The Cultural Center will start to look full again as the college ended a six-month-long vacancy with the hire of Ian Kaplan as Coordinator of LGBTQ Student Support.
Kaplan, a 2019 graduate of KSC, was the inaugural Outstanding Alumni Teacher Award recipient in 2022, having taught sixth-grade reading post-graduation.
Kaplan, a transgender man, said he wants students to feel seen and heard as he steps into the role.
“Hunter Kirschner helped me to feel seen and heard and understood at a time where that’s what I needed so then to have the opportunity to be and do that for students is a hugely motivating factor for me,” Kaplan said.
The position had been vacant since the departure of Kirschner at the start of the academic year.
Kirschner said in an Aug. 14, 2023 email to The Equinox the reasoning behind his decision to leave the post.
“I recognize that it’s the right moment for me to explore what else is out there for me. I have worked at Keene State for eight years, and I am ready to try something new,” Kirschner stated.
Before departing, Kirschner planned out a semester’s worth of events in the fall and made an appearance at one: The “Cured” film screening.
Dottie Morris, the associate vice president of institutional equity and diversity, said the search went well and ultimately narrowed down to two candidates at the end.
“[Kaplan] definitely rose to the top and it’s due to all the work he’s done at [Keene] Middle School since he left Keene State as well as the work that he did when he was here as a student,” Morris said.
Morris said being a recent alum of the college aids Kaplan in his new role. “He has a good foundational understanding of the college and now he has these new experiences that he’ll pull together with that foundational knowledge to help us move forward,” she said.
Morris said filling the position was a necessity for the college to advance its reputation as a welcoming campus.
“We didn’t want to lose that momentum by [not] having someone in that role specifically to make sure that we are covering all of our bases in that area,” Morris said.
Additionally, Morris noted the prevalence of anti-LGBTQ legislation across the country.
As of March 8, the American Civil Liberties Union is tracking over 470 anti-LGBTQ bills in the nation, with 15 of them in N.H.
“Someone with the lived experience who would be able to have a certain kind of approach to navigate us through the complexities of what we’re hearing and seeing in the media,” Morris said.
In terms of how he wants to lead in the role, Kaplan said he wants to amplify the campus’ voices and concerns.
“I want to be a resource, I want to be an advocate and I want to hear what they want from their campus community so I can help make it happen,” Kaplan said.
Kaplan said he will finish the school year by completing his contract at the middle school and will operate on a part-time basis at the college until July 8.
In the meantime, he will assist in student organization programming and onboarding, as well as stepping into an advisory role for KSC Pride.
Kaplan said he felt no hesitation applying when the role opened up.
“I have definitely felt comfortable the entire way through… I love Keene State as a community and I was just really excited to be a part of it again,” he said.
As Coordinator of LGBTQ Student Support, Kaplan said he wants to act as a liaison between students and the college’s administration.
In terms of what is already in the works, Kaplan will be presenting at a Sidore Lecture titled “Be the Change.” The event will be held on March 26 at 6:30 p.m. in Norma Walker Hall in the Alumni Center.
Additionally, Kaplan is working on programming for March 31, Transgender Day of Visibility. He also said he is looking to collaborate with The Office of Transitions and Community Living for the upcoming orientation programming.
“Working and collaborating with the CAs that are on campus and also collaborating with orientation leaders so that way they are able to help connect students to resources that are on campus,” Kaplan said.
Nathan Hope can be contacted at
nhope@kscequinox.com
