LGBTQ Center Director Resigns

As director of the LGBTQ Center, Terri Phoenix played a pivotal role in growing and expanding the outreach of the UNC LGBTQ Center for 16 years. In July 2023, Terri announced their resignation and wrote the below letter to celebrate their achievements and share their gratitude for the LGBTQ community. We are so thankful for all Terri Phoenix did to improve the lives of LGBTQ students, facility and staff on our campus and they will be very missed.

Dear friends of the LGBTQ Center,

It is with sadness that I am writing to let you know that due to multiple medical issues and at the recommendation of my medical providers, I will be resigning from my position as director of the LGBTQ Center at UNC‐Chapel Hill on July 12, 2023.

I am grateful for the opportunity to have served in this capacity. I am eternally grateful to all the people (especially students) with whom I developed relationships and shared adventures over the years. I hope that my tenure will be remembered for my many accomplishments and for the passion I brought to the work. A few of the accomplishments of which I am most proud are:

• Provision of training to over 20,000 people since 2005
• Addition of gender identity and gender expression to the nondiscrimination policy
• The ability of students to put affirmed name on their diploma through a standardized process
• UNC design standard requiring at least one gender neutral restroom in any new build or major renovation
• Transition of all possible single stall restrooms to gender nonspecific restrooms
• Creation of a University maintained list of gender neutral restrooms
• Approval of gender nonspecific housing in 2012 (although it was rescinded due to pressure from the NC General Assembly & a new system policy in 2013)
• The many students who graduated successfully due to support and visibility of the LGBTQ Center
• Development of a guide for supporting employees transitioning on the job
• Ability of students and employees to note their affirmed gender pronouns and affirmed name in Connect Carolina
• Contributions to the development and implementation of the Pride Place RLP
• The co-creation of Carolina United (in partnership with Campus Y and Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs)
• The bestowal of the OCRCC Margaret Barrett Award for Advocacy to the LGBTQ Center
• The integration of the LGBTQ Center into many university wide programs & initiatives
• The University Award for the Advancement of Women
• The University Diversity Award
• Induction into the Order of the Golden Fleece
• The creation of the LGBTQ Student Emergency Fund

All these accomplishments came through collaboration with others who were committed to ensuring that LGBTQ students and employees had an equitable and inclusive community. It is my fervent hope that you collectively will continue to support the work of the LGBTQ Center. I will still be in the area and look forward to being involved in an emeritus capacity.

Finally, I am grateful to the staff and colleagues with which I have had the honor to serve and to former Vice Chancellor Winston Crisp and to Associate Vice Chancellor Dr. Bettina Shuford their support and guidance over the years.

With gratitude,

Terri L. Phoenix