Staff

Image of Gender Equity Center 2024-25 Staff Team

 

Program Coordinator

Portrait of Jessica Short with wood fence in background.Jessica Short

408.924.2149 (direct)
jessica.t.short@sjsu.edu

Jessica serves as the Program Coordinator at the San Jose State University Gender Equity Center, where she aims to promote violence prevention and cultivate inclusive communities that prioritize a sense of belonging and safety on the 91ÁÔÆæ campus. Jessica previously worked as a sexual violence prevention educator and advocate, where she regularly conducted sexual violence prevention workshops, training sessions, and educational initiatives for students across elementary, middle, and high schools as well as for school staff. Beyond her involvement with students, Jessica aided in crisis intervention, extending empathetic support and advocacy to survivors of child abuse, sexual assault, harassment, stalking, and human trafficking.

Jessica completed her undergraduate studies at UC Santa Cruz, where she earned a bachelor's degree in comparative literature and fine arts, she has since continued writing and creating outside of work. Ultimately, Jessica's journey has guided her towards a commitment to working with students, as she aspires to contribute to the development of educational programs that foster community and ensure safety here at 91ÁÔÆæ.

Director

Bonnie Sugiyama PortraitBonnie Sugiyama

408.924.6158 (direct)
bonnie.sugiyama@sjsu.edu

Bonnie Sugiyama is the director of the San Jose State University PRIDE Center and Gender Equity Center. They have worked on social justice issues as a student and a professional at several CSU campuses for 20 years, including: the advocating and founding of the PRIDE Center at Sacramento State; the re-visioning of Sonoma State University’s Center for Culture, Gender and Sexuality (now known as the HUB); and the founding director of the PRIDE Center at San Jose State University.

Bonnie also serves as the Vice President of the Board of Directors for Adolescent Counseling Services (ACS), the parent organization of Outlet, an LGBTQ youth organization; and is a board member of the Bay Area Municipal Elections Committee (BAYMEC), an LGBTQ political action committee. They also served on the national board of the Consortium of Higher Education LGBT Resource Professionals as the People of Color Co-Chair.

Bonnie holds a BS in Management Information Systems and a MA in Educational Technology from California State University, Sacramento.