Amber Graham has been appointed the 2019-2020 chair of the President’s Commission on Gender Identity/Expression and Sexual Orientation.
A conduct hearing officer for the Center for Community Standards, Graham originally came to Pullman from Virginia Tech University, where she earned a master’s in higher education administration in 2017. She began her career at Washington State University as a residential education director with Residence Life before transitioning into her new role with the Center for Community Standards earlier this year.
Graham began her work with GIESO in Spring 2018 because she was drawn to the goals of the organization and the promise to affect change across the WSU system.
She has been heavily involved in the LGBTQ+ community, and has participated in numerous outreach events on the Pullman campus, including the Trans-Healthcare Symposium and work with GIESORC for her collateral assignment. Graham is also an active member of NASPA where she has been involved in initiatives to bring awareness and visibility to LGBTQ+ issues, and through which she has worked to bring positive change to the WSU system.
This year, Graham hopes to focus on building the impact that GIESO has already worked to establish. She sees mentorship and the recruitment/retention of queer and trans people of color for faculty and staff positions as high priority items for the commission. GIESO will be actively working to build structures of support within the commission and institution. Graham recognizes the strength in diversity of all kinds, and is especially concerned with increasing visibility of, and recognition for, LGBTQ+ people of color. When not working, Graham can be found hiking in the Palouse, searching for her next best meal, visiting the Moscow Farmer’s Market, and enjoying time with her dog, Juno, an eight month-old Corgi.
Graham is also interested in growing the ranks of folx interested in being a part of GIESO’s mission. She has a long history of working with and for marginalized groups, and wants to work with people who have as much dedication and energy for causes of social justice. While GIESO has just finished the first round of review of applications and nominations, submissions are always open and she encourages anyone interested in learning more to reach out to her. If you’re interested in working with Graham or the rest of the GIESO Commission, she can be reached at amber.graham@wsu.edu.
