New hire Eli Williams has taken on the brand-new position as assistant director of the LGBTQ+ Center under the division for inclusion and equity at Saint Mary’s College.
Williams, previously the executive director of The LGBTQ Center in South Bend, takes on this new position with hope to focus the center on the student body’s needs.
“I’m trying to dream big and keep the center sustainable for decades to come,” Williams said. “I will be creating and coordinating programs, hosting drop-in hours, and listening and learning as I develop a plan for the future.”
In the three weeks she has worked at Saint Mary’s, Williams said she already feels very comfortable and welcome on campus.
“I expected to find my allies on campus with some work. I did not, however, expect it to be this easy. I have been in non-stop meetings with students, faculty and staff building relationships on campus. Everyone has been so overwhelmingly supportive,” Williams said. “Nearly all agree having an LGBTQ+ Center on a Catholic campus supports Saint Mary’s mission of justice, community, learning and faith/spirituality. In the center, we are affirming human dignity, caring for the whole person, and promoting love at the center of all we do.”
Williams wants the LGBTQ+ Center to be a safe space for all students and a large part of campus.
“I want the Center to be an integral part of the college community, where every student can feel at home and welcome,” Williams said. “Mostly, I just want students in the space for whatever they need at that moment. I welcome visitors; I hope people will stop by to say hi.”
Williams graduated from Smith College, a women’s college in Massachusetts, with a bachelors in the study of women and gender. She also earned her master’s in leadership studies from Meadville Lombard Theological School and a doctoral degree in sociology and gender studies from the University of Notre Dame. Williams additionally taught at Notre Dame while earning her doctorate.
Passionate about women’s colleges, Williams said “Smith was empowering for me personally and professionally, in the same way Saint Mary’s is for its students … I am excited to work at a faith-based institution and further the mission of Saint Mary’s College.”
Williams said several people reached out to her about her now-position when the College posted an application online.
“When the position was posted, literally four people emailed me about it that morning. I love South Bend, women’s colleges, LGBTQ+ advocacy, and teaching, so this was a perfect fit. I honestly feel I have found my dream job,” Williams said.
Williams said she was inspired to work with the LGBTQ+ community after having positive experiences and support in college.
“In college, I was lucky to have mentors and friends who supported me when I chose to come out. They inspired me to become my true self and helped me feel proud of who I am,” Williams said. “I am also inspired by the LGBTQ+ young people I work with. They are brave and resilient, even in hardship, and give me hope for the future.”
In addition to her work with Saint Mary’s, Williams is also close to publishing a book narrating the lesbian history of South Bend.
“My book is a collection of stories about lesbian history in South Bend, Indiana, from 1974 to the present,” she said. “I explore how these women built community despite the odds being stacked against them, from opening the city’s first gay bar to the successful campaign to amend the city's Human Rights Ordinance.”
Writing her book helped Williams rediscover South Bend, her hometown, in a new light and found greater appreciation for the LGBTQ+ community.
“Writing the book was transformative for me; I found a side of my hometown I didn't know existed. It led me to move back here and find ways to become part of this community,” she said.
Overall, Williams hopes to use her position within the division for inclusion and equity to support students and their journey for self-discovery.
“I want students to feel like the center is a space for them to just be,” Williams said. “I know it’s sometimes hard to be LGBTQ+, and I want to support you in whatever way I can. I promise to make this space one where you can feel respected, valued and empowered.”
