According to Hammonds, this will replace the student-staffed Queer Resource Center in the Thayer basement, and preparations for renovation will begin this summer.

Hammonds said that a national search for the new staff person will begin immediately. She expressed hope that someone will be hired by January, but added that finding the right person will take precedence over that deadline.

The ideal candidate would be attentive to how an individual’s different experiences intersect to influence their identity—which Hammonds termed “a deep awareness of issues of intersectionality”—as well as having experience working with BGLTQ student communities and teaching credentials, Associate Dean and Senior Adviser to the Dean of the College Paul J.McLoughlin II added.

Co-Chair of Harvard Queer Students and Allies Marco Chan ’11, who served on the working group, said that student input must remain central to the decision-making process.

“As a graduating senior, I want to ensure that there will be continued accountability and transparency in all the next steps,” said Chan, who added that the creation of a space came as a surprise to many BGLTQ students.

“The community that these resources are helping needs to shape the outcome.”

In commending the College’s changes to benefit the BGLTQ community, QSA Co-Chair Emma Q. Wang ’12, who also participated in the working group, noted that the recommendations extend to all members of the Harvard community, including those who do not identify as BGLTQ.

“This is about changing the entire campus culture to make Harvard a place that affirms its students regardless of sexuality or gender identity,” Wang said.

—Julie M. Zauzmer contributed to the reporting of this article.

—Staff writer Nadia L. Farjood can be reached at nadiafarjood@college.harvard.edu.

—Staff writer Alice E.M. Underwood can be reached at aeunderw@fas.harvard.edu.