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In Need of Aid: Reconciling the Rights of Trans Youth With That of Their Parents

The UAF College of Liberal Arts invites you to a thought-provoking lecture: “In Need of Aid: Reconciling the Rights of Trans Youth With That of Their Parents” with guest speaker and public defender Ciana Howie. This timely and essential event will explore the legal framework of Child in Need of Aid (CINA) cases, the 14th Amendment rights of parents, and the ways in which these often competing interests intersect when it comes to the rights of transgender youth.

Attorney Howie will walk attendees through these legal landscapes using a compelling hypothetical scenario, designed to spark meaningful discussion and encourage critical engagement with the systems of power that shape family, identity, and justice. This conversation is an important opportunity for students, faculty, and community members to deepen their understanding of the challenges and opportunities present in legal advocacy.

A Zoom option is available. To RSVP and request the Zoom link, email Attorney Carol Gray, Pre-Law Advisor, at cjgray5@alaska.edu.

About the Speaker: Attorney Ciana Howie

Before becoming a public defender, Ciana Howie spent five years in civil litigation, where she worked on a wide range of legal matters including Medicaid and VA benefit planning, family law, and employment discrimination. Her career path shifted during the COVID-19 pandemic when she was drawn to indigent criminal defense work in Washington State, where she found a new sense of purpose in advocating for the underserved.

As a public defender, Ciana has worked across all stages of litigation and has become a strong proponent of therapeutic courts and diversionary alternatives to traditional prosecution. After moving to Fairbanks, she continued her advocacy by representing indigent criminal defendants and later transitioned into civil practice as a Child in Need of Aid (CINA) attorney—bringing her full circle into the complex and emotionally charged world of child welfare law.

Ciana is a dual citizen of the United States and Canada. She holds a law degree from Gonzaga University School of Law, and a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Anthropology from Vancouver Island University in British Columbia. Her cross-border experience and diverse legal background bring a unique and compassionate perspective to the conversation about family rights, justice, and the evolving legal protections of LGBTQ+ youth.

About UAF’s Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program

The Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSS) Program at UAF is an interdisciplinary academic space dedicated to exploring the complexities of gender, sexuality, and power across cultures, histories, and social structures. Through dynamic coursework and critical inquiry, the program empowers students to challenge inequality, understand differing perspectives, and become advocates for social change. With strong ties to community activism, WGSS supports a curriculum that addresses real-world issues like reproductive justice, LGBTQ+ rights, intersectionality, and feminist theory.

About the Department of Political Science

UAF’s Department of Political Science prepares students to understand and engage with political systems both locally and globally. Offering robust training in political theory, international relations, law, and public policy, the department fosters critical thinking and civic responsibility. Students have opportunities to participate in internships, research projects, and pre-law advising—making it a launching pad for careers in law, government, nonprofit work, and public service. The department is also home to faculty who are committed to mentorship and to addressing pressing issues in contemporary society, including civil liberties, governance, and human rights.