J. Audra Williams (he/they) has worked in higher education since 2012, most recently in the Office for Equity & Diversity (OED) at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities supporting the Education Program. J. Audra holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Luther College (2011) and recently earned an MA in Higher Education from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. In fall 2024, J. Audra will begin doctoral studies in Arizona State University's Educational Policy and Evaluation PhD Program under the mentorship of Dr. Antonio Duran with several research projects already underway. In addition to research, they are serving in leadership roles with two professional associations, NASPA: Student Affairs in Higher Education and The Association for the Study of Higher Education. Identifying as a queer man, J. Audra focuses their research on both the broad and specific experiences of queer and trans people, particularly within higher education—a group that is often overlooked and under researched. Their research emphasizes queer and trans joy, aiming to shift the narrative from trauma and negative experiences to highlight that queer and trans people are more than just their struggles. For their MA thesis research titled, (Un)even Terrain: Queer & Trans Staff Experiences Building Affinity, Community, & Kinship at the University of Minnesota, J. Audra received the NASPA GSKC award, which provided funding to compensate the study's collaborators.