On August 17, 111 College faculty, staff, administrators, and students became QuILL-certified at the MSU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (VDL), establishing a total of 176 QuILL certifications in the College community since March 2016. Offered by the MSU Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay, and Transgender (LBGT) Resource Center, Queer Inclusive Learning and Leadership (QuILL) is a two-part training that focuses on the identification of actions that will contribute to an inclusive and affirming environment for learning and leadership within the College. 

To accommodate the number of attendees from the College and their goal of being QuILL-certified, the second part of the training, the workshop portion, was held at the VDL. For this workshop, Deanna “Dee” Hulbert, director of the LBGT Resource Center, and her team of facilitators, developed a new workshop model. This remodel included facilitated group exercises, additional facilitators trained in social justice and diversity, and take-home tips and resources handouts. 

Unlike previous QuILL trainings for the College, this training was required for the faculty and staff of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) and VDL, which cultivated an initiative between the College and the MSU LBGT Resource Center. This initiative is called Training of Trainers. Training of Trainers is a training offered by the MSU LBGT Resource Center where experienced social justice and diversity trainers can become QuILL facilitators for faculty and staff workshops within the College and around the campus community. 

“We recognize that our population is changing and the College wants to be ready,” says Hilda Mejia Abreu, assistant dean for the Office of Admissions and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. The ODI knows that diversity educational programs, such as QuILL, will expand the College’s worldliness and enhance social development.

“The fact that you’re hosting this training is powerful,” says Dee. As an advocate for the LBGT community, Dee teaches others how to enhance inclusivity and support a diverse culture in their personal, interpersonal, institutional, and cultural environment. To do this, Dee suggested finding ways to educate the College community about diversity and inclusivity practices. Some actions include participating in workshops, making obvious statements regarding diversity and inclusion, and supporting the College’s faculty and staff. 

“We’re dedicated to creating an inclusive community, and QuILL, as well as other events, seminars, and workshops, can help us achieve our goal of being known as a leader regarding diversity and educational programs,” says Mejia Abreu.