Gender and Sexuality Student Programs provides a welcoming and supportive environment for all students to engage with topics of gender and sexuality. We offer educational programs, dialogues, and campus-wide workshops to create a more inclusive, informed, and compassionate community. We welcome all members of campus and strive to develop inclusive student leaders who celebrate gender, sexuality, and their intersection with other dimensions of identity.
Signature Programs
Women's Leadership Program
A four-year co-curricular program that empowers young women with the essential skills, real-world experiences, and confidence needed to advance into leadership roles.
Men as Allies Summit
Held annually, the Men as Allies Summit consists of senior leaders sharing their stories of allyship in the workplace. Students are encouraged to attend, network and learn what it means to be an inclusive leader in business.
Rainbow Scholars Program
In partnership with the Center for Women and Business, the GSSP Office launched the Rainbow Scholars Program in September 2022. This one-year long intersectional leadership development program provides LGBTQ+ and allied undergraduate students with the opportunity to grow in both their personal and professional development through learning, engagement, and networking. Students will develop skills of leadership, advocacy, and identity awareness. Applications for the 2023-2024 cohort of Rainbow Scholars will open in September.
GSSP & PRIDE Mentoring Program
GSSP partners with PRIDE to lead a mentorship program for LGBTQ+ students. Each participant is matched with a faculty, staff or junior/senior mentor. The goal is for the mentors and mentees to develop an open dialogue, meet monthly, and attend networking sessions on relevant topics. Interested mentees can reach out to GSSP Director Julia Hvoslef at jhvoslef@bentley.edu or complete the mentee application here. Applications for mentees will remain open throughout the spring semester.
Open Forums
Hosted by GSSP and PRIDE, the monthly Open Forums series examines the connection between LGBTQ+ identity and identities such as religion, international status, race and ethnicity, and career industry. This space is an opportunity for dialogue and to ask questions of the speaker, one another, and ourselves.
Rainbow Graduation
The Rainbow Graduation is an annual ceremony for graduating LGBTQ+ seniors. The event includes reflections and speeches from student, staff and faculty speakers, a presentation of graduation cords/stoles, and celebration of our graduates.
Identity Awareness Programming
Women's History Month
March marks Women's History Month (WHM), which is a time to reflect on the past and current contributions from women on history, society and culture. Current WHM Programming includes events highlighting Equal Pay Day, International Women's Day (March 8), and Trans Day of Visibility (March 31).
Pride Month
June marks LGBTQ+ Pride Month, which honors the 1969 Stonewall Riots and also celebrates the LGBTQ+ community and culture. In partnership with the LGBTQ+ Steering Committee, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, PRIDE, and the Multicultural Center, the GSSP Office hosts various Pride Month programming.
Trans Awareness Week
Held in November, Transgender Awareness Week serves as a time to celebrate and honor the lives of trans people. The Trans Awareness Week Planning committee offers various community engagement events designed to celebrate trans lives and provide education surrounding trans people and identity.
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Student Groups
PRIDE
A student organization that provides support, education, and social activities for the Bentley University LGBTQ+ community.
Students Advocating Gender Equality (SAGE)
A student organization that promotes the personal development and empowerment of women through open dialogue.
Bentley Women's Network (BWN)
A student organization that builds and utilizes an established network of female business professionals and peers to empower Bentley’s future businesswomen.
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Committed to Inclusive Excellence
Office of Diversity and Inclusion
The Office of Diversity & Inclusion is responsible for fostering an inclusive community by leveraging interactions between offices, educating the entire community and working to increase the diversity at all levels of the University through university-wide, diversity-related programs and initiatives.
Bentley Center for Women and Business
Bentley’s Gloria Cordes Larson Center for Women and Business (CWB) is dedicated to advancing gender equity and fostering workplace inclusion – the CWB facilitates hundreds of workshops with businesses worldwide. The expertise of this unique knowledge center on campus is leveraged in student programs such as the Fellowship, Men of Alliance, and Perspectives, where students can to gain the knowledge and skills to become inclusive leaders on campus and in the workplace.