Inaugural LGBTQIA+ Student Resource Center Director Katy Collins: “I want to honor the work of those who fought so hard to make the center a reality and make sure students feel like it’s a home for them—and then do the work of making sure it’s not the only place on campus that feels like home.”

University News

Meet BU’s New LGBTQIA+ Student Resource Center Director

Interim leader Katy Collins appointed as inaugural student center director

After a long nationwide search, Boston University’s new LGBTQIA+ Student Resource Center has its inaugural director: Katy Collins.

Collins began serving as the center’s interim director at the end of the spring semester. Previously, they worked as director of student outreach and engagement in the Dean of Students office. 

The LGBTQIA+ Student Resource Center, on the second mezzanine at 808 Commonwealth Avenue, opened at the end of 2023. The multipurpose community and advocacy space for LGBTQIA+ students at BU, has study and lounge areas, rooms for club meetings and presentations, free gender-affirming products, community-building and educational events, and more. (Find additional information about the center here.)

The search for a director began last year. The search committee, appointed by Jean Morrison, then provost and chief academic officer, comprising faculty, students, and staff, sought a candidate who possessed “an entrepreneurial leadership spirit and the creativity and experience to cultivate community and enrich LGBTQIA+ student life,” says committee cochair Jason Campbell-Foster, dean of students.

“With Katy Collins at the helm, we have found a strong advocate who will amplify the voices of everyone within the queer community, creating a safe and empowering space for all,” Campbell-Foster says. “Since being appointed interim director, Katy has done a sensational job establishing the programmatic core of the program and will rely on their extensive experience in student affairs to curate an innovative, distinctive future.” 

Collins studied anthropology as a New College of Florida undergrad and went on to earn two master’s degrees, in gender and cultural studies and in communications management, both from Simmons College. Prior to arriving at BU in 2019, they worked as an academic advisor at Simmons and a resident director at Berklee College of Music, as well as at New College of Florida. That background makes them uniquely qualified for the inaugural BU role, says committee cochair Victoria Shannon Sahani, associate provost for community and inclusion.

“Through their work in the Dean of Students office and their prior master’s degrees, Katy has honed their deep knowledge about the identities, needs, and concerns of the BU student community broadly,” Sahani says. “Every day, Katy demonstrates that they have the energy, enthusiasm, and expertise for the director role, and that they are able to connect authentically with students from their lived experience. We are so fortunate to have Katy at BU supporting our student community and look forward to witnessing the center grow and thrive under their leadership.”

Collins, who identifies as queer, says the role is exactly what they pictured themselves doing as a young academic. “My intention was to be the director of a queer student center on a college campus,” Collins says. “But when I graduated, there were no positions available, so I had to pivot.” 

After stepping in as center interim director this spring, Collins remembered that this had been their dream back in the day. “I realized what an enormous privilege it was to help build the center from the ground up,” they say. “As the inaugural director, I want to honor the work of those who fought so hard to make the center a reality and make sure students feel like it’s a home for them—and then do the work of making sure it’s not the only place on campus that feels like home.”

As inaugural director, Collins plans to continue adding to the robust programming they’ve curated, from weekly talent shows and game nights to guest lectures and panel discussions. Collins has also partnered with Debbie Bazarsky and Allison Reilly, director and assistant director of the LGBTQIA+ Center for Faculty & Staff, to create a University-wide programming committee. One committee priority: ensuring that an equal amount of LGBTQIA+ events happen on the Medical Campus. 

One of Collins’ biggest goals is constructing multiple ways for students to get involved with the center, which currently has just under a dozen student employees. Going forward, they also hope to create meaningful volunteer opportunities that benefit the BU community while helping students boost their résumés. Another hope: implementing town hall–style feedback, where anyone, not just a student advisory board, can share their opinions with the center’s staff.

In the immediate future, Collins is in the middle of planning BU’s All for Love Pride Fest with the LGBTQIA+ Center for Faculty & Staff. The free event, on June 28 on the BU Beach, is open to the BU community and will have music, food, games, giveaways, and more. Learn more about this and other Pride Month events here.

Having an active queer affinity center is critical on any college campus, Collins says, but especially so amidst today’s political landscape. 

“As we see all of these attacks on democracy [such as on reproductive health and LGBTQIA+ rights], it’s important that an identity center stands up for folks who are being marginalized by so many different institutions,” Collins says. “My goal is to work with not just BU, but other universities, to make sure we’re all clear on how we approach different situations, because it’s important that we build coalitions in the upcoming years.

“The attacks are rampant, and they’re not going anywhere,” Collins continues. “So, how are we making sure that we are aware of the issues and putting all of our resources together into a more just world?”