Donna Rose is a nationally recognized speaker, educator, and advocate on transgender and transsexual issues. She is active in the leadership of several national GLBT Advocacy organizations, is the author of an award-winning memoir, is heavily involved in national corporate diversity efforts. Her website (www.donnarose.com) remains an active source of information and support for/about the transgender community. She is invited to share her inspirational, uplifting and fascinating journey with audiences around the country. Donna’s story is more than simply a journey across gender. Although that may be the most obvious indicator, it is actually a much deeper journey of self-discovery, and of self-definition. It is a journey to revisit decisions made about her and for her the moment she was born, and to reclaim her own destiny. It is a journey that features universally human experience: courage, fear, doubt, sadness, happiness, and ultimately, fulfillment. In short, it is a journey to find inner peace. Along the way, Donna uses her unique experience to provide valuable and fascinating perspectives on gender, culture, and life. Donna is invited to share her incredible story at conferences, schools, and workplaces across the country. She has been featured on Entertainment Tonight, in USA Today, in Marie Claire Magazine, and in many local and national media efforts. She was identified as a “Gay Corporate Leader” by The Advocate magazine (March 2004). Donna’s presentation at Eastman Kodak is featured in a Human Rights Campaign training DVD titled “Understanding Transgender”. Donna is a pioneer whose story has meaning for us all. |
For almost 15 years, Mariana Lebron has presented regionally and nationally on topics including leadership development, social change and diversity advocacy, outreach to underrepresented students, and managing change and collaboration among competing constituencies. Mariana served as the founding Director of the Syracuse University Office of Orientation and Transitions Services. Prior to that, her professional experience included serving as the SU Assistant Director of Residence Life and Leadership Development and as the Assistant Director of College Advancement for Student Life through which she developed a new student life program at Kansas State University-Salina. Her past volunteer experience has included serving as a marriage ambassador for the New York Empire State Pride Agenda, lobbying for civil rights for LGBT people, coordinator of the leadership development program for the ‘Cuse Youth Center; and coordinator of SU’s Light the Night Walk Team for the CNY Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. She has received numerous awards and honors for her leadership, being recognized as one of ten 2007 National First Year Student Advocates by the National Resource Center for the First Year Experience and being a finalist for Chicken Soup for the College Soul with her story “How Johnny Changed Me.” For the 2002 Olympic Games, Mariana was one of 11,500 selected throughout the country to carry the Olympic Flame. In 2008, she founded Soul Vision, a company designed to provide educational services to organizations in the areas of leadership development and strategic change management. |
