K.C. Potter

K.C. Potter (born 1939) is an American academic administrator. He is a dean emeritus of residential and judicial affairs at Vanderbilt University. Potter is recognized for his pioneering support of LGBTQ rights at Vanderbilt.

K.C. Potter
Born1939 (age 81–82)
Fallsburg, Kentucky, US
Alma materBerea College (BA)
Vanderbilt University Law School (JD)
OccupationAcademic administrator
Years active1965–1998
EmployerVanderbilt University
Known forLGBTQ rights activism

Early life and education

Potter was born in 1939 in Fallsburg, Kentucky. He earned a B.A. from Berea College in 1961. Potter completed a law degree at Vanderbilt University Law School in 1964. While attending law school, Potter worked as an assistant resident adviser.[1]

Career

He worked as a law clerk for the Tennessee Supreme Court and was admitted to the Tennessee Bar Association. In 1965, Potter became the assistant dean of men. In this role, he oversaw housing, discipline, and the Vanderbilt police department. Common issues Potter dealt with included drunkenness, date rape, theft, noise complaints, and beatings. In the late 1960s, a student requested to change his dorm because his roommate is gay. Potter authorized the room change. A year later, the roommate jumped out of one of the 12-story towers on campus. Potter thinks the suicide was likely the result of an internal struggle with his sexuality and the conservative environment of Vanderbilt. This is a moment that impacted Potter's career.[2] In 1971, after the offices of dean of men and women were combined, he was made associate dean in the Office of Student Life. In 1977, Potter became the dean of residential and judicial affairs where he worked as the chief arbiter and addressed student conduct. He also managed the campus housing, fraternities and sororities, and LGBTQ student issues.[1][3] In 1987, a homophobic article in the student paper was published. Potter went to his supervisor, the associate provost, to reach out to the LGBT students. He led the first initiative to create a safe space for LGBTQ students on campus that year. In the fall, Potter started a regular meet up group for LGBT students to convene at his house on campus. A few years later, Potter supported the newly formed student gay rights group in their effort to establish a formalized university nondiscrimination policy. Potter established congressional-style hearings to develop a policy and to testify to the board of trustees.[2]

Personal life

Potter resided on the Vanderbilt campus in one of Cumberland's West Side Row cottages. He retired in June 1998.[1][3] Potter did not come out of the closet as a gay man until after his retirement. Shortly thereafter, he began his first real relationship with his partner, Richard Patrick. They live together on their farm in Hickman County, Tennessee.[2]

Legacy

In 2008, his former residence, Euclid House, became the K.C. Potter Center in honor of his support of inclusiveness and the LGBTQI community.[4] It houses the Office of LGBTQI Life. In 2015, Potter was featured in the documentary film, A Secret Only God Knows. It chronicles the LGBTQ community in Middle Tennessee before 1970. The documentary premiered on Nashville public television and includes interviews conducted by the Brooks Fund History Project that are archived in the special collections division at Nashville Public Library.[1] In 2019, Potter's efforts to support LGBTQ rights were featured in The Book of Pride.[2]

References
  1. Lewis, Princine (2015-06-25). "Influential former administrator featured in documentary chronicling Nashville's LGBT community". Vanderbilt University. Retrieved 2019-10-13.
  2. Funk, Mason (2019-05-21). The Book of Pride: LGBTQ Heroes Who Changed the World. HarperCollins. ISBN 9780062571694.
  3. Fields, Monique (1997-12-15). "Education Notes: Potter retires". The Tennessean. p. 25. Retrieved 2019-10-13 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Vanderbilt dedicates K.C. Potter Center for LGBTQI Life". Out & About Nashville. 2008-10-31. Retrieved 2019-10-13.
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