About Us
The Pride Center is dedicated to creating a more supportive and inclusive campus community.
Vision
We envision a campus community where LGBTQIA2S+ people are affirmed, supported, respected, and celebrated.
Mission
The Pride Center leads the University of North Dakota in building an equitable and inclusive community for LGBTQIA2S+ students, faculty, and staff.
self-discovery, leadership opportunities, and developing a sense of agency toward social change.
Annual Report
The Pride Center's annual report highlights our work and impact on campus.
Our History
The University of North Dakota was the first institution of higher education to create an LGBTQ+ Resource Center and hire a full-time staff member dedicated to serving LGBTQ+ students, faculty, and staff in the state.
- The Pride Center was opened in Spring 2017 after years of advocacy work by the LGBTQ+ student group, Ten Percent Society known today as the Queer & Trans Alliance. The Center was located on the second floor of the previous Memorial Union. Along with the creation of the center was the hiring of a LGBTQ+ program manager. This was the first position created at University that was dedicated to LGBTQ+ programs and services.
- In January 2018, Dr. Jeff Maliksey was hired as the Senior Program Coordinator for Cross-Cultural Programming and LGBTQ+ Initiatives. The Pride Center was moved under Student Involvement and Parent Programs. During this time, The Pride Center offered annual programs and event such as Coming Out Week, Transgender Day of Remembrance, Lavender Graduation Celebration, and LGBTQ+ Ally Training.
- In 2019, the Pride Center was temporarily re-located to Wilkerson Commons during the construction of the new Memorial Union. At this time, the supervision of the Pride Center was also moved to Student Diversity and Inclusion. Dr. Jeff Maliskey continued to serve LGBTQ+ students as the Assistant Director of Student Diversity & Inclusion/LGBTQ+ Initiatives.
- By August 2021, the Pride Center moved back to the newly constructed Memorial Union on the second floor in room 204. At this time the Pride Center was an open space for students to utlize. Dr. Maliskey was located down the hall in Student Diversity & Inclusion. In 2022, University administrators recognized a need for greater support and resource for the UND LGBTQ+ communiy. By August 2022, Dr. Jeff Maliskey was hired as the innagural director of the Pride Center. An office was also constructed in the Pride Center for the director to reduce barriers to access and provide support resources for students within the space.
Learn more about UND's queer and trans history in Dr. Jeff Maliskey's dissertation, The History of Queer Resistance and Student Activism at the University of North Dakota.