Our History

On January 24, 2011, the UW-Green Bay LGBTQA Resource Center was established by the founding members: Dr. Christine Smith, Joanie Dovekas, Debra Rezac, Steve Zywicki, Dr. Stacie Christian, and Mai Lo Lee and the four original interns: Jack Melberg, Rory Cowart, Miranda Seitz and Kit Wise. Mai J. Lo Lee started the first Lavender Graduation at UW-Green Bay in April of 2012 to recognize LGBTQIA2S+ graduating students and allies. Over the years, the annual event has grown and is now known as the Lavender Graduation and Leadership Awards. This ceremony recognizes Green Bay graduates from any program degree. It also includes Pride Center highlights and an awards ceremony featuring the: Lavender Leadership Award. This award recognizes individual or group contributions or achievements to the LGBTQIA2S+ community. There are six nomination categories: Student of the Year, Staff of the Year, Faculty of the Year, Pride Center Intern of the Year, Alum of the Year and Community Member of the Year.

The LGBTQA Resource Center name changed in 2014 to the Pride Center. Students were asking for a safe space which provides resources, education and a safe place to learn more about their LGBTQIA2S+ identities, and two sections of what was formerly a closet converted to two small offices were established as the new location. The original Pride Center was two small rooms which consisted of an office and a small social room that was often full to capacity with students. The first Pride Center Director was Dr. Stacie Christian. Initially, she operated the center voluntarily along with other volunteer students and staff for several years in addition to teaching as a professor at UW-Green Bay and other local colleges. Dr. Christian also co-founded the Safe and Inclusive Living (SAIL) community in UW-Green Bay Residence Life with Assistant Residence Life Director: Joanie Dovekas to provide a safe and welcoming space for LGBTQIA2S+ students to live and learn on campus. Dr. Christian also assisted with starting the Campus Cupboard and Closet on the Green Bay campus to assist student needs of clothing and food insecurities. The campus cupboard is now available on all campuses and welcomes donations of food, clothing and household items for UW-Green Bay students. 

Originally, the Pride Center on the Green Bay campus was open for 20 hours per week. Eventually, the Pride Center expanded to offer additional campus locations with a Pride Center open at each for 40 hours a week, Monday through Friday. The UW-Green Bay, Marinette Campus Pride Center was founded in February 2017 and was originally located in the central main building before moving to its final location near the campus library.  In 2018, the Pride Center on the Green Bay campus expanded into much needed additional space, which includes three rooms: an office, small quiet room and larger space to socialize. Dr. Stacie Christian and Department Assistant: Loretta Rafter worked together to present programming for the Pride Centers. In July 2021, Dr. Christian became the Assistant Vice Chancellor of Inclusive Excellence at UW-Green Bay and Nicole Kurth became the Pride Center Coordinator to oversee daily operations of the Green Bay and Marinette campus Pride Center locations.  In September 2021, UW-Green Bay added additional Pride Center locations at UW-Green Bay, Manitowoc Campus and Sheboygan Campus. An Ally Lounge at the Kress Center, specifically serving the UW-Green Bay student athletes on the Green Bay existed 2021-2023. In May 2023, the UW-Green Bay, Marinette Campus Pride Center closed permanently. 

 In August 2025, Nicole Kurth was named Pride Center Director and Sarah O’Brien became the first Pride Center & Student Engagement Center Program Coordinator. The Pride Center continues to grow and offer programming and outreach opportunities to both our campus and local communities. On January 27, 2026 the Green Bay campus Pride Center celebrated its 15^th Anniversary with an open house celebration. Over 150 people from the campus and community attended this wonderful event with three of the original Pride Center founders in attendance: Dr. Stacie Christian, Joanie Dovekas and Dr. Christine Smith . In Fall 2026, our Manitowoc and Sheboygan Pride Center campus locations will observe their fifth anniversaries respectively. The Pride Center would like to thank all the Pride Center students, staff, faculty, volunteers, Interns and community and campus partners – past and present for your contributions to our success. We could not do this without you.

Awards and Recognition

• UW-Green Bay NRHH 2021-2023 Organization of the Year
• 2023 Founders Award -  University Award for Excellence in Community Outreach
• Top 30 Ranked University Recognition for LGBTQ+ Students on Campus Pride Index (2015-2023)

Mission Statement

The mission of the UW-Green Bay Pride Centers are to identify and respond to the concerns and needs of LGBTQIA2S+ students, faculty, staff, community members and their allies; to provide high-quality support services that contribute to the academic and personal growth of LGBTQIA2S+ students, faculty, staff, community members and allies; and to offer a safe, supportive and welcoming environment for LGBTQIA2S+ people and their allies.