Dr. Sonnet Gabbard is the coordinator for LGBTQ+ student initiatives at 91制片厂. In this role, she works closely with students, staff, faculty, alumni and community partners to serve 91制片厂鈥檚 LGBTQ+ community.
Through designing quality programming, reviewing/developing policies, creating resources and coordinating support strategies for students, she assists in the implementation of the overall mission of the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion to foster a sense of community, belonging, and success for LGBTQ+ students and students from minoritized backgrounds.
But when she鈥檚 not supporting 91制片厂 students, you can find her at the local farmer鈥檚 market or singing Lady Gaga at karaoke night. Here are ten questions with Dr. Gabbard.
It鈥檚 pretty simple! I wake up in the morning, get my cup of coffee, sit in my favorite purple chair in my sun room, put my French bulldog Louie on my lap and enjoy my coffee. Then my partner and I go to the farmer鈥檚 market, come home, make a meal and watch a movie. Maybe that鈥檚 boring to some, but that鈥檚 a perfect day to me.
I鈥檓 a big Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan so I would choose Willow Rosenberg, who is Buffy鈥檚 best friend. Because, you know, I鈥檓 the main character of my story, so Willow鈥檚 got to be the sidekick. But she鈥檚 also queer like I am, and she鈥檚 arguably the most powerful character on Buffy because she鈥檚 such an amazing witch. And she鈥檚 also really smart so we could nerd out about really smart things!
When I was in college, I would always go with Whitney Houston鈥檚 鈥淚 Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)鈥� because it鈥檚 such a classic. But since Lady Gaga became a thing, I would say now it鈥檚 鈥淧aparazzi.鈥� There are other Gaga songs but I love 鈥淧aparazzi鈥� because it鈥檚 a good crowd sing-along, but it鈥檚 also a little slower so I鈥檓 better able to stay on top of the lyrics!
I think they would say my loyalty. I鈥檓 a Capricorn, so I鈥檓 loyal to my loved ones. I also think they would mention my commitment to social justice issues.
I鈥檓 a child of the 鈥�80s and 鈥�90s, so the side ponytail was a big move for me in elementary school. I was also a big fan of bell-bottoms, flared pants and cut-off flannel shirts that I鈥檇 wear as a vest. Oh, and I can鈥檛 forget the zigzag part 鈥� that was such a moment in the 鈥�90s!
I think about the immense amount of universes and galaxies surrounding us and how we鈥檙e only just a teeny tiny part of that. It puts a lot of things into perspective.
As a little queer girl growing up in rural Indiana, I was in the closet my whole youth. So I would say all of the things that I never heard growing up. I would tell her she is not weird and that she鈥檚 actually a perfect person in terms of living her truth. I鈥檇 also tell her that she鈥檚 very smart because I didn鈥檛 really hear that growing up. And I would tell her that it鈥檚 OK to be loud and opinionated and take charge!
I鈥檝e always wanted to live in New York. I know it鈥檚 not as exotic as, say, Istanbul, which was on my list as well, but New York City is such a special place. The art, the museums, the food! Yeah, I would relocate there in a heartbeat.
I鈥檓 always grateful for my community, both my chosen and biological family. I just feel really lucky to be part of my insular group of queer folks, BIPOC folks, etc. But I鈥檓 also just grateful to be in a community at 91制片厂 that is really committed to making everyone feel like they belong.
First and foremost, its commitment to the students. My team in the Office of DEI talks about this a lot; how our mission and charge is to support and care for our students. And whether that鈥檚 in our office, in the classroom or out of the classroom, 91制片厂 has shown in their actions just how committed they are to creating a great experience for their students.