Advancement Ally - Brock Cavett
Director, Programming and Career Development, Alumni Engagement
1. What is your full name and is there a meaning or story behind it?
Brock William Cavett - I get my middle name from my grandfather on my dad's side. They originally went with my mother's side but that would've made me Brock Lee… setting me up for a lifetime of ridicule!
2. Pronouns:
he/him/his
3. How do you identify yourself or what is something you would like others to know about you?
I identify as a cis, white, gay man. I came out during my first year of grad school and have continued to learn more about myself.
4. What is your favorite comfort food?
Grilled cheese and tomato soup
5. What are your favorite cultural or family traditions?
I didn't grow up with many traditions but my favorite would have to be going to the pumpkin patch every year with my parents to pick out our pumpkins to carve for Halloween.
6. What is something people wrongly assume about you? (biases, stereotypes, ethnic identity, etc.)
I am fairly straight passing so there are many times when I meet someone new who just assumes I am in a relationship with a woman. It happens when meeting with alumni for the first time or just in general passing in public spaces, I will be asked if I have a wife and kids. Though LGBTQ folks typically have one main coming out story, we are constantly having to come out over and over whenever we meet new folks.
7. If you could change/create any policy (campus, state or national) what would it be and why?
This is a tough one. There are a number of things that I would create/change such as a much easier pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, restoring reproductive rights to the millions of Americans that had those stripped away a year ago or ensuring equitable funding for K-12 schools. Right now my main goal is to work to protect trans rights on a national level as we see states and even local school boards here in California strip trans folks of their rights. Ensuring that trans youth have access to gender affirming care, are allowed to use the restroom and play on the sports team that matches their gender and aren't forcibly outed by their educators are all current issues I am advocating for in my work with Riverside Pride.
8. If you could have any social justice superpower, what would it be?
To remove the hate and intolerance from folks who fear those who are different than them.
9. What is something you enjoy doing for others?
I am a huge gift giver. I get way more enjoyment watching others open a gift than receiving one myself. When I proposed to my now fiancé, we joked that there was no question over who would be the one proposing.
10. What is something that makes you feel most alive?
I moved to California from landlocked Iowa so I absolutely love trips to the beach. I don't think I will ever get sick of hearing the waves and having all of my stressors melt away.
11. If two (or more) worlds (i.e. music, artists, clothing, movies, eras, genres) could collide/collaborate, what would you choose?
Movies and clothing. The movie theater is my favorite place to escape to. I love seeing how clothing and costumes can completely transform the narrative and creative direction of a film.
12. What is something that should be free but is not?
Healthcare. I am a strong believer that a person's quality of life and access to healthcare should not be determined by their social class or ability to afford services. Coming from a family that has been impacted by cancer, I saw the financial and emotional toll my father's cancer diagnosis took on my parents and we were even lucky enough to have decent health insurance at the time.
13. Which affiliations/clubs/organizations/hobbies have you been involved in?
Outside of work I dedicate a lot of my time to human rights organizations. I serve as the Advocacy Director for Riverside LGBTQ+ Pride, working to combat anti-LGBTQ legislation and policies that harm the community. I also serve as the Vice Chair for the City of Riverside Human Relations Commission where we work to eliminate discrimination within the city.
14. What makes you feel uncomfortable?
As a cis white man, many times folks will feel comfortable making insensitive or derogatory jokes or comments around or to me thinking we have the same values/mindset. It used to make me feel uncomfortable and I would just remove myself but I have grown and learned how to more effectively respond and call out their discriminatory comments.
15. What is your favorite thing about working at UCR or your favorite UCR memory?
I started at the very beginning of the COVID pandemic so my first year and a half was virtual. My favorite memory was working with the Student Alumni Association to host our first in-person event. It was great to finally work with my students on something that wasn't a Zoom panel.