Amplifying

Mentees

Dr. Cawthon’s commitment to being a mentor goes beyond advising students within their undergraduate and graduate programs. She considers it her personal responsibility to create opportunity, promote success, and raise the rigor of their work and accomplishments. Under her mentorship, they learn how to think deeply, collaborate effectively, solve complex problems, and
embrace differences and allyship.

In addition to students, Dr. Cawthon’s was a 2023 mentor in the Provost’s Mentored Faculty Scholars Program.

Her mentees are change makers who are building better futures in a wide variety of fields and pursuits. But they all have one thing in common — Dr. Cawthon is eternally in their corner, encouraging them to greater heights and feeling lucky she gets to work with such exceptional people.

Ryan A. Mata, PhD 2025

A Program Manager at the University of Minnesota Medical School and a Research Associate with the National Disability Center for Student Success. He previously served on the Center’s Leadership Team as Coordinator of Student Partnerships and Project Coordinator of the Collaborative. Ryan is a graduate of UT Austin and a recipient of the 2024 UT Austin Graduate School Continuing Fellowship.

Website

Desirée Lama, PhD

Fresh from completing her doctoral degree from UT Austin, Desirée is a qualitative researcher whose research examines the effects of ableism on students with disabilities and explores strategies for developing more inclusive educational practices. Desirée works with students and research teams to elevate student perspectives and strengthen partnerships that inform best practices.

Website

Paige Johnson, PhD

Part of multiple research teams, Paige is a Psychologist at Rady Children’s Health who seeks to improve assessment and services for deaf youth. Her peer-reviewed publications have focused on trauma and resilience. She earned her doctorate in Educational Psychology with a specialization in School Psychology in 2022.

Profile

Yasmine Jassal, PhD

Dr. Jassal is a Neuropsychologist and postdoctoral fellow in pediatric neuropsychology at Children’s Hospital Colorado, which treats more children than any hospital in its seven-state region. With a passion for living life to the fullest, Dr. Jassal embraces growth and joy in all she does.

Jason Bourgeois, MEd

Motivating people and optimizing organizational performance is what Jason does best, usually with great panache. On Stephanie’s watch list for most likely to succeed, Jason taught her everything she knows about being a Texan (and a passionate Longhorn sports fan).

Oscar Ocuto, EdD

An associate professor at Gallaudet University, Oscar has a passion for finding the “why” in understanding a deaf child’s home language. While at UT Austin, he was part of Stephanie’s research team for a federal technical assistance grant.

Claire Ryan, PhD

A Pediatric Psychologist at Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin, Claire was awarded her doctorate in 2024. She received a $20,000 national doctoral dissertation award for her research, which focuses on improving measures available to identify mental health issues in deaf children, and held multiple competitive fellowships.

Ana Guadalupe Vielma, PhD

A former McNair Scholar and one of St. Edward’s University’s 200 impactful alumni, Ana graduated with her doctorate from the Department of Educational Psychology at UT Austin in 2024 at just 25 years old. Her research focuses on first-generation and underrepresented students in higher education.

Website

ArCasia James-Gallaway, PhD

Recently appointed Assistant Professor at Texas A&M’s Department of Teaching, Learning and Culture, Dr. James-Gallaway was selected as a 2019 Ford Foundation Fellow — one of just 36 doctoral students nationwide to receive the honor for superior academic achievement in education.

Sarah Schoffstall, PhD

Dr. Schoffstall provides child psychology clinical services as Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin. Stephanie served as her doctoral adviser and dissertation chair, including her on a research team for a federal technical assistance grant.

Laura Judd-Glossy, PhD

An Associate Professor and Director of Training at the University of Colorado, Dr. Judd-Glossy is a licensed pediatric psychologist at the Children’s Hospital of Colorado. She is an expert in the care of children with chronic medical conditions and how caregivers can support and empower them.

Profile