Meet Ben and Chuck, Co-chairs of the LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Group

Benjamin (Ben) Kimura and Charles (Chuck) Robinson are the inaugural chairs of the Columbia University Facilities and Operations (CUFO) LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Group (ERG). In this interview, they discuss the importance of ensuring everyone feels welcome and comfortable being themself at work, as well as how the ERGs can support CUFO staff.  

The ERGs, first introduced to all staff at an expo in December 2024, bring staff together around a variety of cultures and interests to provide networking and mentorship opportunities, facilitate educational programming, and foster an overall sense of community and belonging. All CUFO staff are welcome and encouraged to participate, regardless of their background or identity.  

Sign up for ERGs on CUFOnet, and read on to get to know Ben and Chuck. 

How long have you worked at Columbia, and what is your role within Facilities and Operations?  

Chuck: I have been with Columbia for two years. I started in December 2023. I am Assistant General Manager of John Jay Dining Hall for Columbia Dining. 

Ben: I've been at Columbia for about three years. I'm a Senior Analyst at Columbia Residential.  

What made you both interested in becoming one of the co-chairs of the LGBTQ+ ERG?  

Ben: When I first started working at Columbia, one of the first questions I asked was: What kinds of organizations exist for employees in the LGBTQ+ space? Early on, I got the email of the LGBTQ Employee Resource Group at Columbia University Irvine Medical Center (CUIMC), so I've been receiving their emails for a long time. When the opportunity came to start something for CUFO staff on the Morningside campus, I was like, Oh, wow, maybe I could help get the ball rolling. As soon as it was floated that we might have the ERGs, I wanted to help be part of it.  

Chuck: Similarly, I was looking for what Employee Resource Groups there were when I started. I'm a very social creature by nature, and I had the opportunity to take a class a couple years back that let me network across different departments. After that, I wanted more chances to connect with other people across the campus community, who I don't get chances to see every day. I’m grateful for any chance to build community with staff, especially those who might not feel like aspects of themselves have a space in their day-to-day.   

What do you hope the ERG you are leading will accomplish? What do you hope staff will get out of it?  

Chuck: My hope is that the group helps to curate a sense of good vibes and belonging for CUFO Employees across the board, regardless of how they identify. Just like all of the other ERG's, our programming is open to every single member of our CUFO community, and we want to make sure that everyone knows they are personally invited to the party. 

As for our LGBTQ+ folks, the idea is the space gives people a bit more visibility, comfortability, and sense of self in the workspace. I hope we can make room for conversations that may not otherwise come up in our day-to-day work, giving us all opportunities for connection. 

We are also looking to utilize existing university resources to find the different opportunities we can offer. One workshop we have coming up on July 2nd is the CU Safe Zone Training taught by the Undergraduate Office of Multicultural Affairs. CU Safe Zone is a training session that provides foundational knowledge needed to support and act in solidarity with LGBTQ+ communities at Columbia University. Facilities and Operations literally runs every space on campus, which means we have the ability to take the concepts discussed in this course and echo them throughout the university. 

Ben: I agree. I'm also hoping something that people get out of this is the opportunity to network. 
Building a community across different departments is important. Facilities and Operations is a big department, and getting to know people that you otherwise wouldn't have ever met can be helpful.  

For any staff who want to get involved, you can participate at any level that's convenient to you. Just showing up and saying hello, we are very happy to have you! It’s okay if you need to get back to work and can’t stay the whole time. There’s a lot of value in people stopping by and saying hello. If people show interest, it helps the ERG keep going. 

What is something each of you have worked on at Columbia that you feel proud of?  

Chuck: For me, I am really proud of how regularly Columbia Dining considers the responsibility to community build that collegiate dining requires. Beyond our general hospitality, it falls to us to encourage a sense of comradery and belonging for students in the Dining Halls. The reality for most of our meal plan holders is that they go from their home – where their families feed them, socialize with them, and protect them – to a brand-new city, with new friends and new realities, and all that that can entail. When I started, it was explained to me early on that we are responsible for providing a sense of “home away from home.” Our space is one students visit multiple times a day, share meals with their friends, make memories, and attend special events. All of these moments break up the monotony of everyday life, alleviate a bit of stress, and hopefully leave them ready to tackle the challenges that college throws at them.  

I like having a hand in building that sense of home for students. I hope the ERGs can do something similar for CUFO – building that sense of comfort and comradery. 

Ben: I really enjoy my work. It's very project oriented. I build a lot of reports and data visualizations to track various projects across Columbia Residential. Often it starts with talking to someone, finding out their need, and then building and developing something to suit their need. I keep connected with them along the way to make sure that it is along the lines of what they wanted. I am proud of the end products. They help our department be more efficient across workflows.  

Who is your gay icon?  

Chuck: It is hard to narrow down just one because simply put: The gays are just an iconic bunch. But today I would have to say my gay icon is Jorgeous. She is a Drag Queen from San Antonio who’s just amazing. Plus, she’s my pick to win the current season of RuPaul’s All Stars. 

Ben: Mine is anyone who has the courage to be out at work. Anyone who is open with their identity and comes to work as fully themself. I'm grateful to work with my boss, Leilani Reynolds, because she is so proudly out. Anyone who has that courage to be out and proud at work, they are my icons.  

This is actually the first job that I've been out. At previous jobs, I didn't feel like I should do anything. I would have excuses like, Oh, it's not relevant. It doesn't matter. They don't need to know. Now, I see how important it is to be out and proud. People need to know that we exist and how we are contributing.