Editors: The first of four "Vision Forums" to guide the CU-Boulder GLBT Center meets today from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the University Memorial Center, room 305.
Bruce Smail has been appointed director of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Resource Center at the University of Colorado at Boulder, according to Elease Robbins, associate vice chancellor for student affairs and dean of students.
The appointment has been approved by Chancellor Byyny and became effective Oct. 1.
Smail replaces Beverly Tuel, who resigned last June to enter private practice. She continues to serve as a part-time psychologist in CU-Boulder's Counseling and Psychological Services: A Multicultural Center.
"We are pleased to have Mr. Smail join the division of student affairs and the university as the director of the GLBT Resource Center," Robbins said.
"He brings many years of both formal and informal leadership experience and strong knowledge of the issues and concerns related to the GLBT community. Additionally, he brings a commitment to diversity, student development and importance for the need for community and inclusion for all, on university campuses. I am confident that he will continue to build upon and enhance the strengths, services and contributions of the Resource Center."
Smail received a master's degree in counseling and personnel services from Trenton State College and is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in higher education from Indiana University, Bloomington.
He has more than 10 years of professional and academic research experience in higher education at Indiana University, Southwestern University, Colorado State University, Boston University and the College of New Jersey.
He also has federal service experience as a program analyst and training specialist with the Census Bureau, and has teaching experience in the U.S. Virgin Islands public school system.
Smail's experiences demonstrate a long-standing commitment to multiculturalism, leadership and advocacy for GLBT and minority communities. His goals for the center include enhancing outreach efforts to students that reflect differences in race, gender, socioeconomic status and ability.
He plans to create partnerships with faculty, staff and graduate students to examine various issues for GLBT college students, such as identity development, levels of oppression, academic retention and graduation. The information would be shared with a national campus GLBT directors' consortium and with other universities interested in developing GLBT offices on their campuses.
Key programs that Smail plans to focus on include a training component with students, staff, faculty and alumni working as teams to provide information and support to the campus community on GLBT issues, developing a model to enhance students' leadership abilities and fundraising.
Smail is requesting the community's input in setting the vision for the GLBT Resource Center. Four "Vision Forums" have been scheduled for November. Each 90-minute forum will provide opportunities for students, staff, faculty, administrators, alumni and community members to share their thoughts and visions for the center.
Following is the schedule for the forums:
ß Tuesday, Nov. 13 , noon to 1:30 p.m., UMC 305, Dennis Small Cultural Center
ß Wednesday, Nov. 14, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Eaton Humanities Building, room 125
ß Monday, Nov. 19, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Eaton Humanities Building, room 125
ß Tuesday, Nov. 20, noon to 1:30 p.m., UMC 305, Dennis Small Cultural Center
The GLBT Resource Center provides information and referral services, educational, cultural and social programming and advocacy for the GLBT communities on the CU-Boulder campus, and networking opportunities for GLBT groups. For more information, call the GLBT Resource Center at (303) 492-1377 or visit the Web site at .