LGBT center hires full-time administrator

Now enjoying its second semester in its new Kirkhof Center home, Grand Valley's LGBT Resource Center has a new full-time administrator.

Colette Beighley, former director of communications for the Triangle Foundation, is the center's assistant director. Beighley began working at Grand Valley January 5. Her duties include helping director Milt Ford with programming and the center's daily operations.

"Grand Valley is so impressive," Beighley said. "As someone who wants to educate the community about LGBT issues, this is a great opportunity. It's an honor to be part of an institution that's leading the way for change."

The salary for her position is funded by the Arcus Foundation of Kalamazoo, one of the nation's largest foundations dedicated to supporting LGBT issues.

A Spring Lake resident, Beighley said she has followed Grand Valley's recent moves to support a diverse and inclusive campus, such as offering household benefits and including gender identity and expression in the university's EEO policy.

While at the Triangle Foundation, Beighley was instrumental in recognizing the university's diversity efforts with the foundation's Catalyst Award. The award was presented in October.

Beighley has also held a voluntary position with PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays), working with the Michigan Safe Schools Coalition. In that capacity, she worked to lobby state legislators to pass an anti-bullying bill. The bill passed the House late last year but died in the Senate.

Ford said Beighley's knowledge of Lansing will be a tremendous asset to the center. "She is a great person to work with and to get to know," said Ford, professor of liberal studies. "She has lots of connections to the community and state."

She was a member of the LGBT center's advisory committee. Beighley said there has been a remarkable increase in student participation since the center opened in September. During the fall semester, about 2,000 students visited the center or participated in one of its programs.

"We've seen more students participate. They come to fill the space. There was such a need," she said. "It's a really gratifying experience to see them be so comfortable on campus."

Beighley earned bachelor's and master's degrees from California State University, East Bay. She is a licensed marriage and family therapist.