Assistant Professor at Oakland University
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:
- Working with Dr. Chase Catalano, examining trans masculine college students' community and masculinity formations online.
- Mapping the affirming and non-affirming experiences of LGBTQI students at Oakland University.
- Working with Laila McCloud, interrogating Black trans masculine college students' understandings of Black masculinity.
- Launching a national study to explore the experiences, perspectives, self-conceptions, pedagogies, epistemologies, practices, representations, and contributions of trans and gender nonconforming students, staff, and faculty in higher education.
Research Area Keyword(s):
Trans, higher education, masculinity, LGBTQ, leadership
