By Emily R. Condon

The University of Maryland’s inclusivity to LGBTQIA+ populations is extending in the classroom. FIRE, The First-Year Innovation & Research Experience program, will begin looking into the lack of research on youth identities in this upcoming spring semester.

FIRE offers three semesters of research courses to incoming first-year students, either transfer or freshmen. In the first semester, students study research methods, and in the second and third, they choose a stream, or topic,  to conduct research on with a professor.

In the program’s Spring 2022 semester beginning of research a new identity science stream is being offered with Dr. Sharon Colvin, an assistant clinical professor with FIRE.

Originally, FIRE offered an animal and human relationships stream, but when its former professor departed from the program with her rats, the stream was left with only the human aspect. Colvin was hired this semester to work with Dr. Andy De Los Reyes, professor of psychology, behavioral, and social sciences, to pick up the third semester of the stream. 

With Dr. Jessica Fish, who specializes in family science studies in the School of Public Health, Colvin worked to create a new LGBTQIA+ inclusive stream that analyzes preexisting secondary data to research the identities of this population and other minoritized identities.

“Dr. Fish’s research is in public health and family sciences, specifically on LBGTQ youth, so I was brought in to do something in that world,” Colvin said. “It just so happens that I do LGBTQ development research.” 

In her current animal and human relationships semester three class, Colvin offered the option to begin looking into LGBTQIA+ identities. A group of four students jumped to the task.

Wilson Lazo-Salmeron, a senior psychology major and member of this research team, expressed excitement for what he learned this semester. His group explored a theme of creating and examining safe spaces for minoritized youth.

For Lazo-Salmeron, he chose to take on this research because of his own identity as an LBGTQIA+ individual.

“Growing up, I did not see many representations of the community in the media or in research, which can be harmful or invalidating,” Lazo-Salmeron said. “Thus, it is important to me to be in a position that will allow me to spread awareness of the different issues in the community, such as mental health challenges and discrimination.”

Lazo-Salmeron looks to continue this type of research in his future and include intersectional identities. Additionally, he will work with the FIRE program next semester as a student-mentor for those new to the stream.

Samantha Johnson, a junior psychology major, will take the identity science stream next semester. She said that she chose this stream because it closely correlates with her career plans in psychology. 

“The experience I will get in this stream will give me hands-on experience in research regarding psychology topics, which I’m eager to begin,” Johnson said. 

Colin said that one motivation for creating this stream was the support from the FIRE program’s director Dr. Patrick/Patricia Killion, director of discovery-based learning for the Office of the Senior Vice President and Provost. Killion, who uses his/her pronouns, shared her view that the stream will connect to wellbeing by identifying health inequities. 

Killion additionally said the stream caters to what students are interested in learning about. Identity science was one of the most popularly requested streams for the upcoming semester, according to Colvin. To Killion, it is important to expand FIRE’s research to newer knowledge on identity.

“Identity is a powerful word,” Killion said. “It lies at the heart of so many parts of our perceptions, words, beliefs, actions, and affiliations. Identity has the power to connect us or separate us. Understanding it can only help us better connect, communicate and form relationships in positive and productive ways.” 

Colvin and Fish, both members of the President’s Commission for LBGT Issues, hope that Colvin will be able to take what her students learn and bring that information to larger communities. This includes the UMD campus, where Colvin sees an initiative to make minoritized identity populations more visible.

“The most important part for me is to translate that for people who are working with kids right now and how they can be better at their jobs and how we can support them,” Colvin said. 

Killion sees the identity science stream as a positive addition to the FIRE program, as it will add knowledge to an under-researched field of exploring identities.

“We think all of these goals will resonate with our students and are reflective of broad societal needs,” Killion said.

Featured image: Dr. Sharon Colvin sits in her office in the Biology-Psychology Building. Her office features LGBTQIA+ artwork and decorations. Photo by Emily R. Condon.