Dr. Jorgenson served as the director of UW-Eau Claire’s Gender & Sexuality Resource Center for ten years, prior to shifting into his new role as executive director of diversity, inclusion, and leadership. He now supervises both the Gender & Sexuality Resource Center as well as Multicultural Student Services. His professional philosophy has always been, “Think big, and wait to be told no.” Creator of The Fire Ball and co-executive director of Q-Fest, Jorgenson prioritizes queer joy and celebration in all programming and education. Rather than extrude queerness through a White, Western, cisheteronormative lens–where queer identities are cast as liabilities or indictments of character–Jorgenson passionately rejects deficit approaches to self-exploration. Queerness is, in fact, our greatest strength. It is the source of our creativity, love, and compassion. It offers us freedom.

Spending two weeks each summer with young queer adults is among Jorgenson’s most cherished experiences in higher education. Whether navigating San Francisco or, through film, examining complex queer identities and experiences from around the world, the Q-Fest student cohort never ceases to amaze with their vulnerability, critical insight, and willingness to think differently. To receive new ideas openly. To wrestle with personal discomfort while also reaching out to support their peers. Against a backlash of anti-queer hatred in the United States, Jorgenson finds strength and solace in this new generation of queer leaders.