The Women's Place

Upchurch honored as a 2024 YWCA Woman of Achievement

April 30, 2024
Photo of Erin Upchurch standing against a tan background.

For more than 35 years, this award has been granted to nominees who demonstrate a strong commitment to breaking down barriers and creating opportunities for women. Women of Achievement is one of many groundbreaking initiatives led by YWCA Columbus to challenge inequity through the empowerment of women and marginalized communities. 

Erin Upchurch is a community lecturer in the College of Social Work with more than two decades of experience as an integrative social work practitioner. In addition to her role at Ohio State, Erin is a co-founder of the Ohio Rest Collective, which provides workshops and programming centered around rest and healing as an act of transformative justice.  

Erin also serves as the executive director of the Kaleidoscope Youth Center. As executive director, Upchurch works to support LGBTQIA+ youth and young adults by providing resources, education, and programming aimed at fostering a sense of belonging. Erin demonstrates a deep commitment to the promotion of self-care, the empowerment of marginalized individuals, and the creation of a safer, more affirming world. 

Group photo of the six women selected as 2024 YWCA Women of Achievement in front of a dark curtain back drop.
2024 award winners, left to right: Elaine Richardson, Corrine Burger, Renée Shumate, Erin Upchurch, Ola Snow, and Demetries Neely.

The Women’s Place asked Upchurch the following questions to gain insight on her path to success and the advice she has for other women looking to advance their careers. 

Note: Responses have been lightly edited for length and style.

Which personal/career accomplishments are you most proud of and why?

Personally, I’m really proud of my children, ages 20 and almost 22. Both have graduated high school and are currently in college, but most importantly, they are really, really good people. They are equally, yet uniquely kind, compassionate, creative and thoughtful young people. Hearing them and their friends talk about the world and their vision for what’s possible gives me an extreme amount of joy and hope.

Career wise, I’m very proud of the work my colleagues and I have accomplished at Kaleidoscope Youth Center. We know that a safer, kinder and more affirming world is possible and are committed to doing our part to make that a reality. 

Aside from the obvious hard work and dedication, is there anything else you attribute your career success at Ohio State to?

The College of Social Work as a whole, and especially the students, my colleagues and leadership. Being a social worker is such an important part of my story and how I move through the world; and collaborating with an entire department and group of people committed to justice and change, is a beautiful gift. Social workers are my people. 

What does it mean to you to be a YWCA Woman of Achievement?

To be named among a lineage of women who made their vision for what’s possible a reality is affirming. It’s also a reminder to keep standing for what’s living inside of me. And I feel proud to be a queer Black woman, visible to other queer Black young people in this way. 

Looking back on your career, what is a piece of advice you wish that you had received earlier in your journey? What would you tell a younger version of yourself or a less advanced colleague?

First, you must belong to yourself. Get clear regarding the truth about who you are, and keep people close to you who can reflect that truth back to you. 

Second, your rest, wellness and radiance are non-negotiable. Speak even if your voice shakes, and don’t be afraid to stand alone. 

How can we empower women to seek leadership roles at the university?

This is a tricky question. I don’t typically encourage people to seek leadership roles. As much as my bossy Virgo moon and Leo sun like to be in charge, I can’t say that I’ve ever intentionally set out to be a leader. My encouragement is for women to be clear about their longing and how they want to move through the world. We must ask ourselves what we care about and lean into our own vision about what is possible in our lives, communities and the world. In her essay "Eye to Eye: Black Women, Hatred and Anger," in Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches, Audre Lorde wrote: “I am who I am doing what I came to do.” We must ask ourselves, who we are and what we came here to do, remembering that our purpose is more than our work or even our career. 

What would you like to see for the future of women at Ohio State?

I would like to see a future for women — all women — to live and pursue the vision for their lives and that of the world in the most authentic and unapologetic way.