Radical love, person, and praxis is our fleetest path to justice.

Jen, is an exceptional leader, listener, and radical educator. They have been such an important mentor to me and so many other (historically and contemporarily marginalized and minoritized) students over the years.

 Jen built the most radical and student-centered office on a college-campus to which I have ever been exposed. As an academic on the job market, I spoke about the influence the Q Center had on my development as a scholar and in my belief that college campuses can and do offer incredibly important space for the most marginalized.

Jen co-created such an amazing and beautiful space. The Q Center was the very few places on campus I felt fully myself and one of the few places where I actually got to see and meet QTBIPOC and realized I come from a long pre/decoloial history of queer and gender nonconforming folks. Such deep gratitude for Jen and their tender, humble, and honest leadership and for their deep commitment to QTBIPOC - With Jen, I felt seen, heard, cared for, and emotionally and ideologically safe.   

I would not have become who I am without Jen's unwavering support and their nearly two decades of work at the University of Washington. I know so many others feel the same.

Dr. Self is an incredible, dedicated educator, advocate, community builder, leader, and all-around incredible individual. They teach and lead with vulnerability and authenticity and are able to easily connect with others, create a strong community, and make people feel respected and valued. An impassioned leader in the queer community, they focus their efforts on turning the social order inside out and upside down, centering on those who have been historically and contemporarily minimized and marginalized. Because of this valuable perspective, I continue to look to Dr. Self for advice and guidance around social and racial justice issues that impact the marginalized communities with whom I work (people who use substances) and have invited them to provide training to my staff and students.   

Jen is a passionate advocate for social change and advocating on behalf of others. A consummate professional and a catalyst for change, I had the opportunity to work with Jen on several high impact projects that supported that strategic vision for Student Life. They were a thought partner that I would say is in the top 1% of all colleagues I have ever encountered. Jen is brilliant, forward-thinking, and applies an equity lense to whatever work they engage. I have learned so much from Jen and I have the highest respect for them. Their fierceness and fearlessness are contagious and creates space for others to risk and be their full selves.   

Jen is the best, I thought so, right away! As a former Husky football player and gay man, I wanted to invest in a space that did not exist when I was in school, and Jen was creating that space. Jen was exactly the person to create the Q Center; their energy always flowing and caring for students who sometimes felt like they had no one.