The Office of Diversity and Inclusion announced the hiring of its first LGBTQ coordinator Tuesday, a position that has been discussed for at least four years, said Danielle Johnson, program coordinator for the Office of Diversity and Inclusion.

Brad Thomison, a Wichita State alumnus, will start his job Tues., Sep. 5.

Thomison is also the owner of Club Boomerang, a local nightclub that caters to the LGBTQ communtiy.

Johnson said Thomison’s focus is going to be on recruitment and retention of LGBTQ students, as well as providing them with resources and programming through the office.

“Brad is openly gay. He’s a professional,” Johnson said. “Now [students] have someone that they can go to that shares the same experience, that walked in those shoes as a student here at Wichita State.”