Kayla Lisenby fills position that was added in 2011
USC’s new Coordinator for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Programs Kayla Lisenby arrived on campus Monday.
Lisenby fills a position that was added to USC’s faculty in 2011, but was vacant for most of the 2012-2013 school year. She will coordinate workshops, programs, and a variety of services for LGBT students and allies — heterosexual students who actively support the LGBT community.
Lisenby will also maintain drop-in assistance for students; coordinate education and awareness-raising programs for the campus community; coordinate the Safe Zone Ally program; and create and implement trainings, panels, and discussions as needed or required by students. Lisenby is also expected to be a barometer for the climate for LGBT students at USC and engage in collaborative and outreach efforts across campus.
Lisenby recently completed her master’s in USC’s higher education and student affairs program . Before being hired as LGBT coordinator, Lisenby was working with Leadership and Staff Development in Residence Life, a subset of University Housing. She is excited about her new position and the opportunities it could bring her and students.
“I am working hard to get up to date on the programs and services the office has offered in the past, building relationships with new colleagues, and brainstorming and planning for the upcoming academic year,” Lisenby said.
Lisenby hopes to maximize her impact on USC’s LGBT community and its allies by working with other departments within the Division of Student Affairs and Academic Support.
“Collaboration is important to me, and as a graduate student I had to opportunity to see the great work that student affairs departments are doing across campus. As a professional, I hope to develop cross-campus collaborative relationships in order to best serve Carolina students,” Lisenby said.
Lisenby will be at USC through the summer, although her office may be busier when students return in August.