In their role, port facilitates partnerships and collaboration to help organizations achieve diversity, equity and inclusion goals in service to a more inclusive Iowa State. They collaborate with a broad cross-section of campus and local community organizations to develop programs and initiatives, effect organizational change and build relationships between those who have similar DEI objectives.
On campus, port assists ISU organizations in their DEI efforts by consulting during initial planning stages, making connections with subject matter experts, collaborating during implementation and engaging the ISU community in those efforts. In Ames and beyond, she cultivates community-university partnerships with neighborhood associations, non-profit organizations and other community groups whose work impacts Iowa State University’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
Prior to their current role, they served as director for gender and sexual diversity initiatives and still are the contact for conversations around gender and sexual diversity (GSD) and topics that are important to the LGBTQ+ community.
port joined the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion office after 15 years at Iowa State and is known as a creative and connective problem-solver who brings people together to address matters that are important to the Iowa State community. port was active in equity efforts through founding, chairing, and/or advising numerous LGBTQ-affirming groups, co-founding ISU’s Faculty and Staff Association Council, and organizing the participation of underrepresented faculty, staff and students in campus-wide initiatives such as ISU’s reaccreditation process, the creation and selection of ISU’s first Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion, and the authoring of our university’s 2017-22 strategic plan.
port earned her bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Northern Iowa and attended Minnesota State University, Mankato, where she studied Counseling and Student Personnel - College Student Affairs. She was born and raised in Iowa and is a fan of movies, live music, her scooter and Iowa State athletics.
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