University of Wisconsin-Superior student Sean Hayes, a graduate English major with a communication minor, has been named a recipient of the 2023 Dr. P.B. Poorman Award for Outstanding Achievement on Behalf of LGBTQ+ People. The annual honor given to LGBTQ+ people or their allies who have helped to create a safer and more inclusive climate for LGBTQ+ people. The award celebrates the memory and legacy of Dr. Paula B. Poorman, a highly regarded faculty member at UW-Whitewater dedicated to improving the lives of LGBTQ+ people. 

Hayes has worked on several programs to educate others on transgender experiences and honor
the lives of transgender people in the Twin Ports. Within the last two years, he has specifically collaborated with the Gender Equity Resource Center at UW-Superior to better coordinate these initiatives and program offerings across the Superior and Duluth region. Through this work there has been a positive shift in co-sponsoring and collaborating on events rather than hosting separate events in our cities for the same topic and days of awareness. Due to these collaborations, the Gender Equity Resource Center has also been able to establish deeper partnerships with Trans Northland and further bring awareness to our campus work and LGBTQ+ issues within the greater Twin Ports community.

This year marks the 15th anniversary of the founding of the Dr. P.B. Poorman Award. The recipients of the award were honored on November 9 in Madison during a ceremony hosted by the Universities of Wisconsin. The awards ceremony and reception were held in conjunction with the Universities of Wisconsin presentation of the Outstanding Women of Color in Education Awards.

“Honorees are helping build a better experience for our students, faculty, and staff,” said Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman. “This award recognizes their achievements in creating a safer and inclusive climate at our universities.”