A retirement reception for Pat Tetreault, director of the Gender and Sexuality Center, will be 4 to 6 p.m. Dec. 10 in the Nebraska Union's Heritage Room. Remarks are scheduled for 4:30 p.m.
Tetreault is retiring Jan. 2 after more than 32 years of service to the university. She first joined the university in October 1992 as the sexuality education coordinator with the University Health Center. She became the inaugural director of the LGBTQ Resource Center in fall 2007; later, her role was expanded to including leading the Women’s Center. The two units merged to become the Gender and Sexuality Center in 2023.
Prior to her service at Nebraska, Tetreault was an education coordinator and client advocate at Lincoln's Rape and Spouse Abuse Crisis Center — now Voices of Hope — for three years.
Through the years, she served on three chancellor’s commissions — status of women; gender and sexual identities; and prevention of sexual misconduct — as well as the Faculty Senate ad hoc committee on diversity and inclusiveness. For 17 years, she coordinated the university's annual LGBTQA+ History Month Dinner and later established the Lavender Graduation ceremony.
Tetreault has been recognized for her service and leadership locally, regionally and nationally. Awards and honors bestowed on her include the James V. Griesen Exemplary Service to Students Award; ACPA Voices of Inclusion Award; ACPA Coalition for LGBT Awareness Public Service Award; Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Status of Women (twice); Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Contributions to the LGBT Community; Chancellor’s Fulfilling the Dream Award; and honorary membership in the Mortar Board Black Masque Society.
Two of Tetreault’s proudest contributions at Nebraska were having a nationally recognized peer sexuality education program, as well as introducing the use of ALLY/Safe Space cards, resources and education to the campus. The latter program was initiated in 1995 and continues today.
In retirement, she plans to take a much-needed rest while continuing to serve as an inclusion and equity advocate, consultant and public speaker. She is excited about having time for swimming, an activity she has enjoyed since kindergarten.
The reception is free and open to the campus community.
