Cindy LaCom (b. 1961) grew up in the East Bay area of California. After earning their Ph.D. in English from the University of Oregon, LaCom was hired at Slippery Rock University (SRU) as a professor for the English Department in 1992. Eventually they became the director of the Gender Studies Program, serving in that capacity until their retirement in 2023.
Under LaCom’s leadership, the Gender Studies Program evolved into a program centered on gender and feminist issues through the lenses of intersectionality. Their commitment to issues of disability justice shaped their work in academia for 30 years. Having served on numerous committees and being an ex-officio member on three President's Commissions (the Commission on Women; the Commission on Disability Issues; and the Commission on Gender Identity, Expression, and Sexual Orientation (GIESO)), LaCom endeavored to address issues of inclusivity on SRU’s campus their entire career.
Interview: March 23, 2023Interview Transcript |
Full Audio |