San Marcos,
18
December
2017
|
09:00 AM
America/Los_Angeles

Providing Safe Spaces on Campus

By David Ogul

Her official title is Head of User Services at the Cal State San Marcos University Library. But Carrie Moran says one of her most important roles is promoting social justice and providing a voice for the queer community – especially considering the current political climate.

Which makes Moran a perfect fit for CSUSM.

There is a sense here that diversity is a foundational principle, rather than something to focus on when it’s noticed to be lacking,” she said. “Every project, initiative, sign, communication, etc., reflects the commitment to diversity in an authentic way.”

Moran has only been with CSUSM since September, but already is active with the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer and Ally Faculty Staff Association and the LGBTQA Pride Center. As the User Engagement Librarian at the University of Central Florida (UCF) in Orlando, where she developed services, programs and training on emerging technology and instruction, Moran also served as president of UCF’s Pride Faculty and Staff Association and played an instrumental role in organizing the UCF community response to the 2016 massacre at the Pulse, a gay nightclub in the central Florida city.

A former crisis counselor in Baltimore, Moran changed careers because of the impact modern libraries can have.

“One of the things I didn’t realize about librarianship when I first got into it was how social justice-oriented the field is,” Moran said. “Libraries provide access to information, access to technology that you might not otherwise be able to afford, and a safe space for people to go.”

“There is a sense here that diversity is a foundational principle, rather than something to focus on when it’s noticed to be lacking.” 
Carrie Moran