Graduate Assistant

Bloomsburg University has many extraordinary people working with in the campus compound. These people include the dean of students, professors, students, and graduate assistants.But there's one graduate assistant who goes above and beyond  working with students who are in the LGBT community, and who have been sexually assaulted. She also runs multiple programs to educate students outside the classroom. The graduate assistant is Albra R. Wheeler.

Albra started working at Bloomsburg University as a Graduate Assistant in Spring Semester of 2016. She acepted an offer to work for the Dean of Students office, where she conducted informal Judicial hearings with students who broke the schools Code of Conduct. During the summer semester however, she is a graduate assistant for both the Dean of Students office and he Women's Resource Center. While doing both of these jobs she will be taking three master's level classes during the summer and fall semesters.

Albra's full time experience at the LGBT office began her second year at Bloomsburg. She had a common misconception that you would have to be LGBT Identified to enter the office, which is not the case. "I try to correct when I’m on paneling for peer education panels, in my advocacy and outreach, and in general." When she decided to walk into the office she felt welcomed and found multiple people that hung out at the center on a daily basis. She began volunteering by just answering the phones if the coordinator wasn't there, answering questions for students, finding resources, hanging up posters for events, etc. " Now in my assistant-ship with the Women’s Center I often times work in collaboration with the Graduate Assistant of the LGBT Center. This collaboration focuses on providing programming, resources, and outreach for current students." 

Albra's main office is in the Women's Resource Center. You'll walk in and see a main waiting room/office area. The furniture is kind of out dated, but new technology and furniture will be added in due time. There is also a small kitchen with a stove, microwave, and refrigerator so that students and faculty can store their food and hangout in the office. You'll walk down a small hallway with a book shelve on the left side filled with an assortment of books in a variety of dark and bright colors. You'll walk down the small hallway and into an office with a window view, looking out at tree and a small grassy area. There are two big comfy chairs that make you feel like you're sitting on a soft cloud.  There's a corner desk with a blue swivel office chair, a computer, printer, telephone, and some papers lying on the desk. The office gives off a vibe of I work in an office, but Albra's attitude toward's her job is nothing but positive. "YES, YES, YES! The background of my computer and phone have a picture of the phrase: "It's a beautiful thing when passions and careers collide."" Albra is short, has long blondish brown hair, and has a slight lisp. But she's postive, funny, informative, and is very caring.

Along with Albra's job comes education and other programs outside the classroom. Albra takes part in many programs such as PRIDE WEEK ( LGBT Pride) events. She also runs a program called the Vagina Monologues which is an assortment of stories acted out by men and women, and they deal with aspect of feminine experience. Another program she runs is Women's History Month, Take Back The Night which is a program focused on ending sexual, relationship, and Domestic Violence. She also par takes in many, many other programs both personally and within the Women's Resource Center. 

But working in the Women's Resource Center isn't always easy and fun, there some cases where it's very, very difficult. It's not difficult physically, it's difficult emotionally. Albra help's men and women who have been sexually assaulted, raped, domestically abused, stalked, etc. Having to listen to someone report, disclose, and state their story is very emotionally draining for the victim and her. But she is glad that they have the courage to seek help. ", I’m very proud of the student for having the courage to seek help and am honored that I am able to help in any small way that I can." The hard part for her is to learn how to leave situations that she can't control outside the academic, inside the academic environment. She has to separate her work life and her personal life.  "An example is when I have to mentor a student who has is a survivor and after when I leave for the day, I sit in my car and set a timer for four minutes. During the four minutes I practice deep breathing exercises. I then put on a mix that I made that has very upbeat, fast tempo songs that I can sing along to at the top of my lungs on the way home. After I arrive home I change my clothes to signify that my day at work has ended and my personal time has begun."

Albra does her job to educate and advocate. Her passion for social justice is what drew her to both centers. She frames her advocacy and research using both "Queer and Feminist Lenses." She doesn't want to advocate, she wants to "Promote an inter-sectional, diverse, and inclusive experience for students during their time on and off campus." Because she identifies as a Bisexual feminists, she can provide support in which she can interact holistically with all students.

Albra Wheels is an advocate for the LGBT community, Women's Rights, The Fight Against Sexual Assault, and many other things. She's an empowered hard working women, who cares about the experience for the students at Bloomsburg University. She love's her job, and loves being an advocate. The way she sees it, to be a good advocate is to is "remind myself that I cannot be a good advocate for others if I’m not a good advocate for myself." If anyone has any issues that involves sexual assault, stalking, domestic violence, rape, etc, visit the Women's resource center.