Student Success Centre

Out in the World

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About Out in the World

Western’s Out in the World (formerly Out in the Office) series is a campus-wide initiative with three goals: to foster community, provide transitional support, and encourage authenticity for the sexually and gender diverse community at Western and in our larger community. Out in the World will provide a series of workshops, networking events, discussions, and outreach events in the Winter 2013 term that will aim to achieve our goals.

Currently in its third year, this initiative is a true collaboration between many groups on campus working towards common goals. The 2013 Out in the World committee is comprised of members from The Student Success Centre, the University Students’ Council, Pride Western, OutLaw Western, Housing and Ancillary Services, Equity and Human Rights Services, and USC Support Services.

Goals of Western’s Out in the World Series

Out in the World seeks to foster community by bringing the sexually and gender divers community together with their allies through promoting inclusivity and reaching out to important stakeholders in our Western and greater community in London.

Out in the World seeks to provide transitional support by openly dialoguing about the challenges and triumphs members of the sexually and gender diverse face while making various kinds of transitions in one’s academic and professional life. We seek to raise awareness for campus supports that can assist in helping individual manage life transitions.

Out in the World seeks to promote authenticity, and encourages individuals to embrace their authentic selves by providing strategies and guidance for being one’s authentic self in a variety of different environments.

2013 Out in the World Program

Sexually and Gender Diverse Professionals Panel and Networking Event
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
5:30pm - 7:30pm
Location: TBD
Have the opportunity to explore career-related opportunities and challenges for members of the sexually and gender diverse community by talking to professionals in a wide range of different fields. You will have the chance to hear stories from the professionals sitting on our panel, engage in a question and answer session with the panel, and mix and mingle with a number of professionals over refreshments at this event!

High School Transition and Support Services Conference
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Half-Day Event (afternoon)
Location: TBD
Join members of the Western Community and learn more about transitioning to university support services available for new students. We encourage members from local GSAs to participate in this half day program. The day will include lunch, a current student panel, round table discussion and campus tour.

Out at Western: How can we actually make it better?
A dialogue toward action
March 21, 2013
5:30pm - 7:30pm
Location: TBD
We’ve heard the refrain ‘it gets better’, but what can we all do – right now – to make it better? All members of Western’s campus community are invited to share in this conversation, facilitated in a World Café style, about creating a safe and comfortable place for our sexually and gender diverse friends, students, and colleagues. Topics include out athletes, mental health, campus support services, and  transgendered needs, among others. Nothing changes unless we change it together, so let’s start a dialogue that will ignite change!

Out in the World: Graduate Edition
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
5:30pm - 7:00pm
Location: Western's Grad Club (Middlesex College)
Join fellow Graduate Students from all faculties at Western in this informal networking event. Academic and industry professionals will also be present to dialogue with students interested in hearing their experiences about their experience as a sexually and gender diverse person in their professional or academic careers.

Out in the World Organizing Committee

Anne-Marie Fischer founded the Out in the World program in 2010 as a strong ally of the sexually and gender diverse community. Anne-Marie wanted to use her position at Western's Student Success Centre to provide necessary supports and programming that served the needs of this particular group and is thankful for the campus- and community-wide support this initiative has recieved. Anne-Marie is currently the Community Service Learning Coordinator at The Student Success Centre, and is studying her Master of Education Candidate in Western's Faculty of Education. Anne-Marie's interests lie in community development and student engagement and believes that everyone has a role in making our world a better place.

Stephanie Kapusta is a PhD candidate in the Department of Philosophy at Western. Originally from Birmingham in the UK, along with her academic and teaching career Stephanie has been involved in many and varied social outreach and public service initiatives, and is currently Manager for Trans Issues and Education in the Women’s Issues Network at Western. Stephanie identifies as a trans woman and is/has been a member of trans support and social groups in Europe and Canada. She enjoys working out, playing volleyball, listening to music, and sings in the choir of Metropolitan Community Church, a LGBTQ-friendly church in London.

Colby Ohlhausen is an Intern with Equity & Human Rights Services, which works to create a respectful and inclusive working and learning environment at Western. She is also in her last year of an Anthropology and Philosophy degree.

Myuri Komaragiri is the Vice President Campus Issues with Western's University Students' Council. It is her personal and professional interest to ensure Western has an inclusive and welcoming campus for all students regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race, religion and any other identifying factor.. Myuri has the pleasure of overseeing both PrideWestern and AllyWestern which seek to build a network of support and community for the sexually and gender diverse community. As an ally to the community, Myuri feels strongly about having education, programming, and support available on this campus and making Western one of the most inclusive and progressive campuses in the country.

Leslie Gloor Duncan, MEd. has worked in the area of new student orientation and transition support for more than 10 years, and currently works in The Student Success Centre. Leslie considers herself an ally and feels that the role of the ally is very important.   Leslie is currently working on her PhD in Education at Western's Faculty of Education and is interested in social justice issues related to education (including inclusive education and anti-oppressive education).

Rick Ezekiel is an ‘out’ professional working at Western University. As the Coordinator of Student Engagement Programs at the Student Success Centre, Rick has the pleasure of working with exciting, student driven programs at Western such as the Leadership Education Program, Society of Off-Campus Students, and Alternative Spring Break program. Rick is also an involved member in the London community, participating in several community events such as the annual Rona MS Bike Tour. Rick is an alumni of Western University, having graduated with a Masters Degree in Neuroscience, and a Bachelors degree in Psychology. Rick is thrilled about initiatives such as Out in the World happening on campus and in London, recognizing the value to our entire community when each of its members feels comfortable being their authentic self.

Stephanie Hayne Beatty is the Experiential Learning Team Coordinator in The Student Success Centre and facilitates the development of experiential learning opportunities for Western students, and works specifically with faculty members across all disciplines to design courses that offer enriching hands-on opportunities. As an ally of the sexually and gender diverse community, Stephanie is looking forward to being part of the Out in the World initiative for its the third year. Stephanie’s background is in Journalism and English, and is a recent graduate of the Master of Education program at the University of Calgary. She has worked at Western for eleven years.