The CUNY LGBTQI Student Leadership Program brings together undergraduate students within the CUNY system for a year-long leadership training experience. The purpose of the program is to cultivate the next generation of LGBTQI leaders. The program utilizes a social justice framework to engage student leaders in a variety of training, experiential, and mentoring activities. The activities include interactive training workshops focusing on leadership and personal development, civic and community engagement, and social networking opportunities with LGBTQI industry and community leaders. Student leaders work closely with the program director and program coordinator who facilitate the student leaders’ growth and development over the course of the program.
Six learning outcomes guide the program
Students will:
Understand how the dynamic of privilege and oppression impacts one’s positioning within individual, institutional, and cultural context.
Develop a greater depth of understanding oneself in order to engage in more authentic and productive behavior. This includes understanding the intersections of one’s social identity.
Develop one’s leadership capacity to identify and examine a problem, develop and assess possible solutions, and select the most appropriate solution to the problem.
Be able to apply strategies that are appropriate within the context at hand in order to create change on a group, organizational, and/or societal level.
Be able to assess a situation and engage in interactions, relations, and exchanges based on what is suitable for the context and person or people being interacted with.
Be motivated to act in ways that benefit, not detract from, the welfare of society and its members.
Activities Include:
- Bloomberg Media tour and panel discussion with LGBTQI professionals.
- Meetings with LGBTQI leaders include: NYC Councilmember Ritchie Torres, Mitchell Draizin, Sacred Walker, Dennis Chin, Brian Silva, Benjamin Davis, Dr. Elizabeth Payne, Causten Wallerman-Rodriguez, and more.
- Workshops on Transgender and Gender Non-binary Issues, Sexual Orientation Identity Development, Leadership Theory, Networking, Service Learning, Bystander Training, Theatre of the Oppressed, Self-Care and Emotional Wellbeing.
Contact Us
If you are interested in joining the CUNY LGBTQI Leadership Program, please email Dr. David Rivera, Program Director, ([email protected]), or you can speak to a student life representative on your campus for an application and more information.
If you are in need of emotional support, please visit our Counseling page.
If you are in need of health and wellness resources, please visit the Health Services page.
If you or anyone you know is in a crisis situation, please call 911, visit your local emergency room, text “HOME” to 741741, or reach out to The Trevor Project or The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
Safe Zone Training
It’s an opportunity for faculty, staff, and students to learn about the LGBTQI+ community through terminology, self-examination, discussion, and best practices. It teaches about some of the many struggles faced by the LGBTQI+ community and how we might better foster inclusion.
If you are interested in learning more about Safe Zone Trainings or setting up a training for your department or student organization please reach out to your campus contact.
If you would like more information on the CUNY LGBTQI+ Safezone Sub-committee, please contact Tammie Velasquez at [email protected].
FAQs
Yes, CUNY students can request to join groups on other CUNY campuses. However, it is up to the discretion of that campus whether to permit.
Yes, CUNY students with their CUNY ID can visit another campus’ LGBTQI+ physical space.
If you have a question, concern, issue, or would like to request co-sponsorship on an event, see the contact section to find your CUNY campus staff/faculty representative on the CUNY LGBTQI+ Council. The Council plans to host a variety of events throughout the year – these will be featured on this website and in CUNY Communications.
Students are able to use CUNYfirst self-service to select a preferred first and middle name. Follow the following steps:
- Go onto the CUNYfirst Webpage
- Log into your account
- Go to Student Center
- Scroll down to Personal Information and Click “Names” on the left hand side
- On that page you should be able to add a name and indicate that it is your preferred name.
Please note that this will only change your name on CUNYfirst, it is not a legal name change. After making this update, your preferred name will also be shown on class rosters and Blackboard.
CUNY policy allows for a gender update without documentation. Complete a gender change form and submit to your school’s registrar office. Please be aware, however, that changing your gender in CUNYfirst may cause a mismatch if you are a recipient of federal financial aid. You are advised to contact your college’s financial aid office to alert the office of the gender change. In addition, you are advised to contact the Social Security Administration, to prevent any problems with data mismatches between that agency’s records and the information on file with the federal Department of Education, which administers federal student aid programs. While CUNY does not require documentation of gender identity, there may be documentation requirements at these agencies.
CUNY policy states colleges must replace student identification cards to reflect a preferred name without cost to the student.
Please reach out to your Campus’ Title IX office to report any acts of discrimination.
There are many ways to connect with LGBTQI+ students on your home campus and across CUNY! Visit your campus’ Student Life website or platform to search for LGBTQ+ student clubs or resource centers. If you have any questions about what your particular campus offers, you can reach out to your campus LGBTQI+ Council representative (see the Contact Us section). Sometimes, LGBTQI+ events offered on one CUNY campus may designate that they’re open to attendees from all CUNY campuses.
See the CUNY LGBTQI+ Event Calendar.
Through the CUNY Baccalaureate for Unique and Interdisciplinary Studies (CUNY BA), students can receive an individualized degree specifically in LGBTQ Studies. Working closely with a mentor and drawing on the wide areas of faculty expertise in LGBTQ Studies across CUNY campuses, students can now develop an academic path that prepares them to contribute to LGBTQ progress in the world. Click here for more information.
The LGBTQ courses page lists a sampling of some of the LGBTQ-inflected courses available across the CUNY campuses. Some are offered on a rotational basis. Please go to CUNY Class Search for current offerings and schedules.
