Preferred Name: Brendan Hatch

Pronouns: he/they

Program(s): Gender Studies (major), Psychology (major), Sociology (minor) (alum, BS ’23)

Current career: Academic Advisor, University of Utah

“I originally took GNDR 3900, Intro Feminist Theories, as a psychology allied course. Ella Myers was my instructor for the course and because of her instruction and the material, I was “hooked” (bell hooks is my favorite feminist author).

“During my undergraduate experience, I was an outreach ambassador for the school. A lot of the time, this entailed me tabling and getting to meet with prospective students for the U and give them more information about our disciplines. I love that I get to continue to do that in my current role as an academic advisor. So many people are interested in the ideas our programs are based on but don’t necessarily know what they can do with these degrees or that they even exist.

“I know so many people in my life who needed someone who listened and understood during their time on campus. For me, I found those people here. I think the best way for me to give back to them is to take what I learned and pass it on–to become someone anyone can trust like that.

“These programs really embody community, because they work to create such an accepting place. It just offers an unconditional sense of belonging to anyone- no matter how they identify. It’s a safe space, especially for those who might not feel as welcome in other parts of campus. I think that’s really important and I’ve been so happy to be a part of Transform for as long as I have.”