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Presenter Biographies

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Mariette Pathy Allen
Photographer Mariette Pathy Allen is the author of "Transformations: Crossdressers and Those Who Love Them", and "The Gender Frontier", which won a Lambda Literary Award. She has worked o five documentary films as a consultant and still photographer. The most recent was "Southern Comfort". Mariette's work is in numerous permanent collections and has been exhibited worldwide. You can reach her through her website: www.mariettepathyallen.com
Betsy McCormick and Mary Almy
Mary and Betsy have been married for 26 years. Both have been active in the Presbyterian Church: Mary as an Elder and Betsy as an ordained minister. They have served 14 years overseas as missionaries. Mary transitioned February 14th of 2011 and Betsy has been standing beside her throughout the process. Their current plans are to continue to honor their marital commitments. Both Mary and Betsy have lost their positions because of Mary's transition and are currently seeking employment.
Jason Robert Ballard
Jason Robert Ballard is the owner and operator of a community organization called The Self Made Men. He started transitioning when he was 13 years old and has been teaching classes and speaking at lectures, forums and panels for two years. Though he is a graphic design student at Nazareth College in Rochester, NY, Transgender rights and advocacy is his ultimate passion. He believes in Transgender equality through means of public education. You can find more information about him and The Self Made Men at their website, TheSelfMadeMen.com
Andrew Bauerband
Andrew Bauerband is currently a master’s student in experimental psychology at Towson University. His research interests include LGBT experience and resiliency, with specific focus on transgender persons. As a student, he has conducted research on transgender friendship experiences and thoughts about being transgender. As a transgender identified person, he values incorporating ideas and experience of individuals of all transgender identities into his research. He will be graduating in May of 2012, and plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology.
Christie Block, SLP
Christie Block, MA, MS, CCC-SLP is a licensed and board-certified Speech-Language Pathologist in private practice in New York City. Christie has more than 15 years of experience as a speech/voice trainer, university instructor, and clinical specialist. She is an active and committed ally to the transgender community; a large part of her practice is devoted to speech/voice training for transpeople. She is a member of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health and the Columbia University-based Working Group on Gender.
Jan Brown
Jan is a married hetero TG who co-founded her local TG support group, Mid-Hudson Transgender Association (MHVTA) thirteen+ years ago in the Mid-Hudson Valley of New York State. Jan likes to help others and enjoys golf, computers, reading and being Jan. She is active in TG events and enjoys the opportunity to meet so many from the greater TG community. She is also the programming chair for Fantasia Fair 2011. Please say hello!
Reverend Sarah Carpenter
Reverend Sarah Carpenter was raised in a conservative, Republican, Pre-Vatican II Catholic household and has known she was an male to female transsexual from age five. After a life-long struggle, she started counseling in 2003, transitioned and began living as herself in 2005. Reverend Sarah Carpenter was ordained in 1996 with a Bachelors Degree in Religion and Philosophy. She received a Masters Degree in Biblical Studies in 2000 and was awarded a Doctorate in New Testament Studies in 2006. Reverend Carpenter is separated from her spouse of 33 years and has two adult daughters. She recently retired as an engineer at the University of Vermont and is currently living on Cape Cod.
Eli Coleman
Professor and Director, Chair in Sexual Health, Program in Human Sexuality, University of Minnesota Medical School. Dr. Coleman was Chair of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) Revision Committee for the Standards of Care - Version 7. He is past president of the WPATH, the International Academy for Sex Research, the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality and the World Professional Association for Sexual Health (WAS). He is the current President-Elect of the Society for Sex Therapy and Research. He has earned many awards and honors including the WAS Gold Medal for lifetime contributions to the field of sexual health.
Conference Staff

Dallas Denny
Dallas Denny is a writer and educator who divides her time between tiny Pine Lake, Georgia and the Hudson valley. She is founder and was executive director of The American Educational Gender Information Service (now Gender Education & Advocacy), founder of Atlanta Gender Explorations Support Group, a co-founder of Southern Comfort, past director of Fantasia Fair, and editor of Chrysalis Quarterly and Transgender Tapestry. She holds IFGE's Trinity and Virginia Prince Lifetime Achievement awards, Fantasia Fair's Transgender Pioneer award, and The Outreach Institute award. Dallas invites you to visit her website www.dallasdenny.com and explore her Body of Work page and the new online version of Chrysalis. Dallas is available for writing and speaking engagements and one-one-one consultations.
Richard Docter, PhD
Richard Docter is a clinical psychologist and university professor who has specialized in sex and gender studies for 30 years. He is the author of Transvestites and Transsexuals (1988, Plenum Press) and many research articles. Docter has participated in more than 100 transgender conferences.
Lady Ellen
Lady Ellen is the Owner and Operator of Le Femme Finishing School, the first and only Charm School for transgender girls in New Jersey. Lady Ellen has been a teacher since 1993 and has been using her skills to teach feminine arts to the cross-dressing/ transgender community since 2005. With much affection and good humor she has presented workshops to transgender groups in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Virginia. For a private fashion or image consultation, lesson in walking or make-up application at the conference please contact Lady Ellen. www.XdressNJ.com
Paola Jazmin Gonzalez
I am a local theatre Artist/Juggler/Fight choreographer. I transitioned full time from Male to female in 2008. I am studying Theatre Arts at HVCC (graduating in December 2012), and have been a member and co-chair of the HVCC Pride Alliance.
Kyla Joy James
Kyla James is a non-op TG and is currently the devoted wife of Lady Ellen. She began her feminization almost 20 years ago and has lived full-time as a woman for 6 years. She manages Lady Ellen's home and assists Her in Her business and speaking engagements.
Kristine James
Dr. S. Kristine James, is a noted lecturer, educator, publisher and management consultant.
She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management, with a minor in Marketing and Economics from the University of Rochester, Rochester, N.Y., a Master of Science degree in Management Information and a Doctorate in Business Administration from Century University. Dr. James spent many years employed by public and privately owned business in finance, banking and manufacturing, before forming her own consulting business. She has presented business and financial seminars to over 175,000 people throughout the world as well as being an adjunct professor as community colleges. Kristine started a publishing company in 1983 which eventually grew to a major multi-division, multi-national business over a sixteen year span. It was sold in 2002 and still is in business. She is semi-retired, but still operates her event planning and management company.
Kristine has been active in the trans Community since 1986 when she formed Cross Dressers International and the Greater New York Gender Alliance, an organization representing all of the various groups in the Greater New York City community. She has been on the board of directors and the executive committee of IFGE for a number of years where she served as Treasurer. She is the president of the conference management company, TransEvents USA, Inc.
Alison Laing
Alison Laing has been active in the TG community since 1987. She was a founding member and leader of Renaissance in The Delaware Valley and latter a leader of the Outreach Institute and director of several Fantasia Fairs. She was the Executive Director of IFGE for several years. She now is the Co-Chair of events produced by Transevents.
Dr. Sherman Leis
Sherman N. Leis, D.O., F.A.C.O.S. is Professor and Chairman of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at The Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. He is also Director and Chief Surgeon at The Philadelphia Center for Transgender Surgery. The Center represents a team of more than eighty professionals who have expertise in servicing the surgical and non-surgical needs of transgender individuals. It is one of the few comprehensive centers of its type in the United States. He is a founding member and Past President of the Section of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and a member of the Board of Governors of The American College of Osteopathic Surgeons.
Ari Lev
Arlene (Ari) Istar Lev LCSW-R, CASAC, is a social worker, family therapist, educator, and writer whose work addresses the unique therapeutic needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people. She is the Founder and Clinical Director of Choices Counseling and Consulting and The Institute for Gender, Relationships, Identity, and Sexuality (TIGRIS), and the Clinical Supervisor for Center Support: Counseling Services, a low-cost therapy program at the Capital District Gay and Lesbian Community Council. Ari has been a part-time lecturer at the State University New York at Albany, School of Social Welfare for the past 22 years, and is also an adjunct at Empire College. Ari is the author of: The Complete Lesbian and Gay Parenting Guide and Transgender Emergence: Therapeutic Guidelin
Christine McGinn
Dr. McGinn is a board certified plastic surgeon whose formal training was tailored specifically to transgender surgery in addition to all aspects of both General and Plastic Surgery. Since her own transition in 2000, she has been an activist and speaker on many aspects of gender variant issues. She is frequently called upon by television and print media as an expert in her field. Recent contributions include an appearance on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” final season and guest editor of “The Science of Orgasm” and “The Orgasm Answer Guide”. She is the founder of Papillon Gender Wellness Center; a comprehensive gender support “co-op” that includes many professional services in addition to Plastic Surgery.
Maureen Osborne, PhD
Dr. Maureen Osborne is a licensed psychologist with over 30 years experience as a therapist, specializing in gender identity issues for the last 20 years. Her theoretical orientation and training in Contextual Family Therapy has led to an interest in relational ethics and justice dynamics as they apply to transgender issues. She has presented talks and workshops at many different national and international gender conferences, and is particularly interested in the journey of spouses and couples. Dr. Osborne maintains a private practice in Malvern, PA, where she does individual, couple, group, and family therapy as well as clinical supervision. Dr. Osborne is also an adjunct therapist at Dr. Christine McGinn's Papillon Gender Wellness Center.
Dr Douglas Ousterhout
Dr Ousterhout's practice is located in San Francisco, California where he is a full time Professor at UCSF San Francisco. Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, member in at least 18 medical societies worldwide. Past President of the Maxillofacial Surgeons and Pan Pacific Surgical Society. Founded one medical journal and was on the Editorial Board of four plastic surgery journals. Has presented and published scores of scientific papers. Published two books: Aesthetic Contouring of the Craniofacial Skeleton and Facial Feminizaton Surgery, which can be obtained thru our website "drofacialsurgery.com" or amazon.com.
Jack Pickering
Jack Pickering, PhD, CCC-SLP, is an Associate Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders at The College of Saint Rose and speech-language pathologist for Capital Region ENT. He directs the College of Saint Rose Voice and Communication Modification Program for People in the Transgender Community. Dr. Pickering has been an ASHA-certified SLP since 1984, focusing on the assessment and treatment of voice disorders. Dr. Pickering received his BA and MA from the University of Maine, and his doctoral degree in Speech and Hearing Sciences at Ohio University in 1990. His teaching interests include voice disorders and voice science. Dr. Pickering has given over 100 presentations at international, national, state, and local levels.
Kevin Poling
Mr. Poling is a seasoned customer service and travel professional with over 20 years of experience in the global travel industry. He has undergone extensive training, specializing in the art and science of customer relationship management. Mr. Poling also leads Satori World Medical's Global Transgender Program. In this role, Mr. Poling is responsible for developing, coordinating and ensuring the highest quality of patient service for the program. Mr. Poling is highly involved in the LGBT community and has sponsored the Transgender Day of Remembrance in San Diego. He is a frequent speaker at transgender conferences throughout the country such as Southern Comfort, TransOhio and Be-All.
Pride Center of the Capital Region
The Pride Center of the Capital Region (Pride Center) is dedicated to serving the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community in the Capital Region. Based in Albany, the Pride Center has been meeting the diverse needs of LGBT people in a seven county region since 1970. Our programs, both at the Center (332 Hudson Ave in Albany) as well as held throughout the region, meet the health and human service needs of the LGBT community as well as educate and advocate for those needs in the broader Capital Region. As the oldest continuously-operating gay and lesbian community center in the country, the Pride Center has worked to build a welcoming and empowering community for all people.
Moonhawk River Stone
Moonhawk River Stone, M.S., LMHC is a psychotherapist, consultant, educator and writer in private pactice in the Albany, NY area; and is, himself, an out, open and proud transsexual man. Stone is a political activist for transgender civil and human rights and for transgender healthcare. He is active in working on issues related to Gender Identity Disorder's continuing presence in the DSM and in the areas of Aging and Disability. Stone has previously served on the boards of the International Foundation for Gender Education, Inc. (IFGE) the New York Association for Gender Rights Advocacy, Inc. (NYAGRA), the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Foundation, Inc., GLSEN-NYCR. Stone is Vice President of the Board of Directors of Trans Youth Family Allies, Inc.
Richard Schott, PhD
Richard Schott is a professor at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin, where he teaches diversity and public management. Much of his research focuses on transgender issues, including civil rights and gender identity.
Michael Silverman
Michael has been a member of Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund's Board of Directors, as well as its Executive Director, since it was founded. He has worked as an attorney in the LGBT civil rights movement since 1994. In addition to his work at TLDEF, Michael is Adjunct Professor of Law at Earle Mack School of Law at Drexel University, where he teaches courses on gender, sexuality and the law. Michael is a graduate of Vassar College and The University of Michigan Law School.
Jeffrey Spiegel, MD
Dr. Jeffrey Spiegel is Chief of the Division of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the Boston Medical Center and holds academic appointments in the Departments of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery and Plastic Surgery at the Boston University School of Medicine. His practice specializes in Facial Feminization Surgery. He sees head and neck surgery and facial cosmetic surgery patients in his private office, Advanced Facial Aesthetics, in Chestnut Hill, MA. Contact his office at 617-566-3223 for a personal visit during the conference!
Bonnie Strunk
I am the Coordinator of the LGBT Booth at the New York State Fair, entering our 12th year in 2012. The LGBT booth distributes educational and resource material for the LGBT community, with days to celebrate LGBT seniors, youth, our allies and the transgender community. We collect petitions for GENDA, distribute information from the Pride Agenda, PFLAG, HRC, the Task Force, and other state and national organizations as well as local organizations from across New York State to fair-goers on issues of concern to the transgender community, resource materials for educators on issues relating to transgender youth, and support materials for the straight community and the LGB community to be trans allies. In 2011 we advertised the special day in the fair program, reaching over 917,000 fair-goers.
TLDEF
Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund is committed to ending discrimination based upon gender identity and expression and to achieving equality for transgender people through public education, test-case litigation, direct legal services, community organizing and public policy efforts.
Lezli Whitehouse
Lezli A. Whitehouse, MS, CCC/SLP, currently works as a Speech Language Pathologist near Boston. Her passion is focusing on Voice & Communication in the Trans-Gender community. She has many people she considers friends in this community and hopes to continue her connections and support in the world of Gender-Shift. Lezli's varied experiences also include over 20 years of work in professional theatre. She still enjoys working in smaller theatre productions in her area. Throughout her career Lezli has studied gender and cultural communication styles, in social and vocal nuance. She has used this study in her own voice and movement, for performance and directing in that field, and is now bringing this knowledge combined with her Voice Science expertise, to the Trans-Gender community.
Carolyn Wolf-Gould, MD
Dr. Wolf-Gould attended Hamilton College, and Yale University School Of Medicine. She did her family practice training at the University of Rochester. She has been a family practioner in Oneonta, NY for eighteen years. She practices both inpatient medicine and outpatient primary care through Fox Hospital and has a small but growing practice in transgender medicine.
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