Encyclopedia Dubuque
"Encyclopedia Dubuque is the online authority for all things Dubuque, written by the people who know the city best.”
Marshall Cohen—researcher and producer, CNN
Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
BECHEN, Michelle
BECHEN, Michelle. Bechen, L.M.S.W., received her bachelor’s degree in Social Work from CLARKE COLLEGE and her Master of Social Work from the University of Iowa. In 2013 she was an associate professor of social work and program director at LORAS COLLEGE.
Bechen worked with LGBT, HIV/AIDS, drug addicted, gang youth, and homeless population while living in San Francisco. She continued that work in Dubuque, creating and implementing an HIV/AIDS prevention program for at-risk populations. Through this work, Bechen was involved in one-on-one counseling, facilitated support groups, fundraising, and grant writing.
Her continued work with LGBT youth and adults helped bring The Alliance to Loras College. The Alliance is a gay/straight student organization that has grown strong since 2002. Through this organization, she also adapted The Safe Zone Ally Training and regularly offered it to faculty, staff, and students at Loras. Bechen also began training counselors in the community to be Allies.
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Sources:
Better Together Dubuque. Online: http://www.bettertogetherdubuque.org/biographies.html
