Friday, September 22
8:30AM: Breakfast.
9AM: Opening Remarks: Drs. Luke Remage-Healey and Mariana Pereira.
9:10AM: Dr. Devaleena Pradhan, Idaho State University.
10AM: Dr. Victor Navarro, Harvard Medical School.
10:50AM: Coffee Break.
11:05AM: Mentoring, Policy, Research & Healthcare: Neuroendocrinologists Supporting the Transgender Community (Panel).
12:15PM: Lunch.
1:15PM: Dr. Z. Yan Wang, University of Washington.
2:05PM: Dr. Eartha Mae Guthman, Princeton University.
2:55PM: Coffee Break.
3:10PM: Early Career Talks.
4:10PM: Dr. Frances Champagne, University of Texas at Austin.
5 - 7PM: Poster Session, Awards and Reception.

Click here to download the symposium program!

Parking
The most convenient parking option is the Campus Center Parking Garage, where there is a flat walkway to the Campus Center on Level 2. For those with a reserved accessible plate or placard, reserved accessible spots are available Level 2, but all guests must pay to park in the garage. The closest complimentary accessible parking can be found near Hasbrouck Laboratory: visit the UMass Parking Map and search for "Handicapped Spaces" in the box on the upper left side to view available options.

Campus Center Parking Garage
For GPS purposes, the Campus Center Parking Garage is located at 91 Campus Center Way, Amherst, MA, 01003. Click here to obtain turn-by-turn directions from your location. 

Campus Center Way is off of Commonwealth Avenue. After turning onto Campus Center Way stay to the left to go up the hill. You will see the garage entrance towards the top of the hill on your right. After taking an entry ticket proceed to park, taking your entry ticket with you. We recommend driving down to park on Level 2. There is a flat walkway into the Campus Center on Level 2, to the right of the Parking Services office.  

A discounted parking coupon for the Campus Center Parking Garage will be available at registration. As you leave each day, but before you get to your car, stop at one of the garage pay stations (located on levels 2, 3 and 4). Insert your gate ticket and, when prompted, scan the parking coupon you received at registration. This will discount your parking to $6.50 or less depending on how long you have been parked in the garage. Submit payment and wait for the machine to return your now validated gate ticket. Return to your car, drive to the garage exit, and enter your validated gate ticket into the exit kiosk to raise the gate. Repeat this process as you leave each day. Note your gate ticket will only be validated for 15 minutes after you submit payment: only complete this process as you are leaving for the day.

Accessible Parking
Attendees with a valid state-issued reserved accessible license plate or placard may park in any marked Handicap Space or any nonrestricted, nonreserved space or lot, at no charge, as long as your plate or placard is clearly displayed at all times during your stay. To locate reserved accessible parking, visit the UMass Parking Map and search for "Handicapped Spaces" in the box in the upper left side of the page. Accessible spaces are marked with an "H" in a blue circle. In the Campus Center, reserved accessible spaces are located on level 2, nearest to the Campus Center entrance, but note all guests must pay to park in the Campus Center Parking Garage. The closest handicapped parking spaces to the Old Chapel can be found in Lot 64, in between Goodell Hall and South College. For GPS purposes, Lot 64 is located at 140 Hicks Way, Amherst MA.

Driving to Campus   
From the South, via I-91 North
From I-91 North, take Exit 25 in Northampton. From the exit ramp, stay in the right lane to take the first rotary exit, turning onto Route 9. Travel approximately 4.5 miles to Route 116 North. Turn left onto 116 and go one mile to the UMass exit. Stay to the right as you exit to merge onto Massachusetts Avenue. Stay in the left lane and take a left at the second intersection onto Commonwealth Avenue (the first set of lights is only a blinking yellow light, take a left at the next set of lights). Continue on Commonwealth Avenue until you reach a set of traffic lights. 

To park in the garage: stay in the right lane to take a right at these lights onto Campus Center Way. Stay to the left and travel up the hill. The garage entrance will be on your right.

From the North, via I-91 South
From I-91 South, take exit 36 in Deerfield. At the end of the ramp, turn left and follow the road to the intersection. Turn right onto Routes 5 & 10 South. Travel one mile, then turn left onto Route 116 South. Follow 8 miles to the UMass exit. Take a left after you exit onto Massachusetts Avenue. Stay in the left lane and take a left at the second intersection onto Commonwealth Avenue (the first set of lights is only a blinking yellow light, take a left at the next set of lights). Stay in the right lane and continue on Commonwealth Avenue until you reach a set of traffic lights. 

To park in the garage: take a right at these lights onto Campus Center Way. Stay to the left and travel up the hill. The garage entrance will be on your right. 

From the East, via Route 2
Travel via Route 2 West to Exit 71 (Belchertown/Amherst). From Route 2 take Route 202 South for about 15 miles to a blinking yellow light at Amherst Road. You will see signs "to Rt 9 and Rt 116". Turn right and follow Amherst Road (which will become Pelham Road after about 4 miles) for 7 miles to Amherst center. This road will become Main Street. Follow Main Street and signs to UMass to travel through Amherst center, taking a right on North Pleasant Street. At the roundabout take the third exit. 

To park in the garage: after exiting the roundabout follow North Pleasant Street to the lights, staying in the left lane to take a left onto Massachusetts Ave. Follow Massachusetts Avenue and take a right at the intersection onto Commonwealth Avenue. At the next set of lights turn right onto Campus Center Way. Stay to the left and travel up the hill. The garage entrance will be on your right. 

From the West, via Route 2
From Route 2 East, follow to Greenfield/I-91 exit. From I-91 South, take exit 36 in Deerfield. At the end of the ramp, turn left and follow the road to the intersection. Turn right onto Routes 5 & 10 South. Travel one mile, then turn left onto Route 116 South. Follow 8 miles to the UMass exit. Take a left after you exit onto Massachusetts Avenue. Stay in the left lane and take a left at the second intersection onto Commonwealth Avenue (the first set of lights is only a blinking yellow light, take a left at the next set of lights). Stay in the right lane and continue on Commonwealth Avenue until you reach a set of traffic lights. 

To park in the garage: take a right at these lights onto Campus Center Way. Stay to the left and travel up the hill. The garage entrance will be on your right. 

From I-90 (Mass Pike)
If you are a first-time visitor and traveling from the east or west on I-90 (Mass Pike), we recommend avoiding Exit 63 off of the Mass Pike, and instead following the directions to Exit 45 listed below. 

From I-90 (Mass Pike) take Exit 45 (West Springfield). Follow I-91 North to Exit 25. From the exit ramp, turn right onto Route 9. Travel approximately 4.5 miles to Route 116 North. Turn left onto 116 and go one mile to the UMass exit. Stay to the right as you exit to merge onto Massachusetts Avenue. Stay in the left lane and take a left at the second intersection onto Commonwealth Avenue (the first set of lights is only a blinking yellow light, take a left at the next set of lights). Continue on Commonwealth Avenue until you reach a set of traffic lights. 

To park in the garage: stay in the right lane to take a right at these lights onto Campus Center Way. Stay to the left and travel up the hill. The garage entrance will be on your right.

Traveling by Plane

If you are traveling to Amherst by plane, the closest airport is Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, Connecticut (near Hartford). This airport is approximately 45 miles (about a 50 minute drive) from the UMass campus. From Bradley attendees will need to book a shuttle service or rent a car to get to campus (see the transportation options below). 

Attendees may find additional flight options into Logan International Airport in Boston, located approximately 95 miles (about a 2 - 2.5 hour drive) from the UMass campus. While more flight options are typically available into Logan, please remember to account for extra travel time to campus. Please also be sure to organize transportation to/from the airport to campus in advance of your arrival. From Logan attendees may book one of the shuttle services below, rent a car, or travel by Peter Pan Bus. Click here for Peter Pan bus ticket purchase details and scheduling. To ensure appropriate bus service to/from campus please select "Boston (Logan Airport), MA" as your "From:" destination and "Amherst UMass, MA" as your "To:" destination. 

Transportation Services 
Shuttle services and/or rental cars should be arranged prior to your travel. Please note there are no standing shuttles that run each day between Bradley/Logan and the UMass campus so additional arrangements must be made in advance.

- Valley Transporter, 800-872-8752
- Seemo Shuttle, 800-908-2829 
- Exclusive Car Service, 877-695-4665
- Bluebird Transportation, 413-221-4512
- Enterprise

Traveling by Bus
Amherst and the surrounding area are serviced by Peter Pan Bus Lines, Greyhound and the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA). The most convenient service is offered by Peter Pan, so when possible those traveling by bus should book a Peter Pan bus ticket using "Amherst UMass, MA" as the destination (note the "Amherst Center, MA" stop is in downtown Amherst and will require additional travel to arrive on campus). Greyhound offers bus service to nearby Northampton, MA, located about a 20 minute drive from campus. From Northampton attendees should plan to travel to campus via a taxi service, Uber/Lyft, or PVTA bus.

Traveling by Train
Amtrak provides passenger rail service to nearby Northampton, MA, located a 20 minute drive from the UMass campus, and Springfield, MA, located a 30 minute drive from the UMass campus. For schedule information and to purchase tickets, visit Amtrak's website and select "Northampton, MA (NHT)" or "Springfield, MA (SPG)" as your arrival destination.

If you take a train to Northampton, MA, you will then need to take either a bus or taxi to the UMass campus. Both PVTA and Peter Pan buses service the area, but the bus stops are not located at the train platform and will require about a 7 minute walk. If you prefer, you may use one of the many local taxi services or Uber/Lyft. We encourage you to carefully plan your trip - including bus or taxi services - prior to your arrival as the Northampton train platform is not a train station and phone access, area maps, bus schedules, and bus tickets will not be available once you arrive. If you decide to take a train out of Northampton, remember to purchase your return ticket online prior to arriving at the platform. The train platform is located at 170 Pleasant Street in Northampton, MA.

If you take a train to Springfield, MA, we recommend booking a shuttle service, such as Valley Transporter, to get you from Springfield to Amherst. Bus services, including Peter Pan, are also available, but will require about a 15 minute walk from the train station to the bus stop. The train will arrive at the Springfield station building, located at 66 Lyman Street in Springfield, MA. This station building does have a waiting room, ticket office, quik-trak kiosk, and payphone, but we do still encourage you to plan your trip, including services from the train station to campus, prior to your arrival.

Getting Around Campus & the Area
There are multiple transportation options to get you from campus to amenities and attractions in the surrounding area. Amherst center, with local shops, restaurants, and small convenience stores, is a 15 - 20 minute walk or 5 minute drive from campus. If you find you need to visit a grocery store, large retail store, or pharmacy during your stay, numerous options are located on University Drive and Russell Street (also known as Route 9) in neighboring Hadley, about a 5 - 10 minute trip from campus by car or bus. Retailers include CVS, Big Y, Stop and Shop, Whole Foods, Trader Joes, Target, Walmart, JC Penney, Marshalls, and more.

Local buses, operated by the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA), run regularly between Amherst center and the University, with additional services traveling throughout the Pioneer Valley, including Northampton, Springfield, and Greenfield. If you'd rather take a car, UMass has partnered with Zipcar and Enterprise to bring on-demand car sharing services right to campus. The area is also serviced by a variety of cab companies, including Uber, Lyft, Taxi Express, Tik Tak Taxi (413-256-4500) and Celebrity Cab (413-253-7330). There are also a number of bicycle rentals around campus, including Laughing Dog Bicycles, Hampshire Bicycle Exchange, and ValleyBike Share.

Have questions or need assistance? We're happy to help!
Please contact UMass Conference Services at registration@umass.edu or 413-577-8102.
Our office is open Monday through Friday from 8AM - 4PM EDT (excluding federal and/or Massachusetts state holidays). All calls, voicemails and/or emails will be answered as soon as possible during our standard business hours. We look forward to hearing from you!

Off-Campus Accommodations
Conference participants may choose to stay off-campus in one of the area’s many hotels. If you choose to stay off-campus, you are responsible for making your own arrangements. You should register as a commuter (with or without campus meals). Off-campus hotels are a good option for those traveling with family.

The Amherst area is home to many hotels, motels, inns, and bed & breakfasts. A variety of large chain hotels are located a 5 - 10 minute drive from the UMass Campus in neighboring Hadley, including the Holiday Inn, Comfort Inn, Howard Johnson, and Courtyard by Marriott. Looking for something a little different? Amherst, Northampton, and the surrounding area are home to many lovely inns and bed & breakfasts, including the Black Walnut Inn and the Inn on Boltwood, among others, all located within a 10 - 20 minute drive of campus. To help plan your visit, keep in mind that the University of Massachusetts campus is a 10 - 15 minute walk or 5-7 minute drive from the center of Amherst, and a 20-minute drive from the center of Northampton. The area is popular with vacationers in the summer, so we encourage you to complete your reservation as soon as possible. Some popular options are below.

Allen House: 599 Main Street, Amherst MA 01002. 413-253-5000.
The Black Walnut Inn: 1184 North Pleasant Street, Amherst MA. 413-549-5649. 
Comfort Inn: 237 Russell Street (Route 9), Hadley MA 01035
Courtyard by Marriott: 423 Russell Street (Route 9), Hadley MA 01035
Hampton Inn: 24 Bay Road, Hadley MA 01035
Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites: 400 Russell Street (Route 9), Hadley MA 01035
Howard Johnson: 401 Russell Street (Route 9), Hadley MA 01035
Inn on Boltwood: 30 Boltwood Avenue, Amherst MA 01002
University Lodge: 345 N. Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA 01002

Local Transportation
There are multiple transportation options to get you from campus to amenities and attractions in the surrounding area. Amherst center, with local shops, restaurants, and small convenience stores, is a 15-20 minute walk or 5 minute drive from campus. If you find you need to visit a grocery store, large retail store, or pharmacy during your stay, numerous options are located on University Drive and Russell Street (also known as Route 9) in neighboring Hadley, about a 5-10 minute trip from campus by car or bus. Retailers include CVS, Big Y, Stop and Shop, Whole Foods, Trader Joes, Target, Walmart, JC Penney, Marshalls, and more.

Local buses, operated by the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority, run regularly between Amherst center and the University, with additional services traveling throughout the Pioneer Valley, including Northampton, Springfield, and Greenfield. If you'd rather take a car, UMass has partnered with Zipcar and Enterprise Rent-A-Car to bring on-demand car sharing services right to campus. The area is also serviced by a variety of cab companies, including Uber, Lyft, Celebrity Cab Company and Taxi Express. A variety of bike rental options are also available, weather permitting, including Laughing Dog Bicycles, Hampshire Bicycle Exchange, and ValleyBike Share.

Dining
Looking to head off-campus for a meal? There are so many wonderful and convenient options! Downtown Amherst, located about a 5 minute drive/20 minute walk from campus, has many unique restaurants, with fare ranging from Thai, Chinese, Italian, American, Indian and more. Some longstanding downtown favorites include Antonio's pizza by the slice, Bueno Y Sano, and Johnny's Tavern. About 5 minutes in the other direction, heading down University Drive, you will find some more popular local spots including The Hangar Pub and Grill and Ginger Garden. Travel just a bit further (7 - 10 minutes from campus) and you will reach the Route 9/Russell Street area of Hadley, which is replete with familiar chains and fast-food spots including Friendly's, Panara, Chili's, Wendy's, Chipotle, Texas Roadhouse and more. Have a little more time on your hands? Visit downtown Northampton, about a 25 minute drive from campus, to explore the many restaurants and shops that make up this artistic, academic and countercultural hub. Click the links below for some more information on off-campus dining options, and be sure to take a look at the bus services offered by the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority to help you get where you need to go! 

For more information visit:
Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce: http://www.amherstarea.com/list/category/restaurants-281
Visit Hampshire County: https://visithampshirecounty.com/eat/restaurants/

Shopping
If you find you need to visit a grocery store, large retail store, or pharmacy during your stay, numerous options are located 5 - 10 minutes from campus in downtown Amherst, as well as on University Drive in Amherst and Russell Street (also known as Route 9) in neighboring Hadley. These locations are also serviced by PVTA buses.

Downtown Amherst

Amherst Shopping Center - retail/grocery stores and dining, including Big Y, Dunkin Donuts, CVS and Goodwill. Located at 181 University Drive in Amherst, MA.

Hampshire Mall - retail/grocery stores, dining, and entertainment, including Target, Trader Joe's, J. C. Penney, Cinemark, Pinz Bowling, Interskate 91, LaserBlast, and Planet Fitness Gym. Located at 367 Russell Street in Hadley, MA.

Campus Farms Mall - retail/grocery stores and dining, including TJ Maxx, Super Stop & Shop, Dollar Tree, Liquors 44, and Johnny's Roadside Diner. Located at 440-454 Russell Street in Hadley, MA.

Mountain Farms Mall - retail/grocery stores and dining, including Wal-Mart, Barnes & Noble, Bed Bath & Beyond, Old Navy, Panera Bread and Whole Foots Market. Located at 335 Russell Street in Hadley, MA

Attractions
Amherst is known for its rural charm and big city appeal. With many restaurants, bars and local shops, visitors get lost exploring our downtown. Located just a few minutes drive from the campus, it is a convenient and popular destination. 

The city of Northampton is a blend of historic, contemporary, intellectual, artsy, athletic and entrepreneurial. With cafes, bars, restaurants, clubs, shops, museums, rivers, parks and spas, Northampton is a place to be enjoyed by everyone, regardless of budget.

The Emily Dickinson Homestead, located right in downtown Amherst, was mentioned frequently in her intensely idiosyncratic and strikingly modern poetry. Devoted Dickinson readers visit the Homestead and The Evergreens, the Italianate home built next door by Emily's brother Austin Dickinson, to walk today where Emily walked and to see what Emily saw.

The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, located in Amherst, looks to inspire a love of art and reading through picture books, just a short 15 minute drive from campus. Founded by Eric Carle and his wife Barbara, the Museum is for visitors of all ages: children and families, teachers and librarians, scholars, and everyone interested in the art of the picture book.

The Yiddish Book Center is a nonprofit organization working to tell the whole Jewish story by rescuing, translating, and disseminating Yiddish books and presenting innovative educational programs that broaden understanding of modern Jewish identity. The Yiddish Book Center is located on the Hampshire College campus, about a 15 minute drive from UMass.

The Amherst College Beneski Museum of Natural History, located about 5 minutes from the UMass campus, is one of New England’s largest natural history museums, boasting three floors of exhibits with more than 1,700 specimens on display, and tens of thousands of specimens available for use by scholars and researchers from across campus and around the world. 

Yankee Candle, located about 15 minutes away in South Deerfield, offers an enchanting mix of shopping and entertainment. You'll find 400,000 candles in over 200 different famous Yankee scents, but there are more than just candles at this flagship Village Store. It's a unique, entertaining world of New England charm, fairy tale fantasies, and hands-on, interactive candlemaking that's fun for every age.

Historic Deerfield is an authentic 18th-century New England village. Tour beautifully restored museum houses with period architecture and furnishings, see yankee ingenuity at work in demonstrations of colonial-era trades, and explore the world-famous collection of early American crafts, ceramics, furniture, textiles and metalwork. 

The Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory & Gardens is a 14,400 square foot facility that includes a 4,000 sq. ft. glass conservatory filled with butterflies, moths and tropical vegetation, about a 20 minute drive from campus in neighboring South Deerfield.

Home to more than three hundred inductees and more than 40,000 square feet of basketball history, the Basketball Hall of Fame stirs the spirits of basketball fans everywhere. Hundreds of interactive exhibits share the spotlight with skills challenges, live clinics, shooting contests and enough basketball history to impress the world’s most avid sports fans. 

The Springfield Museums grant visitors access to the Springfield Science Museum, George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum, Michele and Donald D'Amour Museum of Fine Arts, Museum of Springfield History and the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden and Museum, all under a single admission. The museums are located in the heart of downtown Springfield, about a 40 minute drive from UMass.

Six Flags New England is home to many rides and attractions, from pulse-pounding roller coasters to gentler options for the youngest of thrill seekers. With some of the fastest, tallest, wildest, most gut-wrenching rides in the country (including a few record breakers), as well as family rides, kid rides, entertaining shows and the Hurricane Harbor Water Park, Six Flags New England has fun for everyone.

Interested in learning about more things to do in the Pioneer Valley? Click here!

For General Symposium Related Questions:
Contact cnssymposium23@gmail.com.

For Registration and Payment Related Questions:
Contact UMass Conference Services at 413-577-8102 or registration@umass.edu.