Trans Day of Visibility
The College is welcoming Laura Craig ’69 for a talk titled “LGBTQ+ @Union: Then and Now” on Friday, March 31, at 4 p.m. in O’Brien 117.
The talk is part of the College’s commemoration of Trans Day of Visibility, a day to celebrate transgender and gender nonconforming people and to raise awareness of trans justice.
Laura is a trans woman from New Jersey, now living in Scranton, Pa. She is a retired licensed professional engineer and a graduate of Union. She is a parent, grandparent and former foster parent. She served eight years in the U.S. Navy as an engineering watch supervisor and lead electrician on a ballistic missile nuclear submarine. She also was an instructor at an advanced nuclear power training facility.
A lifelong learner, Laura returned to school in her forties to earn a degree in economics. She returned to school in her sixties to study undergraduate- and graduate-level counseling, gender studies, women’s history and political science.
She is the community co-chair and a presenter for the annual Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine Transgender Health Conference. Her many interests include dance, substitute teaching, sailing, tennis and ice hockey. She is an active member of St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Scranton.
Laura will be joined by Dr. Jen Joyce, a family doctor with more than 25 years of experience in medical education. She supported the founding of the Northeast Pennsylvania Trans Health Conference in 2011, and continues to support this unique community-campus health partnership as a member of the conference planning committee. She considers advocacy for social justice an essential part of her professional development.
The talk is co-sponsored by the Office of Alumni and Parent Engagement, the Chief Diversity Officers and the LGBTQ+ Affairs Committee.
A reception will follow the talk.
Information about Trans Day of Visibility and related resources are available on the GLSEN website.