Brigham to head back to school
Brigham has been with the LGBT Resource Center since 2003.
Published May 5, 2006
Adam Brigham sits at his corner desk, working on his computer and occasionally looking back at the table to check on the students' progress.
Later in the day, Multicultural Center Director Pablo Mendoza stops by with a large box and tells Brigham to use it when he packs.
Brigham, who joined the resource center in 2003 as its first full-time coordinator, will leave MU at the end of the semester to work on an educational leadership and policy studies doctoral degree at Iowa State University.
During the time Brigham served as coordinator of the center, a number of new LGBT organizations emerged, including Mizzou Students for Gay and Lesbian Equality and shOUT Magazine.
Many events about LGBT issues occurred during Brigham's stay, including gay marriage debates and the inclusion of a sexual-orientation clause in the UM system's non-discrimination policy, which was added in October 2003.
Brigham said he's proud of the center's expansion, both physically and in terms of its campus presence.
In 2004, the center moved to a larger office in Brady Commons.
"The resource center has a larger presence now than it did three years ago," Brigham said. "Programs come out on a more consistent basis. Awareness has increased because of state and national issues. People are thinking about gender questions and sexual-orientation questions regardless of their political beliefs."
Senior John Doerflinger, who helped create the Queer Monologues, and junior Megan Lee said Brigham encouraged students to explore their ideas and expand programming.
"Adam empowered students to make our decisions and react to political situations," Doerflinger said. "He allowed us to do more than ever before."
Brigham credits the students working in and with the center for the increase in programs, including the Queer Monologues, which premiered in 2004.
"I'm really proud of the Queer Monologues because it's such a dynamic performance that reached a broad range of people," Brigham said.
Brigham said he hopes the center will continue to work to encourage more minority students to get involved in the LGBT community.
"I would like to see continued efforts to recognize people of color who are gay or a lesbian," he said. "We've done a number of topical programs on race and white privilege. We've tried to intentionally integrate racial themes, such as monologues about dual identity. I have seen an increase, but I'd like to see more."
Brigham and Mendoza said MU has put out a job offer to Brigham's potential replacement, but because the candidate has not signed a contract, Mendoza did not release the person's name.
Lee and Doerflinger both sat in on interviews with potential replacements.
"We were looking for someone who can be Adam Brigham without being Adam Brigham," Lee said. "I wanted to see someone who could bring new ideas and a fresh perspective but could keep up with what we've been doing and what we've set in motion."
Mendoza said roughly 20 people were interviewed for the position.
"People now understand how an effective coordinator can give students the confidence to develop the programming they like," Mendoza said. "There is a role for an office such as his. Without it we'd be stepping back instead of forward into the 21st century."