Now Accepting Applications to Join TransOhio Board of Directors!
The ‘Join the TransOhio Board of Directors’ is an Ohio-statewide call for those who are interested in joining the TransOhio Board of Directors (also known as a Board Member). If you are interested in joining our board, please click here to read more about the board application process.
Shane Morgan, Founder & Chair
Shane Morgan, Founder & Chair, has been an Ohio resident for 13 years. He can often can be found facilitating transgender support groups in Central Ohio and speaking at conferences around the nation. Shane is a member of Stonewall Columbus, Equality Ohio and the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE).
Shane’s presented at The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force’s Creating Change Conference; Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio; Southern Comfort Conference; IDKE X; and other national and local conferences. Shane is a Board Trustee at Stonewall Columbus, serves as a Steering Committee member at the United Way of Central Ohio, a member of the Equality Ohio Public Policy Committee and as a Local Action Team leader.
In October 2010, Shane completed a Political Fellowship with the Center for Progressive Leadership. The Ohio Political Leaders Fellowship is a 9-month, part-time program that focuses on providing the long-term resources and skills necessary for emerging leaders to become powerful political advocates for their communities. Through training, coaching, project-based work and mentoring, the program gives up-and-coming leaders the skills and networks they need to advance progressive political change in their communities.
Shane presents on several topics: Transgender Homelessness & Shelters; Ally & Coalition Building; Trans & Queer Community organizing; Female-to-male transition; Domestic Violence & Safety; Coming Out at Work; Creating gender-safe & neutral spaces; Sex and sexuality and Butch & Femme Identities & Dynamics. Presentations can be developed specific to individual organization needs and focus.
You can email Shane at: shane (at) transohio.org
Melissa Alexander, Vice Chair
Melissa M. Alexander is a transgendered woman enjoying life in Columbus OH. Melissa has completed her transition undergoing her Gender Confirmation Surgery (GCS) in May of 2009.
Melissa works as a meeting and event planning where she has obtained the CMP (certified meeting professional) designation which is only held by about twenty percent of her industry. She is currently also teaching as an Adjunct faculty instructor for several community and technical colleges. Prior to her work in this field and her teaching, Melissa practiced employment and labor law for twenty years in West Virginia and she has been admitted to practice in West Virginia and Kentucky as well as several federal courts. Melissa obtained her B.A. degree at Northern Kentucky University in 1982 in Political Science (cum laude) and graduated 22nd of 140 in her law class at West Virginia University in 1985. She is in a committed relationship with her partner Paula K. Prichard and she has two adult children from her previous marriage.
Melissa is active with NCTE as well as Equality Ohio in addition to her work with TransOhio including involvement with TransOhio’s Speaker’s Bureau.
You can email Melissa at: melissa (at) transohio.org
Jacob Nash, Board Member
Jacob Nash recently received his Masters in Psychology, Diversity Management Specialization program from Cleveland State University in Cleveland Ohio.
He is currently an independent trainer and consultant specializing in transgender and diversity issues. He has been working to educate others about the struggles of transgender individuals throughout the nation. He has worked with Children’s Social Service agencies as well as foster parents who care for them, to help them understand transsexuality and how they can help transgender youth. He has trained social workers, medical professionals, politicians and many others on the importance of treating transgender individuals with respect and care. Most recently he was the Executive Director for Transfamily of Cleveland. Prior to being the ED of TransFamily, he worked for the Law Office of SmithBernabei & Co., L.P.A. as their legal assistant. He has traveled extensively throughout Ohio and neighboring States to speak with legislators about the importance of inclusive language in bills where Civil Rights are concerned. He has been working directly with Cleveland City Council to include gender identity into the cities non-discrimination policy as well as incorporating the domestic partner registry in Cleveland in 2009.
Jacob is a board member for the GLSEN-NEO Chapter as well as actively involved with the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Community Center of Greater Cleveland and People of All Colors Together. He has worked with other LGBT organizations to help them become more transgender inclusive. He remains active with many other organizations including Equality Ohio, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, The National Center for Transgender Equality, PFLAG T-Net and the Human Rights Campaign to name a few.
You can email Jacob at: jacob (at) transohio.org
JAC Stringer, Board Member
JAC Stringer, also known as Midwest GenderQueer, is a transgenderqueer femme radical activist, writer, and genderfuck performance artist from Cincinnati, Ohio. JAC has lectured and performed across the USA and Canada with his work focusing on trans, genderqueer, and queer communities, sexuality, (dis)ability, and identity empowerment. JAC is the founding director of The Midwest Trans and Queer Wellness Initiative, is a leading activist in gender identity disorder removal, and is a strong advocate for health care reform, sexual assault awareness, and comprehensive sex education. He is also on several local and national organizing boards including GLSEN, The Philadelphia Transgender Health Conference, and The International Drag King Community Extravaganza. As a performer, JAC has done dance, music, drag, and spoken word as a solo performer, as co-manager of The Black Mondays Drag Troupe, and with his one-human shows Glamboyant and Bar Stories – selections of which he has toured with Gender Queeries and The Tranny Roadshow. JAC started working with TransOhio in 2006 and since then has volunteered with various projects including being the founding director and producer of Fabulously Fluid, Ohio’s premiere genderfuck drag showcase benefiting the Annual TransOhio Transgender and Ally Symposium.
You can email JAC at: JAC (at) transohio.org.
Erin Upchurch, Board Member
Erin Upchurch has spent more than a decade advocating for and working to empower both individuals and communities. Her advocacy includes working with LGBT youth and communities of color, as well as women living with HIV/AIDS. She is a founding member of New Leaf Columbus, a social network for Columbus’ LGBT communities of color and their allies; and in 2008, Erin founded Something on the Inside-a creative project that seeks to inspire advocacy and raise awareness regarding the increasing impact of HIV/AIDS on the lives of women and girls. She further supports the HIV/AIDS community through her service on the Ohio AIDS Coalition Board of Directors. Professionally, Erin is a Diversity Strategist and regularly facilitates workshops on diversity,creativity, empowerment, and coalition building for various interest groups, including minority communities, youth, and women. Erin is a licensed social worker in the state of Ohio. She received her bachelor’s degree in social work from Eastern Michigan University, and her master’s degree, also in social work from Case Western Reserve University. For fun, Erin enjoys writing as well as performing spoken word. She has recently published a book of poems titled haiku love and velvet dreams, and is the editor for the upcoming anthology blaque womyn: our stories. our lives. our love.
You can email Erin at: Erin (at) transohio.org.
