By Dorian Martin ’06

Ezranai Fontaney ’22 doesn’t want to be defined by her identity or struggle. Instead, the transgender Texas A&M University student focuses her efforts on creating the best life possible. She is using her Aggie experience to develop the knowledge, skills and competencies she will need to create a fulfilling career and future.

Fontaney learned from watching her father—a lifelong resident of San Antonio who didn’t graduate from high school—how to ignore cultural expectations and instead take ownership of her life. “My father faced the stereotype that people who don't graduate from high school usually don't live successful lives,” said the first-generation student, adding that her father owns a thriving remodeling business. “He has been an example by showing me that you can have a successful career despite hard circumstances or what others may think about you.”

Drawn to the Aggie spirit, Texas A&M’s strong global network, and a sense of family on campus, Fontaney yearned to create a place for herself and perhaps for other transgender Aggies. “I knew coming into Bryan-College Station that there were other places I could go with more accepting and supportive environments for LGBTQ+ students,” she said, “but I decided that I wanted to help extend the bounds for who is included in the Aggie family. “I want to create a space for myself and perhaps for others in the LGBTQ+ community because we don’t always get a seat at the table. Knowing I might have the chance to help Texas A&M create a better environment for LGBTQ+ students is one reason I chose Texas A&M.”

Her journey reached a milestone in early 2020 as COVID-19 emerged. During that period, she began her transition journey while also shifting majors from general engineering to communications. “I decided to study something I was more passionate about and start living my life for me,” she said. “I chose communications because it allowed me to pursue social media and digital marketing. I love creating graphics, social media posts, and marketing.”

Fontaney works in the John J. Koldus Building with Division of Student Affairs Department of Information Technology (DoIT) Business Relationship Management Team as a communications coordinator, a student job that will prepare her for a career in digital content management after graduation. “DSA has offered me a great opportunity to build my skills and experience in social media management and graphic design in a tech environment,” she said. “I’m working on the planned roll-out of DoIT’s social media presence, and have created guidelines, branding, and strategic documentation.”

Over time, she has come to appreciate DSA’s welcoming culture. “Often, I’m nervous when it comes to meeting people because of my identity,” she said. “But I’ve been met with nothing but love and support, and I am truly grateful for this team, especially my supervisor Swarup Das, who is the business relationships manager for DoIT.”