Carly (she/he/they) earned a degree in Women’s and Gender Studies from Sonoma State University, where their research explored trans lives across time and place. As a culmination of their studies, Carly designed and taught the course Trans Lives in the New Millennium, examining how 21st-century trans visibility in the United States, especially in media, can both empower and harm. They also contributed to California’s LGBTQ history curriculum, helping ensure marginalized histories are represented in public education.

Today, Carly brings that same curiosity and care into conversations with teens about self-image and media, helping them make sense of what they see. As a Summer Search Mentor in the San Francisco Bay Area, Carly guides her students to reflect on their identities, navigate school and friendships, and recognize their strengths. He loves helping his students jump out of their comfort zones and lean into silliness, offering them time to just be kids.

Outside of work, you can usually find Carly riding their bike around Oakland, teasing their two cats Tino and Vinny, or attempting to reach the top of the wall at the climbing gym.