Spectrum Center Mission & Vision
With sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression as our framework, the Spectrum Center is committed to enriching the campus experience and developing students as individuals and as members of communities. Our work is accomplished through a student-centered, intersectional lens.
The Center envisions an inclusive campus community free of discrimination in all forms where social justice inspires community engagement and equity.
This article provides you with a detailed history of the Spectrum Center and its evolution over time.
You’re invited to join the Spectrum Center for the Jim Toy Celebration of Liberation, happening Friday, May 20 at 7:00 p.m. at the Michigan Theater. This event is an opportunity for community and friends to come together to honor Jim Toy, who passed away on New Year’s Day. Jim was co-founder of the Spectrum Center, and his legacy has been felt deeply across campus.
Spectrum Center co-founder and U-M alumnus Jim Toy, MSW ‘81, passed away over the weekend at the age of 91. Toy was known as an outspoken activist and advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, and worked to establish the Human Sexuality Office in 1971, which later became the Spectrum Center.
Subscribe to Spectrum Center Digest, the monthly LGBTQ+ newsletter where you can find out about how to get involved in the latest events and programs, as well as resources and opportunities across the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor campus.
Earlier this semester, Jesse Beal (they/them) joined the Spectrum Center as Associate Director. Prior to arriving at the University of Michigan, they served as the Director of The Gender and Sexuality Campus Center at Michigan State University. They bring over a decade of experience leading student-facing affinity-based resource centers at Amherst College, Brandeis University, Suffolk University, and MSU.
Recently Jesse sat down to talk about their journey to LGBTQ+ work, their research focusing on mental health, and some of their queer media recommendations. Welcome, Jesse!
June 3, 2020
While different forms of oppression continue to be pervasive in everyday society, the staff at Spectrum Center recognizes the impact that anti-Black racism and anti-Asian racism/xenophobia has had on our students, staff, faculty, and alumnx communities near and far. We would like to restate the center’s commitment to intersectional advocacy, support, and allyhood work especially with Queer, Trans, Black, and Indigenous People of Color.
