The 9th Annual Lavender Graduation ceremony was followed by a reception hosted by the Texas Exes LGBT Network and the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement. Fifty-seven grads and their friends and families were joined by LGBT Network alumni and Pride and Equity Faculty Staff Association members at the Etter-Harbin Alumni Center for drinks and appetizers.For the third year, DDCE presented its Community Leadership Award.

 

This year’s honorees are Ixchel Rosal and Dr. Ryan A. Miller. Both were instrumental in establishing a welcoming community or LGBTQ students, faculty and staff. Rosal served as director for the Gender and Sexuality Center since its inception 12 years ago and has served as executive director for Student Diversity Initiatives the past two years. She has been a lead team member for the Campus Climate Response Team (CCRT), too. She recently stepped down to take a position as associate vice president for student life at Columbia University.

Miller, has worked in the DDCE in several capacities, most recently as director of inclusion and equity, leading the development and administration of the Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action program for the university. He has ably led the CCRT the past few years and was instrumental in the establishment of the Texas Exes LGBT Network. Miller will be leaving UT Austin for a tenure-track faculty position at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte.

In his remarks at the reception, Dr. Gregory J. Vincent, vice president for diversity and community engagement, noted that Rosal and Miller represented “the best the university has to offer.”

We wish Ixchel and Ryan the best of luck as they transition to their new positions and look forward to hearing about the great things they achieve at Columbia and UNC.