Episode Summary:

This podcast episode explores the experiences of 2SLGBTQ+ students in higher education, highlighting both challenges and opportunities for fostering inclusion. Findings related to campus climate, microaggressions, and resilience are discussed, emphasizing the importance of institutional policies, community support, and advocacy in creating environments where 2SLGBTQ+ students can thrive academically and personally.

Guest Speakers

Michael Woodford (he/him); Professor, Faculty of Social Work; Wilfrid Laurier University

Michael is a Professor at Laurier’s Faculty of Social Work and the Associate Dean for the PhD in social work program. He is a gay, cisgender, white settler living and working on the Haldimand Tract within the territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee people. His research addresses the inclusion/exclusion, wellbeing, and resilience of 2SLGBTQ+ people and communities. Michael specializes in the study of contemporary 2SLGBTQ+ discrimination, including microaggressions and campus climate, and their effects on 2SLGBTQ+ students’ mental health, social belonging, and academic success. His work on resilience explores multi-level factors, including social policies and programs that can protect individuals from the negative effects of discrimination. His research is interdisciplinary, utilizes quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method designs, and is informed by an array of theories and frameworks, such as minority stress, socio-ecological theory, intersectionality, positive psychology, and community-based research. Dedicated to fostering 2SLGBTQ+ responsive services, Michael also engages in research related to inclusive healthcare and social work practice. His work is funded by various sources, including the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, and he is a Fellow of the Society for Social Work and Research. Michael is the Principal Investigator for Thriving On Campus study and mobilization project. 

About The Laurier Teaching Podcast

Teaching and Learning at Laurier helps shape exceptional learning experiences for students by supporting and developing teaching excellence. The Laurier Teaching Podcast celebrates incredible teaching, tells stories about impactful educational experiences, and provides insight and a deep look at critical avenues of higher education. You can find more episodes here.