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.
Deeply Connected to Disability
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, as well as her experience developing innovative research models that use collaboration to achieve student-centered insights and findings.
Dr. Cawthon, who is deaf, is Professor at the College of Education and The University of Texas at Austin, Director of the Collaborative for Access & Equity, Director of Research & Evaluation for Drama for Schools, Co-Editor of Perspectives on Deafness at Oxford University Press. She was also the founding director of the National Deaf Center for Postsecondary Success.
A sought-after speaker, author, and thought leader, Dr. Cawthon’s research has been funded by over $50 million in federal and other grants.
Leadership Team
- Stephanie W. Cawthon, PhD
Executive Director and Principal Investigator - Andrew Dillon, PhD
Director of Research Dissemination and Co-Investigator - Greg Roberts, PhD
Director of Evaluation and Co-Investigator - Shavonne Coleman, MA
Director of Training - Tracey Bradnan
Director of Communications - Ryan Mata, MA
Coordinator of Student Partnerships
Student Fellows
Our Student Fellows receive interdisciplinary training experience, assist with research, and collaborate with the Leadership Team and the Faculty Cadre.
- Soren Aldaco
- Lily Alvarez
- Desirée Lama
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.
- Maura Borrego, PhD
Cockrell School of Engineering - North Cooc, PhD
College of Education - Denisa Gàndara, PhD
College of Education - Earl Huff, Jr., PhD
School of Information - Alison Kafer, PhD
College of Liberal Arts - Jen Moon, PhD
College of Natural Sciences