Safe Space
This program aims to help faculty/staff develop the necessary knowledge, skills, and resources to create safe spaces at BenU and make our campus more welcoming and inclusive to LGBTQ+ individuals and communities.
What is Safe Space?
“We work to be a community characterized by the highest standards of empathy and opposition to all forms of hatred. We welcome LGBTQ+ persons with sincerity of heart and generosity.”
Benedictine University offers a gender neutral, single stall bathroom on the second floor of Goodwin Hall. Students who would like to request keycard access to use it can do so by emailing Marc Davidson, Director of Student Affairs at [email protected].
Program + Directory
After the first campus-wide Teach-In on Social Justice in Spring 2017, a group of faculty and staff began developing a Safe Space Ally Training Program to support safe spaces at BenU. This program aims to help faculty/staff develop the necessary knowledge, skills, and resources to make our campus more welcoming and inclusive to LGBTQ+ individuals and communities.
In November 2017, we hosted our first Safe Space Ally Training session with the help of the chief diversity officer at St. Norbert College. Out of this program, 20 individuals became designated “Safe Space Allies.” In the Spring and Summer of 2018, a group of committed BenU faculty, staff, and students developed our own training program, inspired by the program at St. Norbert College and adapted to the needs of our campus. We hosted a second Safe Space Ally Training session in August 2018, giving another 20 individuals the opportunity to become designated allies.
Click through the different buildings on campus where you will find Safe Space Allies. These community members participated in a two-hour Safe Space Ally Training 101 session and have signed a contract indicating their commitment to being a safe, supportive presence for any member of the community. Their office has a Safe Space Ally sticker, indicating that the space is open to anyone in need of a safe environment.
Are you looking for a Safe Space Ally? Search by building below.
Birck Hall
- Pilar Charmoli, Deans Assistant, College of Science and Health
Birck 348A, [email protected] - Anthony Delegge, Professor, Mathematically and Computational Sciences
Birck 217, [email protected] - Leigh Anne Harden, Assistant Professor, Biological Sciences
Birck 342, [email protected] - Cheryl Heinz, Department Chair Biology
Birck 319, [email protected] - Manu Kaur, Professor, Mathematical and Computational Sciences
Birck 123, [email protected] - William Law, Professor, Biological Sciences
Birck , [email protected] - Robert McCarthy, Associate Professor, Biological Sciences
Birck 336, [email protected] - Karen Mulacek, Coordinator, College of Science and Health
Birck 348, [email protected] - Philip Novack-Gottshall, Professor, Biological Sciences
Birck 332, [email protected] - Niina Ronkainen, Professor, Chemistry/Biochemistry
Birck 328, [email protected] - Jennifer Salutric, Pre-Health Professions Advisor
Birck 133, [email protected] - Jayashree Sarathy, Associate Professor, Biology
Birck 339, [email protected] - Lee Ann Smith, Professor, Biological Sciences
Birck 320, [email protected] - Stefan Stefanoski, Assistant Professor, Chemistry/Biochemistry
Birck 351, [email protected]
- Karly Tumminello, Director/Curator, Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum
Birck 229, [email protected] - Matt Wiesner, Associate Professor, Physics and Engineering
Birck 326, [email protected] - Ellen Ziliak, Associate Professor, Mathematical and Computational Sciences
Birck 126, [email protected]
Goodwin Hall
- Karen Campana-Schaller, Chief Enrollment and Marketing Officer
Goodwin 463, [email protected] - Katie Culotta, Director, Academic Advising
Goodwin 160, [email protected] - Steve Delmagori, Academic Advisor, College of Science and Health
Goodwin 163, [email protected] - Julie Dockery, Associate Provost, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Goodwin 483, [email protected] - Sarah Dunne, Academic Advisor, College of Education and Health Services
Goodwin 164, [email protected] - Joe Foy, President, Benedictine University
Goodwin 4th Floor, [email protected] - Matt Jones, Director, Admissions
Goodwin 260, [email protected] - Tim Marin, Director of Institutional Effectiveness
Goodwin 466, [email protected] - Mark McHorney, Vice President, University Advancement
Goodwin 487, [email protected] - Rob Rebman, Assistant Professor, Undergraduate Business
Goodwin 169, [email protected] - Tom Yu, Assistant Professor, Language and Literature
Goodwin 370, [email protected]
Kindlon Hall of Learning
- Carrie Ankeny, Director, Campus Ministry
Kindlon 416, [email protected] - Steven Burgess, Assistant Professor, Philosophy
Kindlon 154, [email protected] - Wilson Chen, Director, Intercultural Education and Professor, English Language and Literature
Kindlon 267, [email protected] - Elaine Davies, Director, Academic Accommodations and Accessibility
Kindlon 310, [email protected] - Chris Duffrin, Professor, Public Health
Kindlon 250, [email protected] - Marian Flattum, Math Learning Specialist
Kindlon 314, [email protected] - Kaveh Hemmat, Instructor, Global Studies
Kindlon 149, [email protected] - Olga Lambert, Dean, College of Liberal Arts
Kindlon 144, [email protected] - Cheryl Mascarenhas, Dean College of Science and Health
Kindlon 259, [email protected] - Joy Matteson, Librarian
Kindlon 229B, [email protected] - Alison Ridge, Associate Professor, Nursing and Health; Program Director, Master of Science in Nursing Program
Kindlon 246, [email protected]
Krasa Student Center
- Marc Davidson, Director, Student Affairs
Krasa 179, [email protected] - Marco Masini, Dean of Students, Student Engagement
Krasa 177, [email protected] - Liz Melendez, Director, Residence Life
Krasa 109, [email protected] - Sue Salerno, Nurse, Wellness Center
Krasa 116A, [email protected] - Peggy Tomchek, Counseling Coordinator, Wellness Center
Krasa 115, [email protected] - Harold Watson, Director of Student Activities & Recreational Sports/Camps
Krasa 113, [email protected]
Lownik Hall
- Carrie Ankeny, Director, Campus Ministry
Lownik, St. Benedict Chapel, [email protected] - Rob Domaschuk, Director of IT Support Services
Lownik 069, [email protected] - Ruth Foltz, Transfer Credit Evaluator, Registrar’s Office
Lownik 121, [email protected] - Laura Markun, Enterprise Applications Business Analyst
Lownik 067, [email protected]
Scholl Hall
- Christopher Birks, Associate Professor, Communications Arts
Scholl 169, [email protected] - Allen Legutki, Associate Professor, Music
Scholl 107, [email protected] - Luigi Manca, Professor, Communication Arts
Scholl 123, [email protected] - Pat Somers, Assistant Professor, Psychology and Director of Intercultural Education
Scholl 228C, [email protected]
Rice Center
- Matt Saey, Strength and Conditioning Coach, Athletics
Rice Center 143, [email protected] - Nate VanRaden, Assistant Director of Athletics
Rice Center 157, [email protected]
Parking Garage
- Michi Dubes, Emergency Preparedness Manager and Safety Specialist
Parking Garage A132, [email protected] - Bryan Goodwin, Director, Facilities Management
Parking Garage 106, [email protected] - Debra Vanderploeg, Interim Chief of Police
Parking Garage 122, [email protected]
Mesa Campus
- Julie Cowgill, Assistant Provost, Professor, Criminal Justice
Gillett Hall 230, [email protected] - Maria Granic, Associate Professor, Language and Literature
Gillett Hall 227, [email protected]
Safe Space Ally Program Committee
Marc Davidson–Committee Chair, Director of Student Affairs, [email protected]
Carrie Ankeny, Director of Campus Ministry, [email protected]
Steven Burgess, Assistant Professor of Philosophy, [email protected]
Wilson Chen, Professor of Languages and Literature, [email protected]
Peter Huff, Chief Mission Officer, Professor of Theology, [email protected]
Laura Markun, Enterprise Applications Business Analyst, [email protected]