Heather Sharpes-Smith

Identity: Queer

What motivates you to be visible on campus?

I’m motivated to be visible because I know how meaningful it can be to see affirming, supportive people in leadership and everyday campus spaces. Visibility signals safety, belonging, and care—especially for students and colleagues who may be navigating systems that haven’t always been built with them in mind.
My support for the LGBTQ+ community is both personal and professional. I strive to be an advocate and ally through inclusive leadership, supporting LGBTQ+ students and colleagues, and ensuring that policies, programs, and learning environments are designed with equity and dignity at the center. I also support LGBTQ+ family and friends, which continually reinforces for me why visibility and allyship matter. In the past I have led student GSA (gay straight alliance groups) and I have been a mentor, I have assisted in creating digital learning content and I am heavily involved in my community and in political spaces to fight for equality.