Who Am I?

Hello.

I'm Robyn Serven. That's me in the picture above (well, it was me in January of 1995 . . . I tend to be a little photo shy, I guess, since there aren't too many of them available). I'm now 51 years old, which is older than I ever imagined myself being, but I suppose I'm not really complaining (well, except for the physical problems that seem to have arrived along with getting this old).

I teach mathematics at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, which is about 30 miles north northwest of Little Rock along I-40. I am an algebraist. My special skill lies in the teaching of the fundamentals of the syntax and vocabulary of the language of mathematics. I can apply this skill because of the Ph.D. I received at the University of Oregon in 1981 (I am originally from Lake Oswego, OR, and received my undergraduate degree from Portland State University, graduating after two and one-half years with a 4.0 GPA while majoring in mathematics). Students here seem to think I am a good teacher. They also think I am challenging. Who am I to disagree with this assessment?

My reality has changed drastically several times during my life.

transsexual lesbian mathematics professor at the University of Central Arkansas.

Additionally, I am:

...the first openly transsexual person to attend a Rainbow Gathering (1993).

...the first transsexual woman (to anyone's knowledge) to attend a Women's Project Retreat

...an active member of the Women's Project, and through that organization, active in the Arkansas Progressive Network. I'll be writing about our Hate Free Zones campaign in the near future.

...Regional Director of the PFLAG Transgender Special Outreach Network for the Heartlands Region (Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas, and Oklahoma)

...a former member of the Board of Directors of the Arkansas Gay and Lesbian Task Force. I recently resigned because I disagreed with the direction the organization was pursuing. I do not believe that the purpose of any gay and lesbian organization should be to make money off the gay and lesbian community.

...a founding member of Conway Prism, formerly the Conway Task Force, along with my partner Alicia. We open our house to anyone who wants to come, as long as they are GLBT friendly. We have quite a few students and others from the community who show up for socializing and support. It's our attempt to build community.

...advisor for PRISM, the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and straight student alliance at the University of Central Arkansas.

...a member of the following email lists: OWLS, TRANS-THEORY, PFLAG-TSON and TSLESBIAN.

...a former member of the following email lists: SAPPHO, TRANSGEN, TSMENACE, TGS-PFLAG, PFLAG-TALK, GLB-MATH and TG-SPIRIT (as well as some lists that are now defunct)