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Queer Conversations

In partnership with the UT Psychological Clinic, we cordially invite all interested attendees to the 2024 iteration of the Queer Conversations series: Queer Conversations on Appalachia. Please join us on Wednesday, October 23, from 6:00-7:30pm either online or in-person for this fantastic, free event. Students, staff/faculty, and community members are all welcome to attend. See location information below.  

Please see the event calendar link for more details and parking information: https://calendar.utk.edu/event/queer-conversations-on-appalachia. Contact Calantha Tillotson (ctillot1@utk.edu) with any questions. 

Panelists

Abraham Cervantes (He | Him | Él)

Abraham Cervantes is a queer, first-generation Mexican-American and the proud son of migrant parents. He holds a B.A in Sociology from the University of Illinois at Chicago and an M.Ed. in Higher education and Student Affairs. Currently he is a second-year doctoral student in the Ph.D. program at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, focusing on Higher Education Administration.
Abraham serves as a Senior Academic Coach with the Academic Success Center within the Division of Student Success, where he primarily supports first-year historically Black and Latinx men. His professional experiences span residential life, and navigating complex student crises, always with a focus on empowerment and holistic student development.
With a deep commitment to student success and equity, Abraham’s work is driven by a passion for supporting marginalized communities and fostering inclusive, affirming spaces within higher education.

 

Noé Monárrez (They | He)

Born in Maryville, TN shortly before moving to Knoxville, TN, Noé (they/he) is a first-generation, queer, Mexican American raised within an immigrant family. After graduating high school, they enrolled at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville where he graduated with a double Bachelors in Child & Family Studies- Community Outreach and Sociology with a concentration in Critical and Ethnic Studies. During their time at UTK, Noé became involved with on-campus organizations, such as Sexual Empowerment and Awareness at Tennessee (SEAT), where they provided comprehensive sexual education and programming for the campus, and worked with the local non-profit Centro Hispano de East TN in their Youth & Family Department.
Upon graduation in 2021, Noé accepted their current position as Community Health Educator and Condom Distribution Coordinator for East TN at Planned Parenthood of Tennessee and North Mississippi. In their time at Planned Parenthood, Noé has expanded awareness in Spanish speaking communities, integrated PP’s presence with mutual aid distribution networks, strengthened relationships with local organizations, and improved youth involvement with advocacy and education.

Ashley Stroud (She | Her)

Ashley Stroud is a native Knoxvillian and a local high school English teacher. She earned a BA in English and an MS in Teacher Education as well as a PhD in Education and a certificate in Qualitative Research Methods, all of which were conferred from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She is a narrative scholar whose research focuses on LGBTQ+ identities, specifically the educational experiences of LGBTQ+ youth and their safety in educational spaces. She has presented her work at national and regional conferences such as the National Conference for Teachers of English and the Literacy Research Association. 

Discussion Leaders

Discussion Leaders & Counseling/Clinical Psychology Doctoral Students:

  • Tomma Battle - Operations and Outreach Coordinator, Social Work
  • Ryn Turner - Graduate Student, Social Work
  • Emily Grace Reed - Graduate Student, Social Work
  • Mollie Katherine Blalock - Graduate Student, Social Work

Media