HECA College Knowledge Specialty Spotlight: Supporting LGBTQ+ Students in College Admissions

Description

Join us for a Specialty Spotlight webinar as we explore LGBTQ+ inclusive programs and colleges. This session brings together three leading voices in the field to help you deepen your expertise and better support your students' academic journeys. Don't miss this opportunity to gain practical insights from their experiences.

Guest
Genny Beemyn
Director, UMass Amherst Stonewall Center 

Genny Beemyn has been the director of the UMass Amherst Stonewall Center since 2006 and is a leading researcher and advocate on trans-inclusive campus policies. They have published and spoken extensively on the experiences and needs of trans and nonbinary college students, including writing some of the first articles on the topic in the 2000s. Among the more than dozen books and journal issues that Dr. Beemyn has written/edited are The Lives of Transgender People (with Sue Rankin, 2011), which, at the time, was the largest study of trans and nonbinary people by U.S. researchers; A Queer Capital: A History of Gay Life in Washington, D.C. (2014); and the anthology Trans People in Higher Education (2019). With Abbie Goldberg, they edited The SAGE Encyclopedia of Trans Studies (2021) and The SAGE Encyclopedia of LGBTQ+ Studies (2024). They have a Ph.D. in African American Studies and master’s degrees in African American Studies, American Studies, and Higher Education Administration. More about Dr. Beemyn can be found on their website: www.gennyb.com.

Guest
NiK Peavy
Director, Gender, Sexuality & Attraction Initiatives, Oberlin College and Conservatory

NiK Peavy joined Oberlin College and Conservatory in November of 2022 and currently serves as the Inaugural Director of the Office of Gender, Sexuality, & Attraction Initiatives. In this role, they design and lead programs, trainings, and campus initiatives that support students with historically marginalized identities, with a focus on LGBTQ+ students and women. They have extensive experience facilitating educational trainings, advising institutional leadership on inclusive policy, and building programs that advance equity, belonging, and student success.

Across their career, NiK’s work has been rooted in advocating for and supporting marginalized student communities. They are passionate about helping students develop the skills to advocate for themselves while also working at the institutional level to create more inclusive, affirming campus environments. Their approach blends education, community-building, and policy work to ensure students are not only supported, but able to thrive.

Guest
Scott S. Garbini
Owner/Lead Consultant, Garbini Education and Career Consulting LLc

Scott S. Garbini, M.Ed., is the Founder and CEO of Garbini Education and Career Consulting, LLC, where he specializes in college admissions, executive function coaching, career counseling, and educational consulting with a nationally recognized focus on LGBTQIA+ students and their families. A Past President of the Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA), Scott has been a leader in advancing ethical, student-centered advising and professional development for Independent Educational Consultants. Drawing on decades of experience in admissions, student affairs, educational leadership, and counseling, he helps consultants and families navigate the increasingly complex intersection of college admissions, student safety, institutional policies, and campus belonging.

Scott is the author of Transition While Transitioning: A College Guide for Transgender Students and Their Families, one of the first comprehensive guides designed specifically to support transgender and gender-diverse students through the college search process. His work extends beyond individual advising into educational policy and advocacy, including developing inclusive school district policies and researching how evolving federal, state, and institutional legislation affects LGBTQIA+ students. Through national conference presentations, webinars, publications, and thought leadership, Scott challenges Independent Educational Consultants to move beyond traditional admissions advising by incorporating policy awareness, ethics, and risk assessment into every college recommendation, ensuring students have the tools not only to be admitted but truly positioned to thrive and belong.