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Change Agent: Gabriela Zabala-Alemán

Change Agents, LGBTI, SGM, SGM Awardees

Change Agent: Gabriela Zabala-Alemán

Bali White
May 31, 2019
By:
Bali White

Change Agents

/CHānj/ /‘ājənt/

noun
One who acts as a catalyst for change.

Change Agents are everyday people who do small things that have significant impact. They are cultivators who plant seeds in our lives (knowingly or unknowingly). Their presence nurtures and molds us every day, giving shape to the environment in which we work. They are fueled by their own passion to contribute, and thus, incite passion in others. They are the risk takers; the visionaries who see possibilities when others see obstacles. They are catalysts that make the Game Changing moments of an organization possible.

change

/CHānj/

verb

  • make or become different
  • to alter the terms or transform entirely
  • arrive at a fresh phase; become new

noun

  • a new or refreshingly different experience

agent

/‘ājənt/

noun

  • a person who acts on behalf of another
  • one who takes an active role or produces a specified effect
  • a doer of an action
Do you know a change agent?
Gabriela Zabala-Alemán

Change Agents are cultivators who plant seeds in our lives. Their presence nurtures and molds us every day, giving shape to the environment in which we work. They are fueled by their own passion to contribute and thus incite passion in others. They are the risk takers and the visionaries who see possibilities when others see obstacles.

Gabriela (Gaby) Zabala-Alemán, Office of Intramural Training and Education (OITE) Detail at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is a change agent for the Sexual and Gender Minority (SGM) community for advocating representation among the community and her mentorship.

How is this change agent addressing issues in the SGM community?

Gaby has worked to increase Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ) representation among speakers and panelists for intramural trainee professional development events at the NIH. This is just one example of her efforts to improve the experience of LGBTQ students and trainees at NIH.

What is this change agent doing to show leadership in diversity and inclusion of the SGM community?

Gaby has joined the organizing committee for a DC Pride event and is developing expertise in mentorship for those in the SGM community.

Gabriela Zabala-Aleman is a 2019 Sexual & Gender Minority (SGM) Community and Ally Leader Awardee.

"Sexual and gender minority" (SGM) is an umbrella term* that encompasses lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender populations as well as those whose sexual orientation, gender identity, and expressions, or reproductive development varies from traditional, societal, cultural, or physiological norms. This includes Disorders or Differences of Sex Development (DSD), sometimes known as intersex.

To further celebrate Pride Month at NIH, we are honoring individuals who help to advance SGM research or help to make NIH a more welcoming environment for individuals in SGM communities.

Do you have a story idea for us? Do you want to submit a guest blog? If it's about equity, diversity, or inclusion, please submit to edi.stories@nih.gov.

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