Kathleen Casey

Director, Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies / Professor of History

  • Where are you from? I was born in Massachusettts but raised outside of Syracuse, New York.
  • How do you identify / preferred pronouns? I identify as a queer woman and use she/her pronouns.
  • What does being “Out and Proud” at Furman mean to you? I didn’t have queer or feminist mentors growing up but they’ve become extremely important to me as an adult. I want students to have access to all different kinds of mentors on campus and know that they are supported here.
  • What do you like to do in your spare time? I really love my job, so I work a lot but I also love to read, take walks in nature, try out new restaurants, travel, dote on my 13 year old dog, Betsy, and occasionally take a deep dive into Netflix.
  • What is one thing about you that no one would guess? Once I start a puzzle, I can’t stop!
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Sarah Cochran

Program Coordinator, Women’s, Gender, & Sexuality Studies

  • Where are you from? Greenville, SC
  • How do you identify / preferred pronouns? I identify as queer and use she/her/hers pronouns.
  • What does being “Out and Proud” at Furman mean to you? Being Out and Proud at Furman means being a visible safe space for students and others that might be questioning or exploring their own identity. Having community is so important!
  • What do you like to do in your spare time? Spend time with my son and my great dane.
  • What is one thing about you that no one would guess? I was born and raised in Greenville, SC and attended Bob Jones from kindergarten through college.
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KC Cox

Senior custodial staff member, Facility Services

  • Where are you from? Greenville, SC
  • How do you identify / preferred pronouns? I identify as transgender; my pronouns are he / him / his.
  • What does being “Out and Proud” at Furman mean to you? Being out at Furman has strengthened me. Proud that I am a voice.
  • What do you like to do in your spare time? My spare time is to be in the great outdoors, nothing brings me more peace than the cascade of water over a field of rocks into a pool of forevermore.
  • What is one thing about you that no one would guess? I love opera!
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Caroline Davis

Visiting Assistant Professor, Theatre Arts

  • Where are you from? Greenville, SC.
  • How do you identify / preferred pronouns? she/her.
  • What does being “Out and Proud” at Furman mean to you? For a long time I wasn’t vocal about my identity as a bisexual person because of the judgment that had come from both the straight and queer communities. I am trying to be more present in this respect on campus because I know that representation matters. I think it’s just a matter of saying “I’m here, and this is me.” If anyone on campus would like a safe outlet to explore these ideas, I really am here, and I have the bandwidth for those conversations.
  • What do you like to do in your spare time? I’m a big gamer. Video games, escape rooms, murder mystery boxes, pinball arcades… you name it. I’m also a big fan of drag, so I spend a lot of time at drag shows and brunches on the weekends. During the week, I enjoy hiking and cooking with my partner.
  • What is one thing about you that no one would guess? I got my first professional radio gig when I was 19. I played “Mom” in a commercial for Applebee’s Hilton Head. My first line was, “The kids are out of school for the summer! Great! Now you gotta feed ’em…”
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Adi Dubash

Associate Professor of Biology

  • Where are you from? Bombay, India.
  • How do you identify / preferred pronouns? I identify as a gay man and my pronouns are He/Him/His.
  • What does being “Out and Proud” at Furman mean to you? It means having the freedom to be who I am with my friends and colleagues, being an advocate for LGBTQ rights, and supporting those in our community who are discovering or coming to terms with their identity.
  • What do you like to do in your spare time? I love to knit, cook, hang out with my husband and adopted son, and I am a huge fan of opera (from Bellini to Gounod to Verdi).
  • What is one thing about you that no one would guess?  I got sucked waist deep into quicksand made from flamingo feces while on safari in Africa. Yep, never forgetting that experience.
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Franklin Ellis

Associate Dean and Director, Center for Inclusive Communities

  • Where are you from? Florence, South Carolina.
  • How do you identify / preferred pronouns? He/Him/His.
  • What does being “Out and Proud” at Furman mean to you? Living my most authentic self without hesitation, reservation, or question.
  • What do you like to do in your spare time? Reading, dancing, and binge watching Netflix.
  • What is one thing about you that no one would guess? High fantasy books are my guilty pleasure and I enjoy anime.
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Alex Francis-Ratte

Associate Professor of Asian Studies

  • Where are you from? I grew up in New York City & Honolulu, and lived for some time in Massachusetts and Ohio.
  • How do you identify / preferred pronouns? Male; He / Him / His.
  • What does being “Out and Proud” at Furman mean to you? It means that I want to see a Furman where nobody has to hide their true selves!
  • What do you like to do in your spare time? On my spare time, I like to cook, grow green vegetables in the garden, play with my cats, and hike in the mountains with my partner.
  • What is one thing about you that no one would guess?  I’m terrified of the ocean!
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Kelsey Hample

Associate Professor of Economics

  • Where are you from? I’m from a small town in central Illinois called Macomb.
  • How do you identify / preferred pronouns? I identify as a queer woman and prefer she/her pronouns.
  • What does being “Out and Proud” at Furman mean to you?  Being “Out and Proud” at Furman means that I can be a more visible role model to students who may be in search of LGBT+ resources.
  • What do you like to do in your spare time?  I am a hobbyist, always looking for a new project or craft to take on.
  • What is one thing about you that no one would guess?  I am dyslexic.
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Benjamin Haywood

Associate Director, Faculty Development Center

  • Where are you from? Mount Gilead, North Carolina.
  • How do you identify / preferred pronouns? I identify as male; my preferred pronouns are he/him/his.
  • What does being “Out and Proud” at Furman mean to you? Claiming my own uniqueness without feeling pressure to conform or cover up the many intersecting elements of my identity in order to fit into a majority-designed box. It also means taking an active role in building a fully inclusive culture at Furman where difference is celebrated and we find pride in our diversity of perspectives, ideas, and strengths.
  • What do you like to do in your spare time? Spend time outdoors (bird watching is a favorite pastime!), travel and experience new places and cultures, dream and execute home improvement projects, cook and share meals with friends, backyard adventures with my niece, read about natural history, and laugh and smile as frequently as possible.
  • What is one thing about you that no one would guess? If I could switch careers I would be a veterinarian.

I am an LGBTQIA+ ambassador, please contact me if you have any questions about LGBTQIA+ campus resources, Furman’s DEI goals, or concerns about LGBTQIA+ inclusion and belonging on campus.

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Scott Henderson

Professor of Education

  • Where are you from? I was born and raised in West Palm Beach, Florida.
  • How do you identify / preferred pronouns? I identify as a gay man/cisgender whose preferred pronouns are he/him/his.
  • What does being “Out and Proud” at Furman mean to you? For me, “Out and Proud” at Furman means that I am open about my sexual orientation and the fact that I had a partner for 24 years.
  • What do you like to do in your spare time? I enjoy exercising, cooking, playing the trumpet, writing poetry, painting, and photography.
  • What is one thing about you that no one would guess?  One thing that no one would guess about me is that I have a fraternal twin brother (he’s seven minutes older).
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Tuğçe Kayaal

Assistant Professor of History

  • Where are you from? Istanbul.
  • How do you identify / preferred pronouns? Asexual, she/her.
  • What does being “Out and Proud” at Furman mean to you? It means being a part of and cultivating a community centering around acceptance and support. It means to be out there proudly for who I am as a person and scholar.
  • What do you like to do in your spare time? Listen to my Vinyl records, play with my fur baby Ms. Melina, and read comic books and novels. practice yoga, and spend fun time with family and friends 🙂

I am an LGBTQIA+ ambassador, please contact me if you have any questions about LGBTQIA+ campus resources, Furman’s DEI goals, or concerns about LGBTQIA+ inclusion and belonging on campus.

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Andy Lecture

Accessibility Specialist, SOAR

  • Where are you from? Spartanburg, SC.
  • How do you identify / preferred pronouns? He/him.
  • What does being “Out and Proud” at Furman mean to you? It means being visible – being my authentic self at all times. In today’s socio-political climate, it is important to make our presence known so that not only do those who don’t understand what it means to be queer can learn about it, but to ensure that those who are still learning and understanding their own queerness can feel safe and comfortable to do so.
  • What do you like to do in your spare time? Theatre and colorguard make up most of my time outside of work! I also enjoy bingeing shows with my husband while cuddling with our 5 loving kitties. I play video games casually and love reading sci-fi or fantasy books as well!
  • What is one thing about you that no one would guess? I’m a World Championship Silver Medalist in Winter Guard International!

I am an LGBTQIA+ ambassador, please contact me if you have any questions about LGBTQIA+ campus resources, Furman’s DEI goals, or concerns about LGBTQIA+ inclusion and belonging on campus.

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Alyssa Nance

Cataloging and Metadata Librarian

  • Where are you from? Charlotte, North Carolina.
  • How do you identify / preferred pronouns? I identify as aromantic and asexual; she/her/hers.
  • What does being “Out and Proud” at Furman mean to you? It means engaging with the Furman community as my authentic self and making Furman a safe place for others to do the same.
  • What do you like to do in your spare time? I enjoy taking naps with my cats, hiking with friends, and sewing clothing.
  • What is one thing about you that no one would guess? I don’t have a favorite color.

I am an LGBTQIA+ ambassador, please contact me if you have any questions about LGBTQIA+ campus resources, Furman’s DEI goals, or concerns about LGBTQIA+ inclusion and belonging on campus.

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Nick Radel

Professor of English

  • Where are you from? Cincinnati, Ohio.
  • How do you identify / preferred pronouns? Male, He / Him / His.
  • What does being “Out and Proud” at Furman mean to you? It means working hard to help Furman and its community experience the genuine joy of living and interacting in a fully integrated world.
  • What do you like to do in your spare time? Hike, swim, go to the theatre and movies, read.
  • What is one thing about you that no one would guess? I have no secrets—that is my tragedy.
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Katlyn Bagley-Sepsey

Associate Director, Institutional Research and Reporting

  • Where are you from?   I grew up in Michigan and moved to Greenville, SC when I was 10.
  • How do you identify / preferred pronouns?  Female; She / Her /Hers.
  • What does being “Out and Proud” at Furman mean to you? It means being part of an inclusive community where everyone is accepted for who they are. I think it is important for students and the community to know that Furman is a place for everyone.
  • What do you like to do in your spare time? I like to travel, cook, birdwatch, play board games, manage my Animal Crossing island, and spend time with my family.
  • What is one thing about you that no one would guess? I’m super competitive, but working on it so it’s not so obnoxious.
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Roger Sneed

Professor of Religion, Faculty Chair

  • Where are you from?  I am from Tulsa, Oklahoma.
  • How do you identify / preferred pronouns?  My preferred pronouns are he/him/his.
  • What does being “Out and Proud” at Furman mean to you? It means living my best Black, gay, agnostic, nerdy life in every aspect of my job.
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Judith Williams

Assistant Professor of Anthropology

  • Where are you from? Jamaica
  • How do you identify / preferred pronouns?  She / Her
  • What does being “Out and Proud” at Furman mean to you? Hopefully, my visibility inspires others to live authentically and unapologetically as Queer folx.
  • What do you like to do in your spare time? Eat really delicious food and drink good wine!
  • What is one thing about you that no one would guess? Probably that I’m Queer, but more generally speaking I love to eat bugs! My fave is Cambodian Tarantula roasted with Chili Peppers.
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