About TransAction
TransAction is SUNY Cortland's annual conference about the needs and experiences of transgender and genderqueer students in the college environment. It is hosted by the SOGIE committee during the spring semester, and was first held in 2019. Since that inaugural conference, attendance has blossomed both SUNY-wide and beyond New York's borders.
TransAction 2024
The 2024 conference focused on responding to the legal and cultural challenges facing transgender and nonbinary people. Sessions included topics such as history, current issues and challenges around trans healthcare.
Read the news article about the 2024 TransAction conference.
Sessions
- Gender Diverse Education: Building Trust Through Accountability
- What is Transition? And Other Trans-Ally Tips
- TRANSforming Rurality: Supporting Trans and Non-Binary Students on Non-Urban Campuses
- Beyond the Safe Space: Advocacy in Action
- Panel: Exploring Gender Identities in LGBTQIA+ Children’s books
- Outreach as a means of Fostering Support and Community to Trans Students
- Keynote: Dr. Colt M. St. Amand (he/they), Child/Family Psychologist and Physician, Gender Wellness Center Oneonta, New York.
About the keynote speaker
Keynote speaker St. Amand is medical director at the Bassett Healthcare Network’s Gender Wellness Center in Oneonta, N.Y. A licensed psychologist and board-certified family medicine physician, he is an assistant professor in the Psychology Department at the University of Houston and in the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University. They specialize in research, consultation, training and clinical health care treatment related to transgender and gender diverse people of all ages and their families.
The author of dozens of published, peer-reviewed articles in the field of gender health, St. Amand was a co-author of the most recent World Professional Association of Transgender Health Standards of Care, specifically the chapter on hormone therapy. They serve as the chief educational officer of Gender U, an online education platform educating providers on caring for transgender and gender-diverse people. St. Amand co-founded Gender Infinity, a Texas-based education and support organization.
TransAction 2023
The 2023 conference prioritized the skills and content to allow participants to become better allies and co-conspirators for transgender and gender diverse (TGD) communities both on and off campus. Keynotes and breakout sessions focused on marginalized voices within the TGD community, and expanded upon best practices for centering minority communities within our gender and social justice advocacy.
Sessions
- Gender Expression on Campus
- Syllabus Planning Workshop for Faculty
- How to Diversify Search Committees/Inclusive Searches
- Exploring Life and Work after SUNY Cortland: Building your future
- Keynote Speaker, Becca Barile
About the Keynote Speaker
TransAction 2022
The 2022 conference focused on how to support trans students, on our campus and in the world. Sessions included topics such as maintaining inclusion, queer social justice and our annual student panel.
Read the news article about the 2022 TransAction conference.
Sessions
- Best Practices to Maintain Inclusion
- Queer Social Justice in the Workplace
- Keynote, Michelle Knaier
- Student Panel: 'What do you wish the world looked like?'
About Michelle Knaier
Dr. Michelle L. Knaier is a queer scholar who researched, develops and advocates for queer multicultural social justice teacher education and K-12 curriculum. She is a Limited-term Lecturer at Purdue University within the Curriculum and Instruction Department's Curriculum Studies Program. Michelle also is a graduate of SUNY Cortland, holding a Master of Science in Education in Childhood Education, with an emphasis in Educational Technology; and a Bachelor in Science in Education in Elementary and Early Secondary Education, with an emphasis in Biology. She often reflects on her experience as a former middle and high school science teacher, as well as an active educator of multicultural education, while incorporating critical theories into her autoethnographic research on queer(ing) curriculum.
Read the news article about the 2022 TransAction conference.TransAction 2021
The 2021 conference focused on how to support trans students, specifically in higher education Session topics included as best practices, fieldwork and student teaching, access to athletics and recreation and our annual student panel.
Read the news article about the 2021 TransAction conference.
Sessions
- Best Practices in Higher Education Right Now for Trans Students
- Trans Students in Fieldwork and Student Teaching
- Keynote, Harrison Browne: Discussing Access to Athletics and Recreation of Trans Students
- Student Panel
About Harrison Browne
Harrison Browne is the first transgender athlete in professional hockey. He was part of the National Women's Hockey League and played for the Metropolitan Riveters and the Buffalo Beauts, winning a championship with both teams.
During his tenure in the NWHL, Harrison was a trailblazer and pioneer for LGBTQ rights. he helped form the first ever transgender policy in professional sports to aid both transmen and transwomen in the participation. He is the appointed Inclusion Leader for the NWHL advisory board and special ambassador for the National Hockey League's Hockey Is For Everyone initiative. Through his efforts, Harrison was recognized in 2016 by The Hockey News as one of hockey's 100 Top People of Power.
Learn more at Harrison Browne's website
TransAction 2020
The 2020 conference focused on the vision for the future. Breakout sessions included a session on microaggressions, a session for faculty and staff on Understanding Non-Binary, and a session for students on Navigating Life Outside Campus.
Read the news article about the 2020 TransAction conference.
Sessions
- Opening Keynote, Maybe Burke, Transgender Training Institute
- Micro Aggression session, presented by Maybe Burke
- Understanding Non-Binary (aimed at faculty/staff), presented by Maybe Burke
- Exploring Life and Work after SUNY Cortland (aimed at students), presented by Lauren Christiansen
- Closing Keynote: State of Trans/GNC at SUNY Cortland (followed by an AMA), presented by panel of SUNY Cortland students
About Maybe Burke
Maybe Burke is a New York based actor, writer, and human rights advocate interested in telling the stories that haven't been told. Their work has been seen at Joe's Pub, Lincoln Center, Cherry Lane Theatre, Ars Nova, New Dramatists, HERE Arts Center, The NYC LGBTQ Center, and more.
Learn more at Maybe Burke's website.
TransAction 2019
The 2019 inaugural conference focused on the vision for the future. Breakout sessions included a session on microaggressions, a session for faculty and staff on Understanding Non-Binary, and a session for students on Navigating Life Outside Campus.
Sessions
- Keynote: Transcend, Court Pineiro ’18
- Second keynote: Trans, Gender Non-Conforming and Non-binary realities, Cecilia Gentili
- Panel discussion: “How College Faculty and Staff Create Welcoming Space for Students of All Genders.”
- Panel discussion: “Trans Students and Alum Share Their College Experiences.”
- Social gathering and exhibition of community service agencies and advocacy groups.