Overview

Minor in Global Queer Studies at The College of Wooster

The Global Queer Studies minor centers queer lives and lived experiences as both its theoretical and practical focus, taking a global, transnational, and intersectional perspective. In contrast to the Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies minor, the Global Queer Studies minor specifically provides an academic space for LGBTQIA+ students, faculty members, and allies to explore sexuality and gender. The Global Queer Studies minor does not direct students toward a specific career goal, but rather expands students’ perspectives to contribute to a wide range of interdisciplinary academic trajectories and a range of different careers. The Global Queer Studies minor embodies queer praxis – putting theory into practice – by incorporating practica, peer mentorship, and student-led tutorials and reading groups.

Global Queer Studies Learning Goals

Students will learn to:

1. Understand key concepts, terminology, controversies, and theories in queer theory, empirical research, and creative endeavors
2. Identify and critique historical biases in the production of knowledge about LGBTQIA+* histories, communities, and. social activism locally, nationally, and globally
3. Examine how queer lives are experienced, performed, and embodied in ways that are intersectional, transnational, and politicized in different cultural, social, and political structures
4. Interrogate heteronormative and homonormative cultural, social, and political structures
5. Articulate in oral, written, and visual form the utility of queer research methodologies toward the goals of social justice locally and transnationally
6. Create opportunities in leadership and social justice-oriented collaborations, such as a queer mentorship program or intersectional social justice activism

^* LGBTQIA+ is an intentionally broad acronym which stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and other minoritized sexual and gender identities. We use the “plus” to include indigenous categories that are not encompassed in English vernaculars, as well as evolving and emerging terminology to describe queer experience

Faculty & Staff

Beatrice Adams

Assistant Professor of History

badams@wooster.edu

Ahmet Atay

Professor of Communication Studies; Program Chair of Global Media & Digital Studies; Liaison to Digital Visual Storytelling Pathway

aatay@wooster.edu

Jordan Biro Walters

Associate Professor of History (On leave Fall 2024)

jbirowalters@wooster.edu

Christa Craven

Professor of Anthropology and Women's Gender & Sexuality Studies, Program Chair of Women's, Gender & Sexuality Studies (On leave Spring 2025)

ccraven@wooster.edu

Rebecca Garonzik

Assistant Professor of Spanish

rgaronzik@wooster.edu

Zareen Thomas

Assistant Professor of Sociology and Anthropology; Latin American Studies; Women's, Gender, & Sexuality Studies (On leave Fall 2024)

zthomas@wooster.edu

Zhenyu Tian

Assistant Professor of Communication Studies; Women's, Gender, & Sexuality Studies

ztian@wooster.edu