Katie Lawler
A first-year graduate student at the Rossier School of Education, Katie Lawler is the new Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) Peer Mentoring Program coordinator.
“The program offers a great opportunity for students seeking support and acceptance to speak with LGBT mentors about careers and academics to help them successfully adjust to life at USC,” says Lawler.
Lawler will work with different offices and student organizations to promote the program, which is launching a new interactive Web site later this semester.
"Katie is clearly excited to be the coordinator and to be working with the LGBT Resource Center," says Vincent Vigil, director. "She told me she cried when she visited the center's Web site and saw the events, services and involvement opportunities available to students because she wished she had similar services at her undergraduate institution to assist herself through her own identity development."
An Irvine, California native, Lawler earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Redlands. In addition to working with the LGBT Resource Center, she also serves as assistant coordinator for Academic Recognition Programs where she helps plan events for Phi Kappa Phi and the Trustees and Presidential Scholars.
“There is so much community and a sense of pride here. I’ve never experienced that before,” says Lawler. “School hasn’t even started yet and I already feel connected.”
After she graduates with a Master of Education in School Counseling, Lawler plans to pursue a career as a high school counselor. “Since I had a bad experience with a counselor in high school, I want to go into the field and change things,” she says. “Some counselors push college too hard, and others don’t push it enough. I want to help students find careers and colleges that meet their needs.”
In her free time, Lawler enjoys yoga and running. She also volunteers at an animal shelter in Irvine and hopes to open her own dog rescue operation one day.