AUS Masters of Teaching alumna Nichole Klocksiem organized a panel called Queer and Geeky Educators Q&A for GeekGirlCon, an event that empowers girls to pursue their “geeky’ passions, whatever they might be. The panel presented on November 16, 2019, in downtown Seattle.
The panel included educators from a variety of backgrounds who are equally passionate about education and geek culture. Led by Klocksiem, the panel was a question and answer session for other aspiring educators and students who are curious about how educators think. Panelists discussed their paths to the field of education, as well as their queer identities within education.
Klocksiem is a 3rd grade teacher from Kirkland. After the 2016 election, she felt that working in banking was not where the world needed her to be and decided to go to school and get her Masters in Teaching at Antioch University in Downtown Seattle. As a member of the LGBT community and a white woman she feels it is necessary to be the bridge between marginalized and privileged communities and this is reflected in her teaching. Her favorite things are Steven Universe, Dungeons and Dragons, and the work of Rudine Simms Bishop.
PsyD faculty Dr. Dana Waters was also on the panel. She is a board certified psychologist in Seattle and 
has a private practice where she specializes treating adults with complex trauma, queer issues, adults on the autism spectrum, and chronic pain. She teaches neurophysiology and statistics, so it should come as no surprise she is somewhat of a science geek. She loves old sci-fi movies, “Brainstorm” being one of her all-time favorites. She identifies as gay, gender queer, and autistic. She recently founded “TheAWAKEProject.org,” an organization to promote Autistic/Aspie, Women’s Acceptance, Knowledge & Empowerment. The AWAKE Project has a resource website as well as Facebook & Instagram pages to promote information and acceptance of neurodiversity.
Luzviminda Uzuri “Ms. Lulu” Carpenter, a fierce Black Filipinx Femme Queer Golden Goddess, who is an 8th-grade advisor and 5th – 8th-grade performance and media arts teacher at Seattle Girls’ school also participated. Other panelists include Tamasha Emedi, a 5th grade teacher in Burien, and Lauren Pittis, a preschool teacher at the UW Children’s Center.