- 01 October, 2025
October 2, 2025
In a momentous stride for transgender representation in higher education, Dr. N. Jency has etched her name into history as Tamil Nadu’s first transgender woman to earn a PhD in English and to be appointed Assistant Professor in the Department of English at Loyola College, Chennai. Her remarkable achievement has captured the attention of the state’s top leadership, with Chief Minister M.K. Stalin personally congratulating her and lauding her as a beacon of social progress.
But behind this groundbreaking success lies a deeply human story — one of resilience, solitude, and an unwavering belief in the transformative power of education.
A Childhood Rooted in Determination
Born and raised in RK Pet, a small village near Thiruthani in the Tiruvallur district, Jency grew up without the support of her parents. Yet, even as a child, she carried a quiet determination to rise above societal limitations.
“I began my schooling at the public primary school in Valakkanampudi,” Dr. Jency said during an interview with Catholic Connect News. “Later, I studied from sixth to twelfth standard at the Government Higher Secondary School, RK Pet, where I stood first in my class during my 12th standard exams,” she added.
Dr. Jency emphasises that education shielded her from the kind of stereotypes faced by transgender people. “Education is the only weapon that protected me from all kinds of nonsense or discrimination,” she said. “Because I always stood first in class, my teachers and classmates respected me.”
Climbing the Ladder of Academic Excellence
From the narrow lanes of RK Pet to the corridors of Loyola College, Jency’s journey is a testament to perseverance.
She earned her BA in English with a gold medal from Arulmigu Subramaniya Swamy Government Arts College, Thiruthani, followed by an MA in English with another gold medal from Dr. Ambedkar Government Arts and Science College, where she also completed her MPhil in English.
“I proudly completed all my education — from school to MPhil — at government institutions,” she says.
Her academic odyssey culminated with a PhD in English from Loyola College, focusing on ecocriticism and ecoliterature—a field that merges literature with environmental consciousness.
From Radio Waves to Lecture Halls
Before stepping into academia, Dr. Jency’s voice found another platform — the airwaves. “I worked as an RJ at All India Radio,” she shared, smiling. “I also served as an emcee at the Chennai Book Fair and at various employment fairs."
Her presence, both on stage and in classrooms, reflects a commitment to visibility and representation. “I want to show that a transgender person can be a scholar, a teacher, and a role model,” she said.
Guided by Mentors, Fuelled by Vision
Dr. Jency attributes her success to the guidance of several mentors. “My role model is the Head and Associate Professor of English at Loyola College,” she said. She also credits inspiration from her professors, including Dr. Sathya Priya (SS Government Arts College), Dr. Sathana and Dr. Anjelin (Queen Mary’s College), Dr. Devi Kamala (Government Arts College, Nandanam), Dr. Prabhu (LNG Government Arts College), Dr. Bindu (Presidency College), Dr. Alexander, Ananthalakshmi, Dr. N. Sre Lakshmi Priya, and Dr. Sudha (all from Dr. Ambedkar Government Arts College).
Their encouragement helped shape not just her academic path but also her broader mission: to uplift the transgender community through education and empowerment.
Championing Change for the Transgender Community
Today, Dr. Jency is not just a professor — she is a changemaker. At Loyola College, she collaborates with the management to ensure free education for transgender students, securing 7 to 12 seats every year.
“Any transgender person who wishes to study is welcome,” she said. “I approach the Jesuit fathers, and they support them — providing education without any cost.”
Beyond academia, she is actively involved in the Transgender Rights Association in Kolathur, in partnership with the Solidarity Foundation in Bangalore, offering digital literacy, financial training, and entrepreneurial support to over 130 transgender individuals. “We help them register businesses, form self-help groups, and access government loans,” she explained.
Her Message to Society
Dr. Jency carries a heartfelt plea to society: “You accept men and women as natural—kindly recognise trans men and trans women as just as natural,” she says. “If you start embracing us, how wonderful that would be! I kindly request the society to accept us as we are.”
Her dream is to serve as a permanent faculty member in a government college, setting an example for others. “It would be a powerful symbol for the transgender community,” she said.
And yet, her identity remains beautifully layered: “I hope to be seen not only as a transgender woman but as a professor first,” she says.
A Legacy of Courage and Hope
From a small government school in Valakkanampudi to the faculty halls of Loyola College, Dr. N. Jency’s journey is one of courage, brilliance, and hope. In her, countless young transgender individuals see the promise of what is possible when society chooses acceptance over prejudice and when education becomes the great equaliser. Her story reminds us that true inclusion begins not with policies, but with recognition — of talent, of humanity, and of shared dreams.
By Catholic Connect Reporter
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