Frank P. Tipton

Advisor on Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender (GLBT) Issues

Frank Tipton joined the Department of History and the Social Sciences in 2005. He currently teaches world history and is a dormitory house counselor.

His scholarly interests include the early modern Atlantic world and the colonial era in Africa and the Middle East. He has pursued several research and study opportunities in the Middle East, Africa, and East Asia, including several months in Yemen examining the history of the seaport of Aden. Most recently, he participated in a tour of South Africa focusing on post-apartheid educational reform. Andover recently awarded him the Frederick S. Allis Instructorship in History and the Social Sciences.

Tipton graduated from Columbia University in 1991 with a B.A. in Middle East Languages and Cultures. He received an M.A. in Arab Studies from Georgetown University in 1993. After pursuing additional political science coursework at MIT, he taught world history and economics at Wellesley High School in Massachusetts and the Seven Hills School in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Tipton has participated in numerous conferences related to history and diversity education, including the annual conference of the World History Association and the Stanley H. King Counseling Institute. As Andover’s advisor for GLBT issues, he counsels students and faculty with GLBT-related questions or concerns. He also advises the Gay-Straight Alliance, one of the oldest GSAs in the country. Every year the GSA sponsors a wide range of events on campus, including one or more guest speakers, a celebration of National Coming Out Day, a popular dance, and commemoration of the National Day of Silence. GSA students also participate in Boston Youth Pride each spring.

In 2008-2009, GSA celebrated its 20th anniversary. To commemorate that milestone, the organization hosted a national photo exhibit of out high school and college athletes, ran a multi-school conference on youth-related GLBT issues, and sponsored a visit by Judy Shepard, mother of Matt Shepard, to commemorate the 10th anniversary of her son's passing. Her talk coincided with a student performance of The Laramie Project.