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Our People

Deeply Connected to Disability

Our interdisciplinary Leadership Team, Student Fellows, and Faculty Cadre are people with disabilities or people deeply connected with the disability community. All are committed to collaborating together and engaging in a student-centered, asset-based approach to promote a greater understanding of disabled people’s experiences and obstacles.

Leadership Team

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Executive Director Stephanie W. Cawthon, PhD

The National Disability Center was funded with a $5 million grant from the Institute of Education Sciences awarded to principal investigator Stephanie W. Cawthon — building upon her decades of research into how disabled students learn and thrive, her expertise in developing innovative research models that use collaboration to achieve student-centered insights and findings, and her lived experience as a disabled person.

Dr. Cawthon is the Catherine Mae Parker Centennial Professor at The University of Texas at Austin, Director of Research & Evaluation of Drama for Schools, and Co-Editor of the Oxford University Press book series Perspectives on Deafness. Her fourth book, Disability Is Human: The Vital Power of Accessibility in Everyday Life, was published in early September.

A sought-after speaker, author, and educational psychologist, Dr. Cawthon’s research has been funded by over $50 million in federal and other grants. | MORE NEWS 

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Andrew Dillon, PhD

Director of Research Dissemination and Co-Investigator

V.M. Daniel Regents Professor at the University of Texas at Austin School of Information, known for pioneering research in information systems, user experience, and human-computer interaction.

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Greg Roberts, PhD

Director of Evaluation and Co-Investigator             

Senior Associate Director at the Meadows Center specializing in assessment, reading, and language interventions with extensive experience in educational research and program evaluation.

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Shavonne Coleman, MFA

Director of Training                                                       

Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance, with expertise in voice performance and opera, dedicated to innovative teaching methods.

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Tracey Bradnan

Director of Communications

Leads the communications team, spearheading strategic initiatives to enhance visibility and effectively communicate the mission and programs across all platforms.

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Desirée Lama

Coordinator of Student Partnerships

Doctoral student at University of Texas at Austin College of Education, researching the effects of ableism on students with disabilities to develop inclusive educational practices.

Student Fellows

Our Student Fellows receive training experience, assist with research, and collaborate with the Leadership Team and the Faculty Cadre.

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Soren

College of Liberal Arts 

Undergraduate researcher and Humanities Honors student at UT Austin, focusing on definitions of “normal” in internet contexts. Engaged in disability advocacy, collaborative education, and mindfulness-based approaches to sex-related distress.

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Lily Alvarez

College of  Education 

Doctoral student in Human Development, Culture, and Learning Sciences at UT Austin, researching the interplay between culture, socialization, and disability. Interested in cultural mindsets toward visible disabilities and their impact on policy and quality of life.

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Madeline O’Grady

College of Education

Doctoral student in Educational Psychology at UT Austin, researching academic motivation. Focuses on how teachers and mentors inspire learning, and how motivation varies among diverse student populations to enhance educational outcomes.

Ife Adekoya

College of Liberal Arts 

Undergraduate researcher and Psychology and Pre-Medicine student at UT Austin, with a minor in Forensic Science. Dedicated to exploring human behavior, advocating for underprivileged communities, and advancing inclusivity in education and healthcare.

Nicole Garcia

Cockrell School of Engineering

Undergraduate researcher and Mechanical Engineering student at UT Austin, with a minor in Law, Justice, & Society. Passionate about disability advocacy, rehabilitation engineering, and creating accessible environments through innovative design.

Faculty Cadre

Our Faculty Cadre comes from five different colleges at the University of Texas at Austin, bringing a diverse wealth of expertise and experience.

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Maura Borrego, PhD

Cockrell School of Engineering

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North Cooc, EdD

College of Education

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Denisa Gàndara, PhD

College of Education

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Earl Huff, Jr., PhD

School of Information

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Alison Kafer, PhD

College of Liberal Arts

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Jen Moon, PhD

College of Natural Sciences

Evaluation Team

Our Evaluation Team collects our analytics, evaluates our progress and collaborate closely with the Leadership Team and Faculty Cadre to improve our research strategies.

  • Greg Roberts, PhD
  • Kim Rodriguez, MA
  • Adah Barenburg, MPAff Candidate

Communications Team

Our Communications Team manage our outreach, develop communication plans, and work closely with all teams to disseminate our research findings.

  • Tracey Bradnan, Director of Communications

  • Mytra Berry, Digital Marketing Manager

Research Team

Our Research Team members conduct key disability research that will contribute to the development of solutions, and work closely with all teams.

  • Ryan Mata, MA, Doctoral Research Affiliate
  • Maya Fela, MSSW Candidate, Graduate Research Assistant
  • Janelle Hedstrom, UT Austin Education Librarian
  • Anna Mari Fall, PhD, Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk
  • Pierce Capelli, Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk
  • Mike Bohlig, PhD, College of Education | CCSSE

Contact Us

National Disability Center for Student Success

hello@nationaldisabilitycenter.org

The University of Texas at Austin
1912 Speedway SZB 2.404F
Austin, Texas 78712

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