The University named a new director to its Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Programs Office on Wednesday.
Anne Phibbs, who worked for Metropolitan State University for the past eight years, most recently as GLBT student services director, will take the new post Jan. 3.
The job will be a homecoming for Phibbs, who completed her Ph.D. at the University in 2000.
The search was difficult because of a competitive field of applicants, said Geoffrey Maruyama, vice provost for the Office of Multicultural Affairs.
The challenge of the new job, along with the size of the University and its campuses, will be “exciting and daunting,” Phibbs said.
The GLBT Programs Office encompasses many aspects of college life including athletics, residence hall and apartment living and student services, she said.
“There isn’t an area not connected to this office,” she said. “It’s very exciting for someone so vested in higher education.”
The position was upgraded to have greater oversight both at the University and its coordinate campuses, Maruyuma said.
Phibbs interviewed before student groups and University officials.
“We’re really excited to work with her, to see what she can offer us and to show her what we can offer her,” said Mike Grewe, co-chairperson of the University’s Queer Student Cultural Center.
“We’re hoping that she’ll be able to bring focus and attention to GLBT issues on campus,” Grewe said.
Phibbs said she wants to work to help the smaller campuses start or strengthen their GLBT programs. Coming from Metro State, she knows how to foster the smaller communities, she said.
The entire staff at the GLBT Programs Office was excited to have Phibbs hired as director, said Owen Marciano, assistant director at the office.
“We’re excited to have her bring a fresh outlook to the program,” Marciano said. “She’s a great fit for the University.”
Phibbs’ position is just one part of a larger concept on campus and she’ll be a strong ally for the other multicultural programs as well as the GLBT community, Maruyama said.
“Her candidacy created a lot of excitement across the groups with whom she met,” he said.