Gothic Lounge
Hepburn Hall 202
Ceremony Program
Welcome & Purpose
Venida C. Rodman Jenkins (She/Her)
Celebration Hosts
Danielle Bachant (She/They) Director, Counseling Center
Andrea Squillante-Golden (She/Her) Office of the Provost
Greetings
Andrés Acebo (He/Him)
NJCU Interim President
Erin McCann (She/Her) Vice President of Student Development & Community Engagement
Lavender Graduation Alumni Video
Expressions from Tekla Tchelidze (She/Her)
Lavender Graduate Alum 2024
Music brought to you by: Quiana Parks (She/Her)
Director, Speicher-Rubin Women’s Center for Equity & Diversity Coordinator, Gothic Knight Ally Safe Zone Program 1/3
Ceremony Program
Musical Tribute
October Gomes (He/They)
Lavender Graduate 2025
Commemorative Poem
Rubi Cedeno Garcia (She/Her)
Lavender Graduate Alum 2017
Lavender Graduate 2025
Celebratory Dance Performance
Mason Lee Dance Theatre
Poetry Tribute
Rashad Wright
Lavender Graduate Alum 2018
Jersey City Poet Laureate 2018
Words of Inspiration
Mercy Villa (They/Them)
Former PRIDE Center Program Specialist and LGBTQ+ Support Group Faciltator
Ceremony Program
Recognition of Graduates
Jeffrey Dessources (He/Him)
Assistant Vice President, Campus Life & Community Engagement
Nicole Leibowitz (She/Her)
Assistant Director, Graduate Admissions
Leonard Williams (He/Him)
Associate Director, Men of Color Initiative
Ashley Lemon (She/Her)
Associate Director, Center for Student Persistence and Success
Graduate Reflections
Anna Trachsler (They/Them)
Lavender Graduate 2025
Sarah Ruilova (She/Her)
Lavender Graduate 2025
Rainbow Dancers
NJCU Dance CLub
Graduates
Anna Trachsler
Minor: Women & Gender Studies they/them
she/her
BA, History and Second Education
BSW, Social Work
BA, Psychology
Giorgi Kopaliani
he/him
BS, Management
he/they
BA, Musical Theatre
October Gomes
Jasmine Glaude
Jae
Graduates
Garraway
Minor: Mathematics they/them
BA, Music
MA, Counseling - Clinical Mental Health she/her
Sarah
Ruilove
Minor: Criminal Justice she/her
BA, Psychology
Rubi Cedeno Garcia
Lavender Graduation Highlights
Lavender Graduation Highlights
Queer Campus Sightings
Movie Screening!
Events to create platforms for traditionally underrepresented voices!
Vision Board Events and Storytelling Events!
Acknowledgements & Gratitude
Co-Sponsors
Center for Student Persistence and Success
NJCU Admissions
The Planning Committee
Natalie Mendez (She/Her), Margaret Williams Theatre
Bryan Farley (He/Him), Margaret Williams Theatre
Anna Carhart (She/Her), Margaret Williams Theatre
Yolanda Garzona (She/Her), Speicher-Rubin Women’s Center for Equity and Diversity
The Whole Women’s Center Student Staff Team!
Danielle Bachant (She/Her), Counseling Center
Karina Serrano (She/Her), Opportunity Scholarship Program
Andrea Squillante-Golden (She/Her), Office of the Provost
Nayomie Serrano (She/Her), Department of Public Safety
Nicole Leibowitz (She/Her), Graduate Admissions
Tatiana Reyes (She/Her), Graduate Admissions
Mariuxi Obando (She/Her), Graduate Admissions
Jeffrey Dessources (He/Him) Campus Life & Community Engagement
With Abundant Appreciation to All!
Venida C. Rodman Jenkins, Safe Zone Coordinator
Acknowledgements & Gratitude
Volunteer Team:
Trinity Campbell
Sean Brandon
Andrea Tider
Genesis Santiago
Jenelle Mejia
Laila Anane
Erica Seitzman
Barbara Drew
Hasson Gordon Strawberry Gallgher
Special Thanks
Ivelisse Cruz (she/her), Division of Student Development & Community Engagement
Victor DelValle (he/him), Center for Student Persistence and Success
NJCU Dance Club
Marketing and Communications
Maria Davis, (she/her), Business Services
Gourmet Dining
Housekeeping
With Abundant Appreciation to All!
Venida C. Rodman Jenkins, Safe Zone Coordinator
Gothic Knight Ally Safe Zone Program & Lavender Graduation
Gothic Knight Ally Safe Zone Program
Founded in December 2012, with the help of FK Consultants, the Gothic Knight Ally Safe Zone (GKASZ) Program is an initiative sponsored by the Speicher-Rubin Women’s Center for Equity & Diversity at New Jersey City University (NJCU). The Program is designed to promote a climate of respect, support and inclusiveness for students, faculty, and staff members who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual+ (LGBTQIA+), as well as others within the kaleidoscope of sexual orientations and gender identities and expressions.
We are members of the NJCU community – students, staff, and faculty – who have attended a 4-hour interactive training, and have pledged to support an inclusive environment, and oppose all forms of anti- LGBTQIA+ prejudice. We are hundreds strong! All members of the NJCU campus, and the surrounding community, are eligible to attend the GKASZ training and help build a stronger ally campus community. Contact us at njcusafezone@njcu.edu for more information.
Why have a Lavender Graduation?
The queer, transgender and gender nonconforming communities at NJCU have been historically active in demanding to be recognized, and to be seen at our institution. As Gothic Knight Allies, we have pledged to amplify their voices.
Our vision is that Lavender Graduation will continue to be an annual celebration at NJCU and that the lives of our LGBTQIA+ students will be fully honored. Since LGBTQIA+ students are of every race, ability, nationality, gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic levels, Lavender Graduation provides a unique opportunity to present a truly multicultural event while acknowledging students who spent most of their college years succumbing to invisibility on our campus.
The Lavender Graduation makes a strong institutional statement to LGBTQIA+ college students: They are seen and they matter.
Connect with us
Speicher-Rubin Women’s Center for Equity & Diversity
2039 Kennedy Blvd.
Gilligan Student Union Building, Room 318
Jersey City, NJ 07305
Phone: 201-200-3189
Fax:201-200-2542
Email: njcuwomenscenter@njcu.edu
Instagram: @NJCUWOMENSCTR
Website:
https://www.njcu.edu/student-life/campus-servicesresources/speicher-rubin- womens-center-equity-and-diversity
NJCU PRIDE CENTER
2039 Kennedy Blvd.
Gilligan Student Union Building, Room 321. (3rd Floor)
Jersey City, NJ 07305
Phone: 201-200-3189
Fax:201-200-2542
Email: mercy.villa@njcu.edu
Instagram:@NJCUPRIDECENTER
Services:
Social Space + Support Group Support & Wellness Resources
Coffee + Tea + Lounge Space
Gender-Affirming Clothing Rack Library + Games + Activities
