An Intersection of Emotions: The Emotional Labor of Connecting the Religious and Spiritual Community to the University

• In Event: Disrupting Hegemonic Ideologies in Community-University Partnerships

Abstract

This study is a collaborative autoethnography documenting the experiences of a scholar-practitioner in student affairs, trying to connect to religious and spiritual organizations in the community and to the university through University sanctioned Safe Zone training. This research uses emotional work and labor as the theoretical framework to understand his work as an administrator trying to connect members of the University’s LGBTQIA+ community to safe spaces. This study explores ideas of ethics, privilege, safe spaces, as related to the community engagement work.

Authors

• Donn Matthew Garby, Texas Tech University

• Cecile Huynh Sam, Rowan University