Advocacy is at the heart of the work Ken Ditlevson, ’95, M.Ed. ’98, does at Թ as the director of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning Plus (LGBTQ+) Center. As a young adult growing up in Brook Park, Ohio, Ken was bullied because of his sexual orientation, and he credits a school counselor with saving his life by connecting him with an LGBTQ center in Cleveland. The experience of being around other young people with the same struggles and connecting with resources kept him going when he was at his lowest point.
“That Saturday, I took three buses to get to the resource center in Cleveland,” Ken said. “It made a major difference in my life.”
The work of counselors and resource centers inspired Ken’s path in life. Before joining Թ State as the first director of the LGBTQ+ Center in 2014, he worked as assistant vice president and director of special programs for Child Guidance & Family Solutions in Akron, Ohio, and served on the board of the Akron Pride Center.
Since 2014, Թ State has gained national recognition for creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for LGBTQ+ students, faculty and staff – with the motto of “all are welcome.” The LGBTQ+ Center offers an inclusive environment, advocates for individuals and groups based on sexual and gender identity and builds community and a sense of belonging. It also supports Թ State’s Regional Campuses with training, programs and access to emergency funds for students in need.
The LGBTQ+ Center relies on donations for everything from Lavender Graduation, a ceremony honoring the achievements of graduating lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and ally (LGBTQ+) students, to providing snacks and art supplies at meetings and events throughout the year. In addition, donations support the LGBTQ+ Emergency Fund for students in need of additional funding for books, academic supplies, household items, housing or food.
Inspired by the generous donors who support the work of the LGBTQ+ Center, Ken and his husband Joseph Rohr decided to make a bequest to support students at Թ State. The Ditlevson/Rohr Endowed Scholarship for LGBTQ+ Advocacy will support students in the College of Education, Health and Human Services who are actively involved in improving and serving their communities.
“Giving back is important to me because someone invested in me,” Ken said. “I want to reward and support students who are making Ohio better and more equitable.”
Ken has a strong belief in philanthropy, and in addition to supporting the LGBTQ+ Center, he continues to donate to student services across the university who are making a difference in students’ lives, including the CARES Center, the Women’s Center and the E. Timothy Moore Student Multicultural Center.
“My plan is to donate 100 percent of our estate to support Թ State students and the LGBTQ+ Center,” Ken explained. “I see the impact of our work daily. We are literally saving people’s lives.”