Departmental Liaisons are Mason staff and faculty who are primary points of contact and frequent collaborators, in other university departments. Some liaisons are designated by their departments for this role, with their own internal duties and responsibilities. However, most operate in a more informal capacity. Liaisons are not meant to be the only person in their respective department who LGBTQ+ students work with; rather, they are the person responsible for making their whole department more prepared to serve LGBTQ+ students.
Our expectations for Departmental Liaisons:
- Serve as a primary point of contact
- Staff specific events (or send a designee)
- Complete all modules of the Safe Zone program
- Encourage their department to integrate Safe Zone engagement as part of onboarding and ongoing professional development
- Provide up-to-date information for the Campus Pride Index section that pertains to that functional area/discipline, as it applies
- Become informed about functional area/discpline-specific best practices regarding LGBTQ+ inclusion and work with LGBTQ+ students
- Participate in LGBTQ+-related professional development at conferences, training, and other engagements, within their own functional areas/discipline
- Serve as an information resource for colleagues and students about the LGBTQ+ Resources Center
If you would like to discuss being a departmental liaison, please contact Josh Kinchen (he/him) at jkinchen@gmu.edu.
List of Liaisons
Dr. Allie Minieri (she/her/hers)
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
Dr. Alexandra (Allie) Minieri serves as the Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) liaison to LGBTQ+ resources. In this capacity, Allie supports CAPS programming in coordination with LGBTQ+ Resources, such as Pride Week, Trans Day of Remembrance, and Lavender Graduation. Allie is also a Safe Zone facilitator. Additional information about Allie can be found at this link: https://caps.gmu.edu/alexandra-allie-minieri-ph-d/.
Members of the campus community who would like to speak with Allie can reach her by calling 703-993-2380 or emailing her at aminieri@gmu.edu.
LT. Michael Guston
Department of Police and Public Safety
LT. Michael Guston of George Mason University’s Department of Police and Public Safety is the LGBTQ liaison officer. This position was established to enhance the relationship between Mason’s police department and the campus’ lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning community. Lt. Guston has been a Mason police officer since 2010, and a law enforcement office for a total of 30 years. He has worked a police officer in Arizona, California, and here in Virginia. In 1985, when Lt. Guston first began applying to be a police officer, he was denied employment due to him being gay; he was only able to find volunteer, or unpaid positions with police departments.
Members of the campus community needing to contact LT. Guston may do so via the police department’s dispatch number at 703-993-2810 or by calling LT. Guston’s office at (703)993-3414. He can also be reached by e-mail.
CPL. Meghan Tallon
Department of Police and Public Safety
Corporal Meghan Tallon (she/her) of George Mason University’s Department of Police and Public Safety is the LGBTQ liaison officer for Fairfax Campus. Meghan is working alongside LGBTQ+ Resource Center with building a better relationship with the community as well as educating officers about the community. Meghan has been with Mason since 2019 and has a total of 5 years as a law enforcement officer. Meghan is passionate about working alongside LGBTQ+ Resource Center, the community, and becoming a better ally.
Members of the campus community needing to contact Meghan may do so via the police departments dispatch number at 703-993-2810, by calling/texting Meghan on her work cell 703-397-6247, or by e-mail Mtallon@gmu.edu