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Please contact any of the Women's Center staff by sending an e-mail, just click on the individual's name, or send email to wcenter@uidaho.edu to reach all of us!
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Heather Shea Gasser,
Director
I joined the Women's Center staff in February of 2008 after spending the last seven years in the desert southwest. After growing up in Colorado and attending college at Colorado State University where I double majored in business (marketing) and fine arts (graphic design) I went on to graduate school in Student Affairs in Higher Education (also at Colorado State). I have served as a student affairs administrator at now four different public universities (3 of which are land-grant). I have worked in multicultural affairs, commuter student affairs, non-traditional student services, campus activities, leadership programs, Greek Life, and GLBT Student Services - a true Student Affairs generalist. Now that I've been able to realize my passion for student affairs and feminism in the Women's Center (the perfect place to combine my activism and personal ideology with work!) it's literally the perfect job! Having now settled into the position, I am looking forward to continuing our activism and outreach on campus and in the community. On a personal note, my partner, Ray (who also works at the University of Idaho) and I have two little boys, Eli (born in 2005) and Dylan (born in 2007) who you will likely see around the Women's Center from time to time! Stop by the Women's Center any time!
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Lysa Salsbury,
Program Coordinator
I'm of English/Portuguese parentage, and grew up mostly in southwest England. I came on board at the Women's Center in September 2005, following an abrupt career change from many years of working as a freelance translator and liaison interpreter (Spanish, Portuguese, and French). Growing up in a core group of strong women, I've always been passionate about and dedicated to women's issues. As a college student, I was very involved in gender activism, as a frequent organizer/participant in Take Back the Night marches, and as a rider and volunteer driver of the campus Women's Nightbus. I followed that up post-college by working with a United Way domestic violence shelter, and a women & children's abuse counseling and advocacy group, and by mentoring and supporting Angolan women enrolled in a study abroad scholarship program at Indiana University. I'm currently finishing up a graduate degree in Adult/Organizational Learning & Leadership, focusing on developing services and programs for non-traditional women students and student parents. I love working at the Women's Center, and interacting with the great people who come in every day. Got an idea for a program we should do? I'd love to hear it! Please come in for a chat!
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Rebecca Rod,
GLBT Program Coordinator
Once upon a time, I found a metal button that said, “Am I self-centered, or is it just me?” Ha ha. I thought of giving it to someone, but decided that wouldn’t be very nice, so I kept it. Sometimes what this button says haunts me because I grew up in Iowa, Lutheran and Norwegian, and we were NOT supposed to be self-centered in any way. Now the button just makes me laugh, because I turned out to be gay, and ironically, that’s at the center of my work as the GLBT Program Advisor for the Women’s Center (someone once said to me – “Oh, so you’re gay-for-pay!” Ha!) I’ve lived in Moscow since 1984 and have worked at the UI as a librarian, marketing manager, and bookstore employee. Most recently, I spent 10 years as an artist/potter. Now I’m at the Women’s Center, which is a great place for me to be at this time in my life – to help and to learn. Stop in during my office hours, or call any time!
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Heather Ebba Maib,
Administrative Assistant
I grew up in Central Washington and moved to Pullman, WA in 1999 to attend WSU. I was initially a Music Major (Vocal Performance), but graduated in 2005 with a B.A. in Women’s Studies. After graduation, I worked for the Women’s Studies Department at WSU as a “Jane of all Trades,” before pursing an M.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies in Women Studies and Philosophy at Oregon State University. While at OSU I was a teaching assistant, research assistant and a graduate student instructor in the Women Studies Program and worked as the Activism/Outreach Coordinator in the Women’s Center. At Oregon State I taught Intro to Women’s Studies and co-created and co-taught their first LGBT Studies course. I also guest lectured on a variety of topics.
I moved back to Moscow, ID in June 2008 and worked for Upward Bound Math Science as a summer instructor and have worked with developmentally disabled adults.
My areas of interest include: body politics, gender construction/deconstruction, queer theory and activism, animal/vegetarian feminism, violence against women, disAbility rights, and media activism/cultural critique. I have also been told that I’m a pretty wicked vegan baker.
I am excited to be working at the Women’s Center and meeting all of the wonderful staff and students.
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Lynn McAlister,
Women's Mentoring Program Student Coordinator
This is the second year I have occupied a work-study position at the UI Women’s Center, with the specific and rewarding duty of coordinating the Women’s Mentoring Program. Originally from American Falls, Idaho, I currently study sociology and pre-medical sciences at University of Idaho. I conduct scholarly research through the McNair Achievement Program and the Martin Institute, and serve as a peer academic mentor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology. Much of my time is spent co-coordinating Social Forum at University of Idaho (a student organization), and engaging in all sorts of social and political activism. On Radio Free Moscow, I co-produce a segment called Radio Active, which highlights activism on campus, encouraging collaboration with the community. Please contact me about the Women's Mentoring Program, to ask questions, provide feedback, and share ideas.
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Tewsdey Erickson,
Student Coordinator
I originally hail from the Spokane/Coeur d'Alene area and am a junior here at the University of Idaho majoring in Sociology. After college I hope to work in the social work sector, specifically with children (foster care, child protective services, adoption, etc.).
I was interested in working at the Women's Center after I took my first Women's Studies course my sophomore year. I love my job because I have the privilege of being involved in all the great events the Women's Center sponsors throughout the year! It's wonderful to be a part of raising awareness for all the different issues facing women and LGBT people today.
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Mike Chavez,
Student Coordinator
This is my first year working at the Women's center. I grew up in Oregon, and moved to Idaho almost 10 years ago. I graduated from high school in 2006. I am currently a general studies major. My academic as well as personal interests include gender, sexuality, inequality, and diversity. I am a current member of the Gay Straight Alliance. I was interested in working at the Women's center because I have always found the place to be very relaxing, safe, and informative environment and I would like to help and inform others. I also enjoy being part of a team that brings about not just awareness but advocates for social change. The Women's center allows for me to pursue my interests and allows me to inform others about them as well. In my spare time i enjoy spending time with friends, playing strategy based games, traveling, and reading. |
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Jackie Sandmeyer,
Student Coordinator
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Miguel Pesina,
Student Coordinator
I am a sophomore here at the U of I and I am majoring in Clothing, Textiles, and Design. I graduated from Caldwell High school here in Idaho. I have no set plans on what I want to do with my major, but I am pretty good at Designing clothes so I might go with that. This is my first year working with the Women’s Center. I am really excited to work with a bunch of awesome individuals. I hope to learn a lot from the center about women’s issues and also being gay, the GLBT community here on Campus. Being raised by a strong independent Mother, I have always respected the hard work that goes on here in the center. As freshman last year I have always wondered what it would be like to work at the center and now I do! |
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Gracie Buenrostro,
Student Coordinator
My name is Graciela Buenrostro I go by Gracie for short. I am a second year student here at UI and I am majoring in Business POM (Production Operations and Management) and minoring in Spanish. I recently joined a multicultural sorority, Sigma Lambda Gamma, whose one of its main goal is to transfer women into women of distinction and see them succeed. Which also seems to be a goal here at the Womens Center which makes me excited. I was born in Granada Hills, California on October 9, 1989. Both my parents came from Mexico as illegal immigrants. I have 3 brothers and 1 sister and I am the youngest in the family. I have one brother who has graduated from UI and another who is on the verge of graduating. My sister went to a community college and graduated in the nursing field. Even though my siblings and I were born in America, we were still brought up with those Mexican traditions which we totally changed. Our culture is used to having the women be a stay at home wife/mom having to depend on the man to bring home money and food. My parents got a divorce and that tradition went out the window, which I became very happy about. I recently got married this past summer to a man of my same culture, but he seems to also be accepting to the fact that women no longer depend on men. Coming to UI from a little town with no diversity whatsoever really made me want to know more of what is out in the world. I always thought women can be independent and strong. I hope that in working here at the Womens Center will help me become more familiar with getting to be a strong women and gain knowledge of the diversity around me and help others in along the way. I am very excited to be on board. |
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