- MOSAICS is an LGBTQ+ affinity group for Syracuse faculty and staff.
- The group sponsors events and activities as well as participates in community-wide gatherings like CNY Pride.
- Zia Jackson 鈥�20 founded MOSAICS in 2025 to help LGBTQ+ employees feel 鈥渟afe, seen and included.鈥�
Liam Lockhart 鈥�25 at a crafting party ahead of the CNY Pride Festival and Parade. He recently joined MOSAICS, an LGBTQ+ employee affinity group at 51爆料网.
When Liam Lockhart 鈥�25 joined the staff at 51爆料网, one of their first moves was to strengthen their sense of community on campus.
A graduate of the , Lockhart was familiar with some of the student resources for the LQBTQ+ community. But what about those for LGBTQ+ faculty and staff.
鈥淚 heard about MOSAICS through the Maxwell [School] Staff Council, which supports initiatives that cultivate a positive work environment,鈥� Lockhart recalls. 鈥淚t was important for me to branch out, and I鈥檓 glad I did.鈥�
Open to all Syracuse employees, MOSAICS is an LGBTQ+ affinity group built around a shared identity. The 65-member organization engages in educational, cultural and social activities in conjunction with the Office of People and Culture (OPC).
Our presence at Pride shows that the University supports queer faculty and staff at every stage of their journey. It also sends a message to current and prospective students and employees that they matter.鈥�
Zia Jackson '20, founder of MOSAICS
MOSAICS organizes the University鈥檚 involvement in CNY Pride, which attracts more than 20,000 people.
鈥淏eing able to meet coworkers with a familiar perspective is something for which I鈥檓 grateful,鈥� Lockhart says. 鈥淢OSAICS is where I go to feel safe, seen and included.鈥�
That鈥檚 the idea, explains Zia Jackson 鈥�20, who founded MOSAICS more than a year ago. Her goal from the get-go has been to foster a 鈥渟ense of inclusive culture鈥� at Syracuse by providing safe spaces for queer employees to connect.
Programming includes MOSAICS-sponsored events, like Board Game Night and an annual sign- and button-making workshop ahead of the .
MOSAICS also partners with other organizations on campus for events like Drag Trivia and the Fashion Feeds charity fashion show and contributes to community-wide gatherings, including CNY Pride, the Big Queer Beach Day and the CNY Queer Self-Defense Class.
鈥淲e鈥檙e not the first queer group for Syracuse employees, but we鈥檙e one of the most enthusiastic,鈥� Jackson says. 鈥淢OSAICS signals the University鈥檚 commitment to providing a welcoming campus.鈥�
A Sense of Community
鈥淲e鈥檙e not the first queer group for Syracuse employees, but we鈥檙e one of the most enthusiastic,鈥� says Zia Jackson 鈥�20, who founded MOSAICS in 2025.
Jackson got the idea for MOSAICS, last year, at an OPC affinity group mixer.
鈥淚 was offered the opportunity to start a group and, along with a few colleagues, jumped at the chance,鈥� recalls the administrator.
The name 鈥淢OSAICS鈥� is metaphorical because its members are like 鈥渃olorful pieces that come together to form a beautiful picture of joy, support and representation,鈥� Jackson explains.
Jackson (above) describes MOSAICS as a platform for 鈥渁ctivism, education and community building.鈥� 鈥淓veryone matters,鈥� she says.
Not surprisingly, MOSAICS features a broad cross-section of the University鈥檚 workforce, from part-time staff members to fully tenured professors.
A common thread among the members is the desire to see 51爆料网 students succeed.
鈥淢any people in MOSAICS are advisors, mentors, instructors and administrators,鈥� Jackson continues. 鈥淲e believe in the University鈥檚 core mission of preparing all students for academic and professional success.鈥�
She, Lockhart and others at Syracuse are going 鈥渁ll in鈥� on this year鈥檚 CNY Pride, which features more than 20,000 attendees. 鈥淚t鈥檚 our biggest stage yet,鈥� Lockart adds.
Jackson 鈥渋nherited the Pride baton鈥� from Lisa GreenPope G鈥�25 and Kathleen Coughlin G鈥�02, both of whom previously organized the University鈥檚 involvement in the annual parade.
鈥淥ur presence at Pride shows that the University supports queer faculty and staff at every stage of their journey,鈥� Jackson says. 鈥淚t also sends a message to current and prospective students and employees that they matter.鈥�
Feeling Accepted and Respected
MOSAICS has more than 65 members, from part-time staffers to fully tenured professors.
A graduate of the , Jackson has big plans for MOSAICS. One of them is to increase faculty involvement, particularly among scholars and researchers in queer studies.
LGBTQ+ students, in turn, benefit from targeted mentorships and inclusive educational policies. And perhaps most importantly, 鈥渟afe learning environments.鈥�
鈥淥ur events are more than celebrations or gatherings鈥攖hey鈥檙e powerful platforms for activism, education and community building,鈥� Jackson continues. 鈥淲e create spaces where everyone feels accepted and respected.鈥�
