Queer Alumni Weekend
Come home to celebrate, reconnect and revel in community!
Join the Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø LGBTQ+ Alumni Network as fellow queer alumni and friends return to campus November 7-9, 2025, for Queer Alumni Weekend — a weekend of joy, reflection and belonging. Whether you haven’t been back to Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø in a while or you never really left, we can’t wait to see you!
Expect vibrant gatherings, thoughtful conversations and plenty of opportunities to reconnect with old friends and meet new ones. This is your space to celebrate the journeys we've taken and the community we continue to build — together. All alumni and their families are welcome.
Registration covers all activities and meals included on the schedule.
Weekend Schedule
1 - 5 p.m.
Attendee Check In
Nancy Blackwell Alumni House, 420 N. Main Street
6 – 8 p.m.
Welcome Reception
Katherine & Tom Belk Visual Arts Center
*please note: this is a location change
Reunite with fellow Wildcats and meet new friends as we celebrate diverse identities and shared stories. Enjoy vibrant tunes, delectable bites, and refreshing drinks with a lively atmosphere that promises unforgettable moments. This is where the fun begins—let's set the tone for a weekend of pride, connection, and joy!
8:30 - 9:15 a.m.
Coffee & Light Breakfast
Cunningham Theatre Center
9 – 10 a.m.
Visitation and Reflection
With These Hands: A Memorial to the Enslaved and Exploited
Join us for an informal gathering to visit and reflect in a space dedicated to honoring the strength and resilience of those who endured the college's painful history characterized by forced labor, systemic oppression, and dehumanization. All are invited to pause, reflect, and engage in thoughtful contemplation of our history as an institution, its ongoing impact and the college's work towards reconciliation.
10:30 a.m. – Noon
Tapestry of Pride, Roundtable Session
Sprinkle Room, Alvarez College Union
Join us for an interactive workshop dedicated to capturing the diverse LGBTQIA+ experience at Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø from your lens. This session will encourage participants to share personal stories and key moments that played into life on campus. Participants will break into decade-based groups and explore the campus climate of their era through guided discussions. Groups will be able to share their reflections in a larger discussion, identifying common threads across decades and exchanging insights between alumni and current students. The session concludes with a wrap-up focused on envisioning the future of the queer community at Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø. This session promises to be a powerful opportunity for reflection, connection, and the preservation of our community's history for generations to come.
Noon
Lunch
1 - 3 p.m.
Explore, Create, Connect: Open House at the Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø Arts and Creative Engagement Studio
Base Chambers North
Join us for an interactive open house at the Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø Arts and Creative Engagement Studio. Attendees are invited to immerse themselves in a world of creativity and expression. This open house offers an opportunity to explore the studio's inspiring space, connect with DACE staff and students, and participate in selected craft activities that will spark your imagination.
1:30 p.m.
LGBTQ+ Centered Campus Tour
Meet in front of Alvarez College Union
Led by current students, and designed to spotlight the newest and most inclusive spaces Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø has to offer. Discover how our campus has evolved with the community in mind, as we explore cutting-edge facilities and welcoming spaces for queer student life. Come walk with us and see how Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø has become a campus that celebrates all students and fosters true belonging.
3 – 4:30 p.m.
Embracing Identity and Community at Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø and Beyond, Panel Discussion
C. Shaw Smith 900 Room, Alvarez College Union
Panelists: Uday Ahuja ’26, Melissa Gonzalez, Nick Kruter ’11, Tim Saintsing ’98, Jayme Sponsel and Anne Stanback ’81
This panel will bring together alumni, faculty, staff, and current students to share their diverse experiences, challenges, and triumphs. Reflecting on personal journeys of authenticity, panelists will delve into how their time at Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø has shaped their identities and fostered a sense of belonging and community. Through personal narratives and open conversations, we will examine the evolving climate for LGBTQ+ individuals on campus and the enduring impact of these experiences beyond Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø.
7 – 10 p.m.
Community Dinner & Afterparty
Jay Hurt Hub, 210 Delburg Street
Join us for an evening of celebration and connection beginning with a sophisticated dinner featuring remarks from distinguished members of the Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø community. As the dinner concludes, the atmosphere will transition into a lively, casual afterparty vibe with music and dancing.
11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Drag Brunch, hosted by DJ Vanna of Vanity House Inc.
C. Shaw Smith 900 Room, Alvarez College Union
The grand finale of Queer Alumni Weekend! Join us for a glittering, high-energy affair where dazzling queens and kings serve up fierce looks to the tune your favorite hits alongside a delicious brunch spread. Connect with alumni, students and faculty and revel in a shared spirit of pride and diversity. Whether you're a Drag superfan or a brunch enthusiast, this is the ultimate send-off you'll not want to miss.