CAHSS Professor Recently Named Inaugural Chair in the Study of Sexuality

Lindsey Feitz, director of Gender, Women's, and Sexuality Studies in the College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences (CAHSS), has been named the inaugural recipient of the Michael B. Pulman and Eric Lindstrom Endowed Chair in the Study of Sexuality. The endowment, established by the married couple Michael Pulman and Eric Lindstrom, supports the study of human sexuality, with a focus on the cultural contributions of LGBTQ+ individuals. 

The couple has deep ties to CAHSS: Pulman taught history at the University of Denver (DU) from 1971 to 1991, and Lindstrom was a frequent presence at the Lamont School of Music Theatre as a jazz musician. 

When Pulman was teaching at DU, courses on sexuality, let alone LGBTQ+ studies, were rare. Fortunately, what was once unthinkable in a course catalog is now a permanently funded faculty position. Feitz will use this endowment to trace how sexuality runs through history, art, psychology, and nearly every other corner of the liberal arts. 

"Pulman and Lindstrom’s gift ensures that our students continue to have access to classes in critical sexuality studies, enabling LGBTQ+ studies to remain a central part of CAHSS curriculum," Feitz said. 

The endowment will support Feitz's new research project exploring the intersection of artificial intelligence and human sexuality. Looking ahead, she hopes it will also fund student internships and research projects examining LGBTQ+ lives, histories, contributions, and advocacy. 

"Feitz embodies a creative spirit and thoughtful approach, bringing years of instructional innovation and research to this new position," said CAHSS Dean Sahara Byrne. "She is among the most beloved professors at this university and was the clear choice for the inaugural appointment." 

For Feitz, the honor extends beyond her own research: "This endowment underscores not only how far we've come as scholars but also how far we've come as an institution and community, where we can now openly honor and celebrate Pulman and Lindstrom's legacies," she said. 

Dean Emeritus Daniel McIntosh, who led CAHSS when the endowment was originally established in 2020, said the College's mission is built on multidisciplinary perspectives, scholarship relevant to people's lives, discourse that welcomes all voices and experiences, and education that helps students connect these elements. He added that this endowment ensures that the mission continues and reflects the impact sexuality studies has had on the College over the years. 

Learn more about Pulman and Lindstrom’s legacy.