Day is an Associate Professor in the Disability Studies Program at UT. As a disabled person, her personal experiences enable her to enhance courses and draw students who experience disabilities. Day advises a disabled student group and a queer student group at UT. She and three other faculty members launched an undergraduate major and graduate certificate in Disability Studies that are nationally and internationally recognized.

Day is committed to social change and activism. Self-identified as a queer woman and disabled by an invisible chronic disease, she launched herself into feminist health activism. Hoping to work as a community organizer, the need for health insurance drove her to earn her PhD to address the inequities in healthcare.

With a PhD in Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies and a focus on women and HIV, Day has turned her research into a book, “The Political Economy of Stigma: HIV, Memoir, Medicine and Crip Personalities.” In addition, she created an oral history archive for HIV, and co-developed a documentary film on the history and contribution of David’s House of Compassion.

Day is a graduate of The Ohio State University. Her research and teaching awards at the University of Toledo approaches $400,000. She serves on the LGBTQA+ faculty advisory committee, the University diversity committee and the state of Ohio’s committee that approves diversity course credits. She has served on hiring committees for two university vice provost positions.

In the community, Day is a Big Sister through Big Brothers Big Sisters of NW Ohio, and is a certified foster parent. She is also a certified community doula (birthing partner/advocate) with the Neighborhood Health Association, and is active in social justice campaigns, HIV treatment and awareness, and the anti-war movement.