Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Center

Lowell Kane

Lowell Kane is the inaugural Director of the new Purdue University Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Center. He has been an advocate and leader in the LGBTQ community for more than a decade with specializations in educational programming, support services, fostering collaborative partnerships, establishing Safe Zones, facilitation/training, and leadership development. As an alumnus of the transformative Social Justice Training Institute, Kane has dedicated his work to the pursuit of equity by identifying ways to improve campus climate and shape the educational experience to be more inclusive and welcoming of all students, including LGBTQ and Ally people.

A native New Yorker, Lowell Kane attended the State University of New York at Stony Brook where he received a B.A. Degree in Anthropology. With academic interests including prehistoric technology, symbology, and gender, Kane participated in field research in the American Southwest as well as East Africa. He was also involved as a student leader serving as President of the LGBT Alliance and a key advisor on LGBTQ issues to campus administrators and faculty. Additionally, Kane was instrumental in developing new course offerings that focused on the history and culture of LGBTQ communities.

As a programming assistant in the Women’s and Gender Equity Resource Center at Texas A&M University, Lowell Kane advanced LGBTQ campus awareness and resources. His efforts resulted in the establishment of the Gay Lesbian Bisexual and Transgender Resource Center in 2007 – the first stand-alone GLBT Resource Center at a public institution in the state of Texas. As the founding Program Coordinator of the Texas A&M GLBT Resource Center, Lowell Kane focused on three key initiatives: education, outreach, and support. In this role, he also served as the South-Central Regional Representative to the Consortium of Higher Education LGBT Resource Professionals and presented at state and national conferences on a variety of LGBT topics. While at Texas A&M University, Kane received a M.Ed. with a focus in Multicultural Education, particularly developing culturally responsive teaching practices for LGBTQ students. He is also the recipient of awards for Student Organization Advisor of the Year, Diversity Service, Distinction in the field of Student Affairs, and the prestigious Phyllis R. Frye Advocacy Award.

In addition to his professional interests, Lowell Kane enjoys participation in community organizations, traveling, theatre, art, reading, movies, attending auctions, and being outdoors with his amazing dog.

Makeba Washington

Makeba Washington joined the LGBTQ Center after serving as the Secretary for the Office of the Deans in the Purdue College of Pharmacy. With over ten years of experience in customer service and support in the fields of medicine, mental health and education, Makeba relocated to the Lafayette area from Gary, IN to take advantage of the great opportunity to join the Purdue University family. She is passionate about advocacy and equality and has volunteered her services for such organizations as the YMCA, YWCA, Boys and Girls Club of Indiana, as well as programs throughout Indiana and Illinois that provide counseling and mental health services to the homeless and needy population. Makeba enjoys quiet time with her family and watching documentaries. She is a Mother, singer, novice artist, and a published poet.