During Natalie Rodgers’ undergraduate days at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls (UWRF), an “active shooter alarm” was mistakenly triggered in the Student Union Building. While many were shaken by the event, there was no ill intent behind the error.
“We eventually found out that wires literally got crossed during building maintenance,” said Rodgers, who uses the nonbinary pronouns they/them/theirs.
While the university considered this an innocuous mistake, “There was very real fear felt by many in the building when the alarm went off,” recalled Rodgers, now a first-year student in the College Student Personnel Administration (CSPA) program at Illinois State University.
“The administration did not take into account the fear experienced by students, faculty, and staff alike during this heightened time of gun violence,” they said. “It was a bureaucratic experience where I learned a lot.”
It’s also when Rodgers discovered their passion for helping campus communities support people in times of anxiety and fear. They researched and talked about the topic extensively during their undergraduate studies. In fact, the university’s subsequent chancellor (the UW System’s terminology for a university president) attended their culminating presentation. The leader was not with the university when the event occurred, but she handled much of the aftermath in the year to follow.
“Her work was part of my presentation. Some of it was positive, but I also critiqued what she could have done better,” Rodgers said. “It was incredibly overwhelming and anxiety-inducing to not only present to the head of the university but also to be telling her how she could have done a better job.
“And that is something I have not stopped doing, for better or for worse: telling people when they could be doing better.”
Rodgers retooled the presentation for the regional Student Affairs 101 Conference that took place at Illinois State in October 2022. The presentation was titled “Campus in crisis: Communicating with students through turbulent campus events.”
“I am an openly queer young person in a world that isn’t often the friendliest to practicing and aspiring professionals in any field. But I had some really fantastic mentors as an undergraduate, and that really proved to me the power of having people who have a shared identity that you can look up to.”
—Natalie Rodgers
Awarded for excellence
For their part, the UW System has not shied away from recognizing their alum’s contributions.
Rodgers was recognized with the 2022 Dr. P.B. Poorman Award last fall. The UW System created the honor to celebrate top advocates whose efforts create safer, more inclusive campus climates for members of the LGBTQIA2S+ community.
The ceremony took place at what’s known as the Gordon Commons on the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s campus. The spot holds special meaning for Rodgers. During high school, the Sun Prairie, Wisconsin native served on the Wisconsin State 4-H Drama Company. For four summers, they rehearsed and lunched in Gordon.
“It’s also where I would say my leadership journey began,” said Rodgers.
The Redbird was one of the youngest recipients at the UW System’s ceremony for a reason. In addition to their work after the false active threat alarm, several campus offices counted on Rodgers’ talents and willingness to be a visible and supportive member of the LGBTQIA2S+ community.
“I am an openly queer young person in a world that isn’t often the friendliest to practicing and aspiring professionals in any field,” they said. “But I had some really fantastic mentors as an undergraduate, and that really proved to me the power of having people who have a shared identity that you can look up to.”
Rodgers’ own advocacy left an indelible and positive impact on the university. And though they’d do it all over again, those days were incredibly busy.
“I had a habit of getting over-involved as an undergraduate, and that’s definitely something that I still struggle with a little bit, now,” they said. “But I can say, without a lot of exaggeration, that I worked with just about every office on my campus that supported students.”
Rodgers’ internships at UWRF included stops at the Office of Student Involvement (for three years); the Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging; and the Women, Gender, and Sexual Studies program. For the latter, they co-led a monthlong campaign highlighting some of the most influential feminine figures internationally and locally during Women’s History Month in March 2021.
“Gavin is the first nonbinary person I’ve ever been able to work with or work under. That was definitely a feather in ISU’s cap—the idea that I could work with Gavin.”
—Natalie Rodgers
Rodgers also got the opportunity to shadow the Assistant Chancellor of Student Success Jamie Zamjahn, conducting research, assisting in the audit of the Bias Incident Response Team and processes, and the restructuring of the Division of Student Success, the university’s Student Affairs Division.
“My research reviewed other institutions’ student affairs departments, how they are set up, and how River Falls could best support students,” they said.
The finished product offered an analysis of which strategies held the most promise.
“We did some pretty good work, and the best part was that many of the recommendations were implemented,” they said.
Rodgers also led a student group called the Chancellor’s Student Ambassadors that partnered with the offices of the Chancellor, Alumni Engagement, and Career Services. Each time there was a large event on campus, they represented the chancellor.
“I was able to get to know and learn a little bit from Chancellor Maria Gallo, who was brand-new to the university when I served as the ambassadors group president,” they said. “It was a really cool opportunity.”
Making a difference in Normal
Rodgers is no stranger to Illinois State’s top leader. They spoke with University President Terri Goss Kinzy just two months into their time in the CSPA program. Unfortunately, it involved another tense scene. Members of a fraternity vandalized two other Greek houses with LGBTQIA2S+ slurs. Not only was Rodgers the house director for one of them, they are also the only person in the building who is openly a member of the LGBTQIA2S+ community.
“Student affairs teams keep universities running and keep students here.”
—Natalie Rodgers
“I communicated with some of the people who were involved, and I know that it wasn’t meant to be toward me. But it still was an incredibly stressful experience that took over my life for a good two weeks,” they said.
Rodgers provided their own recommendations to President Kinzy. And though they believe the University’s initial response fell flat, additional efforts are beginning to demonstrate a more concerted effort for supporting LGBTQIA2S+ students, faculty, and staff at the University. That included a recent listening circle led by College of Education Director of Diversity and Inclusion Dakesa Piña, and Rodgers’ direct supervisor, Dr. Gavin Weiser, an assistant professor in the Department of Educational Administration and Foundations (EAF) and coordinator of the CSPA program.
Rodgers believes events like the listening circle are a starting point and tend to be more effective when they immediately follow a traumatic event.
“There is still so much work to be done,” they said.
CSPA support
Rodgers said they were appreciative of Dr. Weiser’s guidance during the trying experience involving the sorority they advise. In fact, the faculty member was a major reason Rodgers became a Redbird. In addition to being a house director, Rodgers is the CSPA Gamsky fellow, where they fulfill a wide range of programming needs, from marketing to project management.
“Gavin is the first nonbinary person I’ve ever been able to work with or work under,” Rodgers said. “That was definitely a feather in ISU’s cap—the idea that I could work with Gavin.”
Natalie Rodgers met with CSPA students, staff, and alumni at Illinois State’s 2022 Homecoming celebration in front of the College of Education tailgate tent.
They said Dr. Weiser is helping them to conceptualize a career in student affairs. Rodgers aspires to earn a doctorate in the field within the next 10-12 years, and they would like to experience all different areas in higher education, from working in student conduct to serving in offices of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
One thing’s for certain: their time in the CSPA program has solidified the value of all student-centered roles supporting growth outside the classroom.
“The impact of student affairs is so important to the mission of a university. And some schools realize that, and some schools don’t always realize that,” Rodgers said. “But the team of people who work to support students is essential to the mission of a university, no matter what the university’s mission is. Student affairs teams keep universities running and keep students here.”
The EAF department congratulates Rodgers on an outstanding achievement and for pushing for positive change at UWRF, Illinois State, and beyond.
Interested in EAF’s CSPA program? Learn more about Illinois State’s CSPA program.
