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![\"presidents-medallion\"](\"http:\/\/blogs.luc.edu\/ips\/files\/2015\/11\/presidents-medallion-239x300.png\")
<\/p>\nHow does it feel to be honored with this award? What is your degree program and why did you choose this path?<\/strong> Tell us about the work you are doing in your community.<\/strong> What is your motivation behind this work?<\/strong> That broke my heart. Those youth learned from the theology of others that their sexuality and gender identity makes them undesirable and unworthy of love. Faith is something that should be used to heal and help you lean into who you are, not cause you to hide for fear of abandonment (or worse). The work I do with CFI is about making the world a safer place for them by helping to create space where they can, in youth or in adulthood, express the fullness of who they are and know that they are accepted and have community.<\/p>\n What classes and\/or professors have been instrumental to your success? And how?<\/strong> What are your future goals?<\/strong> If you want more information on Center for Inclusivity, please feel free to visit<\/em>:\u00a0http:\/\/www.centerforinclusivity.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n Those wanting to see Alicia’s\u00a0personal musings can check out her\u00a0blog<\/em>:\u00a0http:\/\/chasingthepromise.net\/<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The award ceremony is taking place on Friday, November 6th<\/strong>. After the ceremony, you can celebrate the accomplishments of all the President’s Medallion recipients at the President’s Ball<\/a>.<\/p>\n **Join the conversation by\u00a0following\u00a0@BrianSchmisek<\/a>\u00a0on Twitter and\u00a0@LoyolaIPS<\/a>\u00a0on Instagram! Also, network with the\u00a0Loyola Chicago IPS<\/a>\u00a0community on LinkedIn.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The President’s Medallion has three words etched onto it: leadership, scholarship and service. The award annually recognizes Loyola students who exemplify these words in their everyday lives, both inside and outside of the classroom. This year,\u00a0Alicia Crosby was selected as the recipient of the award for IPS. Read our Q&A with Alicia below to find read more
\n<\/strong>It\u2019s definitely a privilege, but is also a little surreal. In getting this degree, I\u2019ve been committed to working hard and using my research to press into things that matter to me. It\u2019s an incredible honor when the people who dedicate themselves to helping guide you along in this journey acknowledge that hard work and your passions through nominating you for something like the President\u2019s Medallion. There are so many amazing students in our department who are doing great work so I really do consider it an honor to be chosen to receive this award.<\/p>\n
\nIn May I\u2019ll receive my MA in Social Justice and Certificate in Non-Profit Management and Philanthropy. I\u2019ve chosen this path because after years of praying and seeking, I came to understand that I feel most alive when I give voice to who people are meant to be then work to remove barriers that could potentially stop them. My work in sacred, social service, and educational contexts let me know that I needed to find an institution that could equip me to do the sort of interdisciplinary work that advocacy and activism require while also getting theologically grounded. In seeing IPS program materials some years ago speaking about things like moving people towards God\u2019s \u201cprophetic intent\u201d for them, I knew this was where I was called to be.<\/p>\n
\nI\u2019m the co-founder of Center for Inclusivity (CFI), an organization that fosters healing community for people at the intersection of faith, gender, and sexuality. We work to provide services like clinical counseling, pastoral care, educational initiatives, and community gatherings to promote healthy exploration, growth, and healing for individuals affected by the perceived divisions surrounding issues of spirituality, sexual orientation and gender identity. Our heart is to connect the individuals behind \u201cissues\u201d and create safe space where people can bring the fullness of who they are to a community that will celebrate and care for them.<\/p>\n
\nIn my last few years of work as an educational advocate, I had a number of students come out to me and share they identified as LGBTQ+. I\u2019d worked with many of them for years and in asking why they took so long to tell me, they noted that they understood me to be a person of faith and needed to trust that I wouldn\u2019t sever our relationship because of them sharing their orientation.<\/p>\n
\nAnyone who knows me can tell you the answer to this question is Dr. Peter Jones. Peter is absolutely amazing and his presence in my life has been such a blessing. He has pushed me in my thinking about so many things from theology to ethics and justice. Then he allowed me the space to process my thoughts both in and out of the classroom. I know that if I\u2019m struggling with anything, I can count on him to be my ever patient, sagacious mentor who will help me unpack my thoughts and affirm me. I\u2019m so grateful for his guidance and friendship.<\/p>\n
\nI\u2019ll continue my work removing barriers where I see them so that people are able to explore the fullness of what God has for them. For the foreseeable future this will be reflected through my work with Center for Inclusivity, but I don\u2019t want to put limits on what I do or what God will do through me. Wherever I find myself, I just want to use my talents and gifts to clear the way for others to walk into who they are called to be.<\/p>\n![\"2015PresidentsBallPoster1650x2550\"](\"http:\/\/blogs.luc.edu\/ips\/files\/2015\/11\/2015PresidentsBallPoster1650x2550-663x1024.jpg\")
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