Q&A with Safe Zone for All Master Ally, Emma Henry
Posted: July 24, 2025
At A.T. Still University, the Safe Zone for All (SZFA) program is a collaborative resource for students, faculty, and staff to ensure the University campus climate feels safe, receptive, and accepting to all. Through the program, ATSU community members can become trained allies who serve as visible first points of contact and advocates for ATSU’s diverse students, faculty, and staff.
SZFA Master Ally Emma Henry, MEd, associate director for alumni relations, took the time to share her insights on why she chose to become a SZFA Master Ally and what the role means to her.
Q: Why did you choose to become a Master Ally?
A: Shortly after attending one of the SZFA workshops on campus, I found out about the Master Ally certification program. For my entire life, I have been a self-proclaimed advocate for welcoming everyone and helping people to connect, collaborate, and learn. I knew that by becoming a Master Ally, I could not only share my lived experience as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, but I could also lend my professional acumen to helping to support and advance the programs that are offered through the program.
Q: What does being a Master Ally mean to you?
A: Being a Master Ally means being a friend who is there to walk alongside others as they learn, grow, and challenge themselves while also being an advocate for members of a diverse community who need support. Ultimately, I feel that being a Master Ally is a role where I can serve our campus community by being an example of showing up authentically, treating others with kindness and respect, and helping others to learn about those who may be different from them. It is truly a privilege to have the title of Master Ally and I am looking forward to working alongside our university community.
Q: Why are programs like SZFA important at ATSU?
A: Programs like Safe Zone for All are important because it helps us say the quiet part out loud: We welcome everyone! It allows us to learn together, ensures all members of our campus community feel safe and supported, and provides an environment where anyone can learn new things about identities that they may not have themselves. Our diverse ATSU community makes us stronger together.
Q: How can someone work to be an ally in everyday life?
A: Be thoughtful, be kind, and always consider the golden rule. We all want to be treated with kindness, respect and dignity. It’s really just as simple as being thoughtful with our words and actions, treating others with kindness and consideration, and always ensuring we are leaving other people better than we found them. By sharing a smile, holding the door open, or just saying hello, you can make the difference in someone’s day. Being an ally means, standing with others in their triumph or in their struggle, whether it impacts you or not and saying, “I’ve got your back.”
Whether you’re farther along in your journey as an ally, or just getting started, don’t be afraid to ask questions, be curious and reach out! That is what community is all about – sharing resources and knowledge to strengthen the collective.
If you’re curious about any topic related to diversity or Safe Zone for All, don’t hesitate to reach out to diversity@atsu.edu.