Jacksonville University’s Center for Gender + Sexuality will kick off its inaugural year with a boost from the Jessie Ball DuPont Fund. The organization is committing $110,727 in grant funding over three years to the center, aimed at launching mentorship programs, developing new courses in Women’s and Gender Studies and creating a campus-wide initiative to promote the growth and well-being of women and members of the LGBTQIAA+ community.
The CG+S, announced earlier this year, will be led by Dr. Sarah Parker. The center, located in Swisher Library, is a welcoming, centralized interactive space for students looking for resources, events and mentorship opportunities. Aside from directly supporting students, the center aims to create a more inclusive campus environment for all members of the JU community.
“The generosity of the Jessie Ball duPont Fund allows JU’s inaugural Center for Gender & Sexuality to create a range of engaging, meaningful opportunities for the entire JU campus,” Dr. Parker said. “The duPont Fund grant is truly a game changer for the Center for Gender + Sexuality’s mission to nurture the growth, productivity, and wellbeing of LGBTQIAA+ people and women, and we are immensely grateful to have such strong support from an organization that does so much for the Jacksonville community. ”
The Center for Gender + Sexuality will emphasize experiential learning and leadership opportunities for LGBTQIAA+ students. Several faculty members will receive training from the center this school year, enabling more people on campus to effectively respond to and mentor LGBTQIAA+ students on campus.
The CG+S will also help to promote the Women’s and Gender Studies minor at Jacksonville University and connect students with health and wellness resources specifically designed for LGBTQIA+ people and women. With the funds, Jacksonville University plans to add eight new courses in women’s and gender studies in the next three years.
Dr. Parker, also an Associate Professor of English with a Ph.D. in English and Comparative Literature from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, was named to her role as director this summer. In her time at Jacksonville University, she has demonstrated commitment to fostering an inclusive campus environment, serving as the faculty advisor to the Gender and Sexuality Alliance student group (GSA) and working to promote course offerings and undergraduate research opportunities in the Women’s and Gender Studies minor. Her research currently focuses on women in early modern science and medicine.
“We are excited to organize events that reach students, faculty, and staff on JU’s campus while also connecting students to new academic and internship opportunities,” Parker said.
The first events the Center plans include participating in the Sexual Health Fair, an expert panel on Dobbs’s reversal of Roe, and a Constitution Day Event. An open house in partnership with the newly renovated Swisher Library is planned for later this semester.
