Date: Sep 30, 2010

HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR AND CO-AUTHOR OF LANDMARK RESEARCH STUDY TESTIFIES BEFORE CONGRESS ON LGBT EXPERIENCE AT U.S. COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

Genevieve N. Weber, Ph.d., LMHC addresses findings from The 2010 State of Higher Education for LGBT People

Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY - Dr. Genevieve Weber, Assistant Professor of Counseling, Research, Special Education, and Rehabilitation at Hofstra University submitted testimony to Congress last week  about the findings of a recently-released landmark research study, The 2010 State of Higher Education for LGBT People, which she co-authored.  The study, which surveyed 6,000 students, faculty, staff and administrators who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT), indicates that they continue to face significant hurdles, including harassment, safety concerns and isolation on campuses across the country.

Dr. Weber was joined by Graduate Assistant Rebecca Rubinstein, a Master's student in the Rehabilitation Counseling/Mental Health Counseling Dual Graduate Program at Hofstra.  Ms. Rubinstein is also a member of the LGBT community on campus.  Their visit was meant to influence current and future legislation, as the book/monograph documents the mistreatment of LGBT campus community members and the need for further advocacy and change in higher education.

 The findings of the report underscore the struggles and perceptions of campus climate among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students, faculty and staff. "My hope is that the findings from this report lead to a call for stronger action to create college campuses whereby all students, faculty, and staff, regardless of sexual identity or gender identity, can flourish personally, academically, and professionally," said Weber.

Rubinstein, a third semester student at Hofstra, is pleased with the treatment of LGBT students on campus. "While there hasn't been a campus climate study done at Hofstra, my experiences here as a bisexual woman have been very helpful to me and affirming of my identity.  I feel as though it would only strengthen this campus to have even more LGBTQ events, programming and courses that would increase the voice of the already wonderful LGBTQ student body."

The 2010 State of Higher Education for LGBT People is the first ever national study that documents the experience of LGBT students, faculty and staff in higher education institutes across the country.  It was released by Campus Pride, a national non-profit organization working to create safer, more LGBT-inclusive colleges and universities. Written by Campus Pride's Q Research Institute for Higher Education (Sue Rankin, Ph.D., Genevieve N. Weber, Ph.D., LMHC, Dr. Warren J. Blumenfeld, Ed.D., and Somjen Frazer, MS, Ed.), and with a foreword by George Kuh, Ph.D., it is a clarion call to action for college and university administrators, educators, student leaders and elected officials.  For more information, visit www.campuspride.org/research

Hofstra University is a dynamic private institution where students can choose from about 150 undergraduate and more than 160 graduate programs in liberal arts and sciences, business; engineering; communication; education, health and human services;  and honors studies, as well as a School of Law. The University also provides excellent facilities with state-of-the-art technology, extensive library resources and internship programs that match students' interests and abilities with appropriate companies and organizations.  The Hofstra community is driven, dynamic and energetic, helping students find and focus their strengths to prepare them for a successful future.
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