Alison's Guide North America's Most Awesome Colleges

You never forget your first college gig.  Mine was in 2011 at the University of Pennsylvania, after students there found me on the Internet and flattered me with an invitation to perform at Festival Latino.  Since then, I have performed throughout the U.S. (and once in Canada), getting laughs, sharing insights, confessing stuff, taking pictures of beautiful campuses, and eating school cafeteria food better than I remember from Drew.  

          The List of Most Awesome

"What's your major?"

I had a double-major in college: denial and repression.  With a minor in economics.  A first-generation collegian, I attended college during the dark ages, human-understanding-wise, and yet I reflect on my four years at Drew University with fondness and gratitude.  It is a wonderful privilege now to entertain and educate the current generation of college students, and to learn from and be inspired by their maturity and their spirit of acceptance. But stop texting during my performance!  Check out the documentary Big Girl on Campus!

Wit, candor, modesty  

At a typical engagement, I am both a speaker and a comic.  I'll use a snappy one-liner to set up a very personal story, say, about what it's like to be one of the few transsexual comics in New York City.  Or I'll use the story to set up the one-liner.  Like any other comic, I'll use a very public setting to make fun of (and make sense of) my own life and observations -- and in a spirit of sharing that encourages others to reflect on their own experiences.  My presentations are enhanced by old photos of me and family members, and by videos of my nationwide collegiate adventures.  People may ask any questions they wish -- and sometimes they'll even get a straight answer.

Breaking the silence -- A post-show celebration with the Kutztown University Allies, April 2013.

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"Her stand-up comedy performance was the most well-attended event on the LGBT History Month schedule, and the energy in the lecture hall where she presented was a testament to her ability to entertain a crowd.”

Wendy Weinhold, Southern Illinois University