Collaborative Teams

In its 2021-2022 pilot year, more than 45 people from 25 departments throughout the University of Texas at Austin collaborated for more than 1,000 hours. Get to know them! 

 

Project Director

Stephanie W. Cawthon, PhD

An internationally recognized expert on accessibility and how disabled people succeed at school, work and life, Dr. Cawthon is full professor in the College of Education in the Educational Psychology department. She teaches the popular course, The Culture of Disability.

Project Coordinator 

Ryan Mata

As a graduate research assistant and project coordinator, Ryan works closely with Dr. Cawthon to help coordinate the Collaborative. He is a graduate student in HDCLS at the College of Education. Prior to joining this project, Ryan was a graduate assistant for the Texas Child Health Access Through Telemedicine program at Dell Medical School.

Student Coach Team

Soren Aldaco 

Soren is a second year undergraduate majoring in Humanities, Sociology, and Critical Disability Studies. They collaborated with Dr. Katie Tackett, are part of the Students-As-Partners initiative, and wrote a guest blog post about the student-teacher partnership. 

Eric Ge

Eric is a senior undergraduate majoring in Computer Science. He is most excited about enacting change so students with disabilities like his can have a better experiences in class. Eric collaborated with faculty member Dr. Madeleine Holland in Communications Studies.

Desiree Lama

Desiree is a fifth year undergraduate majoring in Human Development and Family Sciences, with a minor in Educational Psychology and a certificate in Applied Statistical Modeling. Also part of the Students-As-Partners initiative, Desiree collaborated with Dr. Amy Kristin Sanders. 

Ximena Pastor Navarro

Ximena is a junior majoring in Human Development and Family Sciences with a minor in Educational Psychology. Ximena collaborated with two faculty members, Dr. Deanna Buckley and Dr. Anthony Dudo, and has an interest in supporting mental health and well-being via Students-As-Partners. 

Gayathri Ramesh 

Gayathri is a first year graduate student in the School of Information with a special focus on accessibility. Gayathri collaborated with two faculty members: Dr. Andrew Dillon from the School of Information and Dr Tonia Guida from the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Concentration in Natural Sciences.

 

 Faculty Team 

Deanna Buckley: UTeach

Tonia Guida: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Concentration, Natural Sciences

Katie Tackett: Special Education

Andrew Dillon: School of Information

Madeleine Holland (Redlick): Communication Studies

Anthony Dudo: Advertising and PR

Amy Sanders: Journalism and Media + Law

Student Ambassadors

Student ambassadors are valuable to the Collaborative, amplifying and advocating for inclusion and equity across campus. 

Gracie Goldreyer: Undergraduate, Youth and Community Studies

Raja Sankar: Graduate, iSchool

Ariel “Rosie” Head: Undergraduate, Natural Sciences

Malika Shetty: Undergraduate, Neuroscience and Government

Marijose Hurtado: Undergraduate, Biomedical Engineering

Student Advising Team

Strategic advisor

Ana Vielma, HDCLS doctoral student

UX advisor

Miraj Mehta, iSchool graduate student

Faculty development advisor

Julie Sievers, HDCLS graduate student

UX advisor

Suyash Ekre, iSchool graduate student

Curriculum and assessment advisor

Echo Yan, HDCLS doctoral student

UX advisor

Wendy Chuang, iSchool graduate student

Advisory Board

Karen French, Office of Innovative Instruction, College of Education

Jigna Patel, DEI Affinity, Texas Retirement System

Anita Swanson, Texas Technology Access Program and Texas Center for Disability Studies, Steve Hicks School of Social Work

Nick Winges-Yanez, Texas Center for Disability Studies and Critical Disability Studies, Steve Hicks School of Social Work

University Resource Team

  • Chris Akin, Microsoft IT

  • Shavonne Coleman, Faculty Innovation Center 

  • Mario Guerra, Jr., UT Austin IT 

  • Molly Hatcher, Faculty Innovation Center 

  • Brittnie Hebnes, Microsoft IT

  • Lucas Horton, UT Austin Instructional Innovation 

  • John Neumann, iSchool

  • Matthew Russell, Students as Partners Director, Faculty Innovation Center 

  • Jessica Toste, Provost Teaching Fellows

Support Team


  • Microsoft Liaisons: Danielle (Danie) Remmick and Harold Javid

  • Corporate Development at UT Austin: Kelsey Evans, Executive Director 

  • Ex Officio | Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs: Tasha Beretvas 

  • Texas Center for Equity Promotion: Keryn Pasch, Director of Strategy and Planning, and Esbelle Jowers, Associate Director of Operations

  • College of Education Business Office: Barbara Morris 

  • Strategic Advisor and Communications: Tracey Bradnan

  • Graphic Designer: Emily Egan