To better serve students who identify as LGBTQ, the UA established the Office of LGBTQ Affairs in 2007. This momentous decision was brought about after nearly twenty years of advocacy by LGBTQ students, faculty and staff.  They devoted hour-upon-hour to promote equity in University policies and practices. They worked equally as tirelessly to sponsor educational opportunities to build an inclusive campus climate.

In recognition of the significant needs of this marginalized community, the President’s LGBT Advisory Council recommended that President Shelton hire a Director of LGBTQ Affairs, which he did in 2007. The council also recognized that to achieve our goal of becoming a top ten public research institution, we need to be able to retain world class faculty and staff, and therefore we must be inclusive of LGBTQ colleagues. We are proud to report that the creation of the Office of LGBTQ Affairs brings the University of Arizona in line with 168 other college campuses across the country that have professional staff to serve the LGBTQ campus community (National Consortium of Directors of Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Resources in Higher Education 2010 Annual Report).