Dr. Van Bailey

Trailblazing, Smiling Empath

Dr. Van Bailey

(He, Him) is 35

Dr. Bailey is a student affairs educator, international speaker and diversity consultant. With more than 13 years of experience in higher education and nonprofits, Dr. Bailey presents on topics related to LGBTQ+ student leadership, pedagogical practice, and intersectionality. In 2014, he was included in the Trans 100 and in 2015, he was included in the 100 to Watch LGBTQ/SGL Emerging Leaders list noting his work in higher education. Currently, he is the co-chair for the Consortium of Higher Education LGBT Resource Professionals. Dr. Bailey is a Lambda Literary award finalist and his work has been featured on NPR, the Boston Globe, the Huffington Post, the Feminist Wire and Buzzfeed. As a diversity specialist, Dr. Bailey has worked with constituents internationality in addressing equity and inclusion on college campuses. Currently, he is the Assistant Dean/ Director of Diversity and Inclusion at George Mason University.

Dr. Bailey was the inaugural Director of the LGBTQ Student Center at the University of Miami. He also served as the inaugural Director of BGLTQ Student Life at Harvard College. In that role, he established a college-wide resource center for LGBTQ+ students. Before Harvard College, he was the Assistant Director for Education at the University of California, San Diego from 2010-2012. Additionally, he worked at California State University, Northridge, for three years, first as Community Director and then as Senior Community Director in Residence Life and Housing. Dr. Bailey was awarded an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from California State University-Northridge, an M.A. from Ohio State University in Higher Education and Student Affairs, and a B.A. in black studies and English from Denison University.