Author: Jennifer Pearson

Spectrum is celebrating 50 years of LGBTQ+ recognized student organizations at Wichita State at an event starting at 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3 in 305/306 Rhatigan Student Center, Beggs Ballroom.

The event will include a catered dinner, music, speakers, a silent auction, dancing and presentations about local LGBTQ+ history from Dr. Jenny Pearson, professor of sociology, Dr. Jay Price, professor of history, and Brent Kennedy, lecturer in anthropology.

Tickets are just $10 for students and $20 for faculty, staff and community members. Purchase tickets at wichita.edu/lgbtq50.

The 2026 Kansas Gender & Sexuality Conference will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday, March 6 at the Marcus Welcome Center. As always, the conference is free and open to all students, faculty and staff from Kansas colleges and universities as well as to the surrounding communities. On-site registration is available, and attendees can drop in and out as their schedule allows. More information, including a schedule, can be found on the conference website at wichita.edu/genderconference.

This year’s keynote speaker will be Dr. Barbara A. Kerr, Distinguished Professor of Counseling Psychology Emerita at the University of Kansas and author of “The Psychology of Liberty: Reclaiming Everyday Freedom,” whose talk is titled “Women and Liberty.”

The 2026 Kansas Gender & Sexuality Conference will be held March 6 at the Marcus Welcome Center. The conference is free and open to all students, faculty, and staff from Kansas colleges and universities as well as to surrounding communities. Organizers request that all attendees pre-register to help with the conference planning process, even if they plan to attend only part of the day. You can find out more information about the agenda and how to register at wichita.edu/genderconference.

Pre-registration will be open until 11:59 p.m. Feb. 25, but there will still be an opportunity for on-site registration the day of the conference.

About this year’s keynote:

Organizers are excited to share that the keynote speaker will be Dr. Barbara A. Kerr, Distinguished Professor of Counseling Psychology Emerita at the University of Kansas and author of “The Psychology of Liberty: Reclaiming Everyday Freedom,” whose talk is titled “Women and Liberty.”

The 2026 Kansas Gender & Sexuality Conference will be held March 6 at the Marcus Welcome Center. The conference is free and open to the public. Organizers request that all attendees pre-register to help with the conference planning process, even if they plan to attend only part of the day. You can find out more information about the agenda and how to register at wichita.edu/genderconference.

Pre-registration will be open until 11:59 p.m. Feb. 25.

About this year’s keynote:

Organizers are excited to share that the keynote speaker will be Dr. Barbara A. Kerr, Distinguished Professor of Counseling Psychology Emerita at the University of Kansas and author of “The Psychology of Liberty: Reclaiming Everyday Freedom,” whose talk is titled “Women and Liberty.”

Applications are being accepted through Friday, April 11 for the Richard D. Muma and Rick A. Case Equality Scholarship and the Roger McClure Equality Scholarship/Fellowship.

All undergraduate and graduate students are eligible. To learn more or to submit your application, visit wichita.edu/equalityscholarship.

Join the Department of Sociology for the 11th annual Kansas Gender & Sexuality Conference Friday, Oct. 18 on the third floor of the Rhatigan Student Center.

The free, interdisciplinary, state-wide conference brings together scholars, community organizations and students/future professionals to discuss gender and sexuality related work and issues in Kansas.

Attendees are welcome to attend the full conference or to join this year’s keynote featuring Dr. Meg Paceley, a social worker and scholar engaged in research that examines factors in the social environment (e.g. families, communities) and broader systems (e.g. policies, societal rhetoric) and their relationship to queer and trans youth’s mental and physical health. Their keynote, titled “Health, Activism, Community, and Resistance in an Era of Anti-LGBTQ+ Policy, Legislation, and Rhetoric,” will take place at 4 pm in 305/306 RSC, Beggs Ballroom, followed by a small reception with the speaker.

Want to present your scholarship at the 2024 Kansas Gender & Sexuality Conference? The deadline for submitting your presentation proposal, consisting of a 200-300 word summary/abstract, has been extended until Sunday, Sept. 15.

The purpose of this free annual interdisciplinary conference is to showcase the gender- and sexuality-related scholarship happening across the state — highlighting the scholarly and creative work of students, faculty, staff and community partners — and to provide an opportunity to network across departments and universities within Kansas.

Submissions of original research, interactive training/workshops or other scholarship and creative work related to gender and/or sexuality from Kansas communities and universities are currently being accepted.

Want to present your scholarship at the 2024 Kansas Gender & Sexuality Conference? The deadline for submitting your presentation proposal, consisting of a 200-300 word summary/abstract, is Sept. 8.

The purpose of this free annual interdisciplinary conference is to showcase the gender- and sexuality-related scholarship happening across the state — highlighting the scholarly and creative work of students, faculty, staff and community partners — and to provide an opportunity to network across departments and universities within Kansas.

Submissions of original research, interactive training/workshops or other scholarship and creative work related to gender and/or sexuality from Kansas communities and universities are currently being accepted.

Spectrum: LGBTQ & Allies and Wichita State’s LGBTQ+ student organization will host an event at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21 in 265 Rhatigan Student Center to show support for the transgender, nonbinary and gender nonconforming students.

Join them as they come together to celebrate trans and nonbinary voices. Hear about current research on diverse gender identities as well as personal stories from queer folks on campus about how they came to find their identity.

What brings you joy? A group of student and faculty researchers in the Sociology Department are interested in learning about the joy that comes from LGBTQ+ identities. The team of researchers is seeking young adults ages 18-28 who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community to participate in an interview or focus group to talk about LGBTQ joy.

How can you participate?

• Join a focus group or schedule an interview.
  • Interviews last about one hour at a time and location comfortable for you.
  • Focus groups last 1.5 hours, and pizza will be served.
• Share what LGBTQ+ identity and joy mean to you.
• Spread the word to others who might be interested.

To participate or for more information, contact Dr. Jenny Pearson at jennifer.pearson@wichita.edu or (316) 978-7145.