Library News & Updates

LGBTQIA+ Lasting Impacts: Dean Watstein Discusses the Burnside Watstein Awards

With pride month having just ended, we’re thinking about what has been done to indefinitely improve the lives and voices of those in the LGBTQIA+ community. It’s an honor to share a bit of the backstory on Sarah Barbara Watstein, our dean here at the Lemieux Library and McGoldrick Learning Commons. While Sarah could write a book on many topics, one of which would be particularly interesting to read is on herself.  

Please find the full article and interview with Sarah Watstein and Chris Burnside below in which they discuss the Burnside Watstein Award at Virginia Commonwealth University and the significance of creating lasting impacts on the work that is important to us, in this case, creating visibility and a voice for the LGBTIA+ community.  

Full article and interview can be found here:  

https://news.vcu.edu/article/2023/06/lgbtqia-award-namesakes-burnside-and-watstein-reflect-on-their-journeys 

Introduction excerpt from the article here: 

Since 2006, the Burnside Watstein Awards have served as an annual recognition of individuals who enrich the sense of community at Virginia Commonwealth University and make a significant difference in the lives of LGBTQIA+ faculty, staff and students. 

Chris Burnside and Sarah Barbara Watstein, the award namesakes, are former co-chairs of what is now Equality VCU and outspoken voices for diversity and inclusion. Working within the VCU system to address issues while striving to create visibility and a voice for the LGBTQIA+ community, Burnside and Watstein helped create support and solidarity for its members.