About Kyla Bender-Baird

Kyla Bender-Baird, author of Transgender Employment Experiences: Gendered Perceptions and the Law, is a Ph.D. student in Sociology at the CUNY Graduate Center. She holds an M.S. in Women’s Studies from Towson University and a B.A. in Sociology from Principia College.

Prior to returning to grad school, Kyla served as the Research and Programs Manager for the National Council for Research on Women. In this capacity, she acted as the in-house researcher, managed social media outreach including the Council’s blog, and assisted in the development and implementation of programming. She had the privilege of being the project manager of the Council’s economic security program for three years and oversaw the the launch of its popular monthly webinar series. While at the Council, Kyla also co-founded its Emerging Leaders Network, offering professional development and networking opportunities to young women in the non-profit sector. In addition to the Council, she has worked with the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, GenderPAC, and Planned Parenthood of the Columbia/Willamette.

Originally from Oregon, Kyla has been a happy resident of Brooklyn, NY for nearly three years. She blogs for Girl w/ Pen and Ms. Magazine.