Dr. Graciela Slesaransky-Poe, professor of Education, presented “From Personal to Professional to Political: How Raising a Gender Nonconforming Child Changed Me, My Profession, and the World Around Me” at the 12th annual Conference of the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education (NADOHE) in Washington, D.C. on March 9.

Sharing how her parenting, teaching, and scholarship were transformed as she explored gender identity and expression, Dr. Slesaransky-Poe provided a personal and academic perspective on society’s gender constructs, explained how these expectations harm and disadvantage others, and offered suggestions for faculty and staff who wish to become allies for gender nonconforming students.

Dr. Slesaransky-Poe, who was named a 2017 Champion of Social Justice by the Parent Education and Advocacy Leadership (PEAL) Center in October, has presented nationally on transgender rights, gender identity, and support for LGBTQIA+ students.