Kelsey O’Neil (they, them, theirs) joins us on Friday, July 6th from The Center for Diversity and Inclusion (CDI) at Xavier University, where Kelsey served as the Assistant Director. As the inaugural professional for gender and sexuality at Xavier University, a Jesuit Catholic Institution, Kelsey established foundational best practices to promote a campus climate centered on diversity, inclusion, and equity. They worked to create, design, and facilitate a SafER Zones series for faculty, staff and students, similar to our Husky Safe Zone Training. Through the development of connections with alumni, Kelsey also launched a LGBTQIA+ Alumni Network which resulted in an annual Lavender book scholarship in October 2016. In the fall of 2017, Kelsey initiated the first Drag Show in Xavier’s history, a significant milestone for a Jesuit Catholic institution. The show focused heavily on the history of drag as an outlet for the most marginalized within the community.
Kelsey’s colleagues at Xavier describe them as an enthusiastic leader, an approachable resource, and a creative collaborator committed to student advocacy and support. One colleague commented, “Kelsey leverages allies to create inclusive programs and policies. In D&I work there are words and then there are actions. Kelsey is the action, they live it.” Following the 2016 Dear Colleague Letter on Transgender Students, Kelsey formed a committee to assess inclusive practices and led a project team across divisions in a 24-system re-write of the Banner student information system. The three-month project resulted in Xavier’s first ‘Chosen Name Form’ and the first All Gender Restroom in the Student Center.
The Office for Diversity and Inclusion is delighted to have Kelsey on our team and look forward to the transformational leadership they will bring to the Rainbow Center. Please join us in welcoming Kelsey O’Neil to UConn.
For more information, contact: Office for Diversity and Inclusion at diversity@uconn.edu