Bertie Gardner, enrollment counselor at Texas Wesleyan University, is turning their passions into dedication — from weaving the fabric of diversity and inclusion into their community to chaining together yarn for the numerous hats, scarves and teddy bears in their crochet work. 

Gardner received a bachelor’s degree in public relations and event planning from Tarleton State University, where they also landed a job as an enrollment counselor after graduation at the Fort Worth campus.  

As part of their job, Gardner got to work with faculty and staff to facilitate training on LGBTQ+ awareness and bringing together people through events like potlucks. Gardner also helped organize food drive events and food insecurity awareness campaigns at Tarleton. 

“I loved [working there],” Gardner said. “I was working more on the student experience side and bringing the Allied program over to Fort Worth from the main campus. I really liked doing that kind of stuff and setting up resources for those students.” 

After meeting admissions counselors at Texas Wesleyan, Gardner decided to look into getting a job as an enrollment counselor at TXWES.  

“I was looking at the employee handbook [at Texas Wesleyan], and I loved the inclusiveness of the language. I felt safe at Tarleton and really had to push myself out of my comfort zone,” Gardner said. “I started looking beyond the employee part of it and looking at the actual diversity of campus and all the opportunities they give students. I wanted to see what it was all about.”  

Gardner was inspired to bring in similar programming from Tarleton to Texas Wesleyan but was hired right before the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Gardner didn’t let it keep them down. As soon as activity returned to campus, they joined Texas Wesleyan’s Diversity and Inclusion Council, helped bring in HIV testing to the campus and has assisted with the Gay Straight Alliance.  

“Doing the HIV testing was really cool, I was very excited for that,” they said. “I’m still looking for those kinds of opportunities to bring to our community.”  

Gardner also weaves crocheting into part of their life here at Texas Wesleyan, often giving the items as gifts for coworkers.  

“I love to give handmade gifts,” they said. “I taught myself how to crochet from a book in the library. I’ve crocheted dolls and more intricate things, but I’ve been doing more random things lately.”  

Their love for their fellow people and community shines brightly. Gardner has recently completed their master’s degree in public administration and works part time at LGBTQ SAVES here in Fort Worth. Many of their graduate work focused on policies, like federal regulations regarding transgender health care and LGBTQ homelessness in Fort Worth. 

 “I really want to be in a position where I'm able to work more directly with underserved populations,” they said. 

But having this confidence wasn’t something they had when they were younger. Gardner would often had a lot of anxiety in high school. It was through going to college, moving to Fort Worth and working with LGBTQ SAVES that their voice got to shine.  

They also said having the support of the faculty and staff at both Tarleton and Texas Wesleyan has helped them feel ready to take on new challenges. 

“I’m doing something right with my life,” they said. “Something that really propels me forward is the fact that I want to leave a better world for the next people.”  

And that’s exactly what they are doing — no matter if it’s the gift of a handmade item or the gift of helping their fellow community, Gardner’s leaving their mark on those around them.