Harvard appoints Director of BGLTQ Student Life

Lisa "Lee" Forest will soon take the helm of a newly created position as Director of BGLTQ (Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, Transgender and Queer) Student Life at Harvard University in Cambridge. She begins Nov. 1 of this year.

Dean Evelynn M. Hammonds announced Forest's appointment?and the development of new BGLTQ office and lounge space opening in Boylston Hall?Sept. 8, saying, "The new director, offices, and lounge space will be critical resources?not only for undergraduates who identify as BGLTQ or have questions about their sexuality, but also for all students who want to create a supportive climate for their BGLTQ classmates."

Lisa Forest is currently the coordinator of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Allies (GLBTA) Pride Center at Bridgewater State University. She has a master of education in counseling degree and graduate academic certificate in multicultural career counseling, both from the University of North Texas. "I am delighted and honored to serve as Harvard's first Director of BGLTQ Student Life," Forest said. "This new program will be a valuable resource for the campus community, and it represents an exciting new chapter in Harvard's history. I am eager to collaborate with Harvard's outstanding students, faculty, and administrators who have paved the way with an impressive array of BGLTQ-related initiatives, and I look forward to working together toward a shared vision of social justice."

"Lisa Forest is a talented and experienced administrator who can take the College's existing supports for BGLTQ students and make them more robust and accessible. I'm very pleased that she has agreed to take on this new role," Hammonds said.

Forest's position was developed by the BGLTQ Working Group?co-chaired by Diana Eck, co-master of Lowell House, and professor of Sanskrit and Indian Studies, and Susan Marine, former assistant dean and director of the Harvard College Women's Center?which also appointed Emily J. Miller to serve as the graduate assistant for BGLTQ student life, supporting the various programs and services, including the development and implementation of a student intern program. In her new position, Forest will report to the assistant dean of student life, and will oversee all initiatives related to supporting BGLTQ undergraduate student life.

Suzy Nelson, Dean of Student Life and member of the BGLTQ Working Group, is excited to include Forest and the BGLTQ program to the Office of Student Life. "We are excited about the opportunity to provide more coordination and leadership to the many BGLTQ-related programs and services across Harvard College and University, especially those designed to reach students that may, at this point in their own identity development, need our programs and services more than ever before."