About

Mission and Vision

The LGBTQ+ Student Center (LGBTQ+SC; est. 2005 as the LGBT Resource Center) is one of seven identity-based centers housed under Student Equity & Inclusion Programs (SEIP) in Student Life. The mission of the LGBTQ+SC is to provide support, education, advocacy, and community for all undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Southern California with an emphasis on students across the spectra of gender and sexuality. In carrying out its mission, the LGBTQ+SC is committed to engaging in its pillars of support, education, advocacy, and community by programming across the multiple intersections of identities within the diverse LGBTQ+ community, collaborating with its SEIP and university partners, and fostering intentional identity development and leadership development for USC students.

Learning Outcomes

Support

Students will be able to identify and access resources available for LGBTQ+ students at USC, off-campus, or online.

Education

Students/Staff/Faculty will be able to explain relevant concepts, terminology, and identities related to gender identity and sexuality; practical knowledge will be demonstrated through social interaction.

Advocacy

Students will be able to articulate cultural and social contributions of the LGBTQ+ community and identify their roles and opportunities in this ongoing contribution.

Community

Students will be able to discuss their sense of belonging at USC as it relates to diverse gender and sexual identities and its intersections with race, ethnicity, nationality, ability, religion, and more.

Center Staff

Megan van der Toorn

(she/they)

Director, SEIP Intercultural Services

Megan van der Toorn (she/they) joined the Trojan Family in July 2020 when she began her role as Director of SEIP Intercultural Services, overseeing the LGBTQ+ Student Center and Gender Equity Resources. Prior to coming to USC, Megan worked for six year’s at UCLA’s LGBTQ Campus Resource Center, serving first as Program Coordinator and then as Assistant Director. During her time at UCLA, Megan facilitated LGBTQ competency trainings for over 5000 UCLA students, staff, faculty, and LA community members; provided career and leadership development for undergraduate LGBTQ students through the creation and implementation of UCLA’s LGBTQ Student Leadership Retreat; conducted broader assessment and strategic planning for the LGBTQ Campus Resource Center; and, most importantly, had the privilege of mentoring countless students through their queer identity development journeys.

Megan comes to Los Angeles by way of Nashville, TN, where she earned her M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration at Vanderbilt University. As a proud queer, feminist, lesbian, Megan pursues social justice work through an intersectional lens that focuses on the importance of personal narrative and navigating systems of power and privilege. Megan’s biggest passion and interest in life is the representation of queer women on television and in other media. She believes firmly that media shapes culture, and that representation matters. Megan welcomes any opportunity to speak about the importance of the film Portrait of a Lady on Fire, why #LexaDeservedBetter, the revolutionizing power of Juliantina, and the narrative tool of the female ga(y)ze.

You can contact Megan at mvandert@usc.edu.

Alyssa Alegre

(they/them/siya)

Center Supervisor, LGBTQ+ Student Center

Alyssa Alegre (they/them/siya) is a disabled, gen 1.5, Filipinx immigrant navigating higher education as a first-gen student/professional/scholar. Alyssa has been in multicultural affairs since their undergraduate career, having served San Diego State University’s (SDSU) Center for Intercultural Relations & APIDA mental health initiative – (AAPI)phany, as well as Cal Poly Pomona’s Asian & Pacific Islander Student Center. There, they provided culturally responsive programming, social justice education, strategic planning, and curricular development throughout their time.

Inspired by activists like Mia Mingus, Alyssa imbues collective radical imagination and trauma informed practices to uplift the students they serve and foster empowered decision-making. They hold a B.A in Interdisciplinary Studies (Psychology, Sociology, and Counseling & Social Change) from SDSU and are also a proud USC alum, receiving their M.Ed in Postsecondary Administration & Student Affairs from the Rossier School of Education. As a part of the Trojan Family, they served as a Graduate Assistant in areas such as the Volunteer Center, RSVP, and the Center for Education, Identity, and Social Justice. You can talk to Alyssa about anything from student life, your hyperfixations, to loves like Avatar: The Last Airbender, astrology, witchcraft, live music, and their heart eyes for Rina Sawayama.

You can contact Alyssa at aalegre@usc.edu.

Contact Us

Address: 3601 Trousdale Parkway, STU 415 | Los Angeles, CA 90089-0890
Hours: Mon – Thurs: 10am-6pm; Fri: 10am-5pm

Student Staff

Izzy Batiste

(he/him/his)

Graduate Assistant

Hey yall its me! Izzy Juicy! if you see me I'm probably eating, sleeping, or procrastinating. I'm here, queer, and ready to take on the year!

Myriam Alcala

(they/them/theirs)

Student Worker: Digital Outreach Assistant

Myriam Alcala is a latinx journalism and English student at USC. They are a part of the Latinx Student Assembly e-board, Dimelo, Annenberg Media as editor and Lambda Theta Nu Sorority, Inc.