Independent Scholar and Consultant and Director of Trans*Formational Change
About
T.J. Jourian is a social justice educator, learner, activist, and speaker, having spoken and consulted at hundreds of college campuses, conferences, and community-based organizations all over the country. He received his MA in student affairs administration at Michigan State University, and has 6+ years of professional experience in residential life, LGBTQ affairs, student activities and events, women’s center, multicultural affairs, orientation, and more. He is a co-founder of Trans*forming Higher Education (formerly T*Circle), the only collective by and for trans educators in higher education and student affairs; and the Journal of Critical Scholarship on Higher Education and Student Affairs (JCSHESA).
In 2005, T.J. was featured in the Sundance docu-series TransGeneration, depicting the lives of four trans college students during a single academic year at four different institutions. Hailing from Lebanon and Cyprus, T.J. self-identifies as a queer Middle-Eastern Armenian trans man, and his passion lies with supporting, learning from, and participating in social justice work that is intersectional, empowering, and dynamic – much like what he aspires to deliver through his work and in person. His research and advocacy center queer and trans people of color in achieving the democratic and liberatory potentials of higher education.
Current Work:
- With Drs. Chase Catalano, Antonio Duran, and Jonathan Pryor, and an emerging group of LGBTQ Campus Center practitioners - co-creating a research agenda for/on LGBTQ Campus Centers and actualizing it
- With Dr. Antonio Duran - examining the anti-racist beliefs and practices of LGBTQ Campus Center practitioners
Research Area Keyword(s):
Trans, higher education, masculinity, LGBTQ, leadership
