Melanie Willingham-Jaggers has been named GLSEN’s first Black, nonbinary Executive Director. Rocío Inclán, GLSEN Board of Directors Chair stated, “LGBTQ+ students across the country are facing a crisis amid attacks on their rights & the ongoing pandemic & we need bold leadership now more than ever. A true leader for their community, Melanie always looks first to the grassroots leadership of the LGBTQ+ youth of color, trans youth & youth with disabilities who are on the frontlines & centers their experiences & needs in all GLSEN’s work. Melanie is exactly the leader our movement needs to bring our fight for LGBTQ+ justice to the next level as GLSEN’s Executive Director.” Willingham-Jaggers added, “I am thrilled to continue & accelerate the important work GLSEN started more than 30 years ago. Education is the cornerstone of our democracy & GLSEN’s work is rooted in the belief that education can & should be an experience that is safe, inclusive & affirming for all students. I am committed to ensuring our organization lives up to that promise & advances work based always on GLSEN’s core strategies: anti-racism, gender justice & disability justice.” Eliza Byard, Senior Advisor, Campaign for Our Shared Future & GLSEN former Executive Director concluded, “Melanie's expertise as an organizer & deep connections across movements are invaluable for the next chapter of GLSEN's work. The world of K-12 schools has been turned completely upside-down over the past few years & Melanie’s vision & experience will provide the essential ingredients of new strategies for a new time.” Before joining GLSEN Melanie served as the program associate director of The Worker Institute at Cornell University’s School of Industrial & Labor Relations. GLSEN works to create safe & inclusive schools for all.
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