Edited Journal Issue

Journal of LGBT Youth Special Issue – Thriving On Campus: Promoting the Inclusion, Academic Development, and Wellbeing of Diverse 2SLGBTQ+ University and College Students

Description: This special issue brings together diverse perspectives that advance scholarship, policy, and practice in higher education and 2SLGBTQ+ studies. Alongside research articles, it features case studies of campus initiatives aimed at strengthening 2SLGBTQ+ inclusion. Several contributions centre the voices of students who are often marginalized within mainstream LGBTQ+ discourse, including racialized queer and trans students and those who identify as asexual. The insights offered by these collected works are particularly urgent given the growing wave of anti-trans, anti-2SLGBTQ+, and anti-equity policies and rhetoric across North America and globally.

Citation: Woodford, M. R., Duran, A., Vo, T., Johnson, C. W., Airton, L., & Coulombe, S. (Editors) (2024). Journal of LGBT Youth. Special Issue: Thriving On Campus: Promoting the Inclusion, Academic Development, and Wellbeing of Diverse 2SLGBTQ+ University and College Students.  https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/wjly20/21/2 [Forthcoming in 2025 as an edited book published by Routledge]

Refereed publications

  • Wilson-Yang, J. Woodford, M. R., Oakes, H., Marshall, Z., & Coulombe, S. (2025, online advance copy). The prevalence and consequences of gender-based violence among trans and gender diverse university students in Ontario. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/08862605251315773 [open access]
  • Woodford, M. R., Duran, A., Vo, T., Johnson, C. W., Airton, L., & Coulombe, S. (2024). Thriving on campus: Promoting the inclusion, academic development, and wellbeing of diverse 2SLGBTQ+ university and college students: Introduction to the special issue. Journal of LGBT Youth, 21(2), 209–211. https://doi.org/10.1080/19361653.2024.2326397
  • Van Giessen, E. J., & Woodford, M. R. (2021). Sexual orientation (LGBQ) microaggressions. In K. K. Strunk & S. A. Shelton (Eds.), Encyclopedia of queer studies in education. Brill.

Presentations & Panel Discussions

We’ve shared our research through invited and refereed talks and panel discussions reaching policymakers, practitioners, and researchers in higher education, social work, and allied fields.

  • Woodford, M. R. (November, 2024) Barriers to Inclusion: Discrimination and Wellbeing of 2SLGBTQ+ Students in Canadian Higher Education. Centre for Canadian Studies, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
  • Woodford, M. R. (2024, June). Thriving on campus: Holistically understanding the inclusion and wellbeing of diverse 2SLGBTQ+ students. Paper presented at 2024 Canadian Society for the Study of Higher Education, Montreal, PQ.
  • Todorova, R. (chair), Freeman, S., Prempe, A. A., Corwin, Z., Todorova, R., Rodriguez, C., Rocha, C., Nguyen, D. J., Okell. W. K., Smith, B. G., Woodford, M. R., & Renn, K. A. (2024. April). Ecological perspectives of well-being and thriving in higher education spaces. Symposium presented at the 2024 AERA (American Educational Research Association) Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA.
  • Woodford, M. R., & Van Giessen, E. (2024, February). Names and pronouns matter: Working together to promote inclusion for trans and non-binary students through student records. Paper presented at the OURA2024, Ontario University Registrars’ Association Conference. Toronto, DC.
  • Woodford, M. R., & Ash, B. (2024, January). Misgendering on Campus and its Mental Health, Social Belonging, and Academic Consequences and Resilience Promoting Factors. Paper presented at the 2024 Annual Conference of the Society for Social Work and Research, Washington, DC.
  • Vo, T., Arayata, C., & Woodford, M. R. (2023, November). BIPOC 2SLGBTQ+ Students: From Exclusion to Inclusion. Poster presented at Dialogue to Action, Centre for Innovation in Campus Mental Health (virtual conference).
  • Vo, T., Arayata, C., Smith, S., Van Giessen, E., Penner, A., Woodford, M. R., Grace, D. (2023, October) Safety, Inclusion, and Resistance on Postsecondary Campuses for Diverse 2S/LGBTQIA+ Communities:  A World Café Style Workshop on Research. Workshop presented at Building Communities through Inclusive Health, University of Toronto – Scarborough, ON.
  • Woodford, M. R., Oakes, H., Marshall, Z., & Dockendorff, K. (2023, July). The Inclusive Gender Image Measure for Use with 2SLGBTQ+ Young Adults: A Measure Development and Validation Study. Paper presented at the International Sexuality & Social Work Conference, Glasgow, Scotland.
  • Woodford, M. R., Coulombe, S., & Harding, K. (2023, July). Measuring LGBTQ2S+ Psychological Campus Climate: Developing and Validating the LGBTQ2S+ Perceived Campus Climate Instrument. Paper presented at the International Sexuality & Social Work Conference, Glasgow, Scotland.
  • Woodford, M. R., Coulombe, S., & Marshall, Z. (2023, January). Advancing Inclusion in Survey Research with 2SLGBTQ+ University Students: measuring Sexual Identity and Gender Identity. Paper presented at the 2023 Annual Conference of the Society for Social Work and Research, Phoenix, AZ.
  • Glover Reed, B., Perone, A., Vo., T, & Woodford, M. R. (2023, January). Addressing the Diversity, Complexity, and Messiness of Intersectional 2SLGBTQI+ Research: Advancing Inclusion, Equity, and Justice. Symposium presented at the 2023 Annual Conference of the Society for Social Work and Research, Phoenix, AZ.
  • Woodford, M. R., Coulombe, S., & Hardy, K. (2023). Measuring LGBTQ2S+ Psychological Campus Climate: Developing and Validating the LGBTQ2S+ Perceived Campus Climate Instrument. Poster presented at the 2023 Annual Conference of the Society for Social Work and Research, Phoenix, AZ.
  • Woodford, M. R. (2022, November). Understanding the Campus Climate for Trans University Students: Results from Thriving On Campus. What are your Pronouns? Best Practices for Gender-inclusive Spaces at Universities and Colleges. Canadian Association for the Prevention of Discrimination and Harassment in Higher Education (virtual).  https://youtu.be/nLyPiDUudyw
  • Woodford, M. R. & Coulombe, S. (2022, November). Supporting the Mental Health of Diverse 2SLGBTQ+ Students: Insights from Canadian Studies. Invited keynote at Building New Worlds, Centre for Innovation in Campus Mental Health (virtual).
  • Woodford, M. R., Oakes, H., Coulombe, S., & Marshall, Z. (2022, January). LGBQ microaggressions, psychological wellbeing, and academic outcomes among sexual minority university students in Ontario: An intersectional analysis. Paper presented at the 2022 Annual Conference of the Society for Social Work and Research, Washington, DC.
  • Woodford, M. R. & Sanchez-Cacnio, J. (2021, October). Promoting the inclusion, wellbeing, and success of 2SLGBTQ+ students at Humber College. Workshop given as part of the senior leaders’ equity series (virtual).
  • Woodford, M. R., Coulombe, S., & Marshall, Z. (2021, January). Understanding campus climate, mental, health, and academic development among LGBTQ2S+ university students in Ontario. Poster presented at the 2021 Annual Conference of the Society for Social Work and Research (virtual conference).
  • Coulombe, S., Woodford, M. R., & Marshall, Z. (2021, January). Participation in LGBTQ2S+ student centres/groups matters for the wellbeing of sexually and gender diverse university students: Results from the Thriving On Campus Study in Ontario, Canada. Paper presented at the 2021 Annual Conference of the Society for Social Work and Research (virtual conference).
  • Coulombe, S., Woodford, M. R., & Hardy, K. (2020, July). Measuring LGBTQ2S+ Psychological campus climate: Developing and validating the LGBTQ2S+ perceived campus climate instrument. Paper accepted for presentation at Preach 2020: International LGBTQ Psychology Conference, Prague. Conference cancelled due to COVID-19.
  • Woodford, M. R., & Coulombe, S. (2020, July). Latent profiles of campus climate and wellbeing among LGBTQ+ university students: A person-centered approach to risk and resilience. Paper accepted for presentation at Preach 2020: International LGBTQ Psychology Conference, Prague. Conference cancelled due to COVID-19.
  • Woodford, M. R., Coulombe, S., Munro, L., & Marshall, Z (2020, June). Understanding campus climate, mental health, and academic development among LGBTQ2S+ university students in Ontario: Mixed methods results from the Thriving On Campus Study. Paper accepted for presentation at the Canadian Association of Colleges and University Student Services (CACUSS) 2020 Conference, Toronto, ON. Conference cancelled due to COVID-19.
  • Woodford, M. R., Coulombe, S., Schwabe, N, & Barnes, E. (2020, April). Understanding and promoting the wellbeing of LGBTQ2S+ university students in Canada: From the personal to the structural. Panel accepted for presentation at the Rainbow Health Ontario 2020 Conference, Niagara Falls, ON. Conference cancelled due to COVID-19.
  • Woodford, M. R., & Coulombe, S. (2020, February). LGBTQ+ university students in Canada: Exclusion and mental health and intersecting identities: Creating a national policy agenda. Paper presented at the Canadian University Queer Services Conference 2020, University of Regina, Regina, SK.
  • Coulombe, S., Woodford, M. R., & Marshall, Z. (2020, February). Does participation in LGBTQ2S+ student centres/groups matter? Results from the Thriving On Campus study with LGBTQ2S+ university students in Ontario. Paper presented at the Canadian University Queer Services Conference 2020, University of Regina, Regina, SK.
  • Woodford, M. R., Coulombe, S., & Schwabe, N. (2020, January). Measuring gender expression in gender diverse inclusive ways: Evidence from LGBTQ+ university students in Canada. Poster presented at the 2020 Annual Conference of the Society for Social Work and Research, Washington, DC.
  • Coulombe, S., Woodford, M. R., & Schwabe, N. (2020, January). Exploring the mental health disparities faced by LGBT+ students in Canada: A multilevel structural equation modeling approach. Paper presented at the 2020 Annual Conference of the Society for Social Work and Research, Washington, DC.
  • Schwabe, N., Woodford, M. R., & Coulombe, S. (2020, January). The moderating effect of social justice attitudes on the relationship between LGBQ microaggressions and mental distress. Poster presented at the 2020 Annual Conference of the Society for Social Work and Research, Washington, DC.
  • Woodford, M. R. (2019, December). Fostering LGBTQ student inclusion and wellbeing on campus. Address given at the Annual Conference of The Great Lakes Colleges Association, Ann Arbor, MI.
  • Woodford, M. R., Coulombe, S., & Marshall, Z. (2019, January). Exploring the academic and mental well-being of LGBTQ college students: A person-centered intersectional approach. Paper presented at the 2019 Annual Conference of the Society for Social Work and Research, San Francisco, CA.
  • Woodford, M. R., Coulombe, S., & Marshall, Z. (2019, January). Diverse well-being profiles of LGBTQ college students and multi-level covariates. Poster presented at the 2019 Annual Conference of the Society for Social Work and Research, San Francisco, CA.
  • Woodford, M. R., & Coulombe, S. (2019, January). Understanding and promoting the wellbeing and academic development of LGBT+ university students in Canada. Keynote address presented at LGBTQ+ Service Providers Network Summit, Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity, Ottawa, ON.
  • Woodford, M. R., & Coulomb, S. (2018, November). Microaggressions and academic development and success among LGBTQ college students. Paper presented at the 64th Annual Program Meeting of the Council on Social Work Education, Orlando, FL.
  • Woodford, M. R., Coulombe, S., & Marshall, Z. (2018, August). Well-being profiles of LGBTQ university students: A person-centered intersectional approach to risk and resilience in social work research. Paper presented at the Social Work and Sexualities: International Conference, Université de Montréal.
  • Coulombe, S., Woodford, M. R., & Marshall, Z (2018, August). Microaggressions and well-being of LGBTQ students: A holistic perspective. Paper presented at the Social Work and Sexualities: International Conference, Université de Montréal.