Accessibility Faculty Ambassadors

William Eger is a Ph.D. student in SDSU and UCSD's Joint Doctoral Program in Interdisciplinary Research on Substance Use. William is a long-time GA and has taught his own independent course at the University of New Haven (in Connecticut) and is slated to teach for the SDSU Department of Social Work in the upcoming semesters. His research looks to identify and optimize infectious disease prevention strategies for people who use and inject drugs. As a person with disabilities, William is eager to learn how to develop universally designed and accessible courses and be prepared to best meet diverse learners’ needs when working as a lecturer and (hopefully) as a professor.   

Dr. Angela Feres is a lecturer in the Deptment for the Study of Religion and has degrees in History and Religion. Angela teaches classes, including Understanding Evil, American Religious Institutes, Death, Dying, and the Afterlife, and World Religions. She teaches in-person and asynchronous online classes. Angela loves teaching online and has been doing so for 17 years. She enjoys the flexibility it provides for working students and those with families. Angela works hard to make her online and in-person classes accessible and engaging so that every student succeeds. 
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Sam Kobari is a lecturer in the Department of Anthropology and teaches several classes but mainly teach a large asynchronous online class called Human Bio-Cultural Origins. Sam is also a part of the Surf Skate Studies Collaborative at SDSU.

Sam is very passionate about student learning and student success. Sam absolutely loves being a teacher at SDSU and works to make sure all aspects of his class are accessible and welcoming. 

Sam was recently diagnosed with ADHD - a previously unknown diagnosis for Sam, who says, “Explains so much in my life!” He mentions that some students may have disability that is undiagnosed, undocumented, or hidden. Having accessible, universally designed instruction helps all students learn.
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India Kaltsas-West was a student at SDSU and is now a staff member working in SDSU’s Accessible Technology Office.

India was diagnosed with a brain tumor at four years old, which led to her losing her vision and experiencing the world through sound, touch, smell, and taste as well as her intuition. 

At SDSU, India works on critiquing and analyzing the different websites that students use at the school, making sure they are ADA compliant and are easy access for screen-reader users. She helps with analyzing course curriculum to ensure that it is accessible to all students. Being able to support student learning at SDSU has been very valuable to her because she feels like she is shaping the future for incoming students by showing them that they do have a voice, and that they can be successful. 

Nensi Lakrori is a Lecturer in Civil and Construction Engineering. Nensi worked for a decade as a designer & project manager of Transportation projects. She now is pursuing her dream job at SDSU (Teaching everything Civil & Construction Engineering and helping people).
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Dr. Mark Laumakis is a Lecturer in Psychology and former ITS Faculty Fellow in Residence in Instructional Technology Services (ITS). Mark has been teaching at SDSU since the Fall 2000 semester, during which time he has taught more than 31,000 students.
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Cali Linfor is a Lecturer in Rhetoric and Writing Studies. In addition to teaching composition, creative writing, critical reading and thinking, and rhetoric, Cali has  dedicated most of her professional life to the fight for educational equity which includes UDL and disability justice in her own classroom as well as across educational segments. She is a member of SDSU's Pride and Disability ERGs.
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Dr. John Love is an Associate Professor in Biochemistry. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, he runs a full-time research laboratory in which undergraduate, Masters, and PhD students pursue research projects in the field of Protein Design.
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Lisa Marun is a research specialist at SDSU Research Foundation. She has worked in the environmental arena for over 20 years doing research and outreach in the areas of habitat and species conservation, climate science, and environmental justice, and is an active volunteer and citizen science organizer.

Lisa's drive to be an accessibility ambassador in all areas of her life began with an early-career position that involved assisting a student with a severe form of cerebral palsy for seven years. She developed a hyper-sensitivity to others' different (and not always obvious or even diagnosed) ways of encountering, perceiving, and navigating the world, and a desire to be a source of support, advocacy, and friendship where needed.

Tania Mejia-O'Donnell is a PhD candidate in Criminology at the University of Cambridge, she researches the role of support for incarcerated individuals. With a background in criminal justice and communication, she focuses on inclusive teaching methods, particularly Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and improving her understanding of disability etiquette.

Dr. Alanna Peebles is an Assistant Professor in the School of Journalism and Media Studies, her research examines the impact of media experiences on children and families, drawing from educational psychology and child development. She is committed to accessible teaching practices, including comprehensive captioning, and aims to address the stigma surrounding student accommodations.

Dr. Kylie Sago (Pictured here with Albert) is an Assistant Professor of French. Her research and teaching centers on the culture of the French-speaking world with a focus on the histories and legacies of the French empire. Dr. Sago teaches courses ranging from Intermediate French to graduate-level courses based on her research.

Dr. Sago also volunteered for Guiding Eyes for the Blind as a puppy raiser, which was a wonderful experience that she wholeheartedly recommends. Her service for Guiding Eyes informs her work by aiding in the cultivation of accessible practices in teaching and research. In her teaching, she uses digital materials to offer financially feasible courses and engage students in active learning. The principles of Universal Design help her to make sure instructional materials are accessible, and that she implements best practices in second-language pedagogy. Dr. Sago also works to make research in her discipline more accessible to all.
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Dr. Joseph Stramondo is an Associate Professor in the Philosophy Department and the Director of SDSU's Institute for Ethics and Public Affairs. Joseph's research focuses on the intersection of biomedical ethics and philosophy of disability. His professional service revolves around disability issues (e.g. committee work for the American Philosophical Association and recently, was elected as President of the Society for Disability Studies).
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Dr. Melissa Soto is an Associate Professor of Mathematics Education in the School of Teacher Education. Melissa supports preservice teachers in learning how to teach mathematics in a way that promotes problem solving. Her research focuses on young people's mathematical thinking, particularly supporting teachers to teach using culturally relevant pedagogies as well as providing professional development in mathematics.
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Rachel Schlesinger is a Lecturer in Special Education, co-instructing the course, Disability & Society. Rachel is a disability justice advocate, educator, and certified rehabilitation counselor.
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Stacy Warner is a Lecturer in Computer Science and Web Accessibility Specialist. Stacy works to ensure that websites related to SDSU are accessible and compliant within SDSU and California accessibility standards. She also works with SDSU's procurement team to help ensure that all software/hardware purchases for SDSU meet accessibility standards.
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Dr. Jess Whatcott is an interdisciplinary scholar in Women's Studies, their work critically examines state violence, including the carceral/prison industrial complex and state-sponsored eugenics. Their research and teaching are grounded in critical disability studies, critical prison studies, and queer studies, and they are dedicated to feminist abolition and disability justice.

Dr. Roy Whitaker is an Associate Professor of Religion, his research centers on Africana Philosophy of Religion and Black Religious Pluralism. He explores African Americans' self-realization through diverse religious and philosophical movements, and he has served in various diversity and equity leadership roles within the university.

Laura Angel-Zavala (far right) is a lecturer and Math First equity advisor for Faculty Advancement and Student Success. Laura teaches General Studies 150 - Building Your Future Self for Success in College and Beyond and absolutely loves teaching! Laura has also taught the BA 100 first year seminar course and next year hopes to teach GEN S 280 - Introduction to Civic Engagement.

As someone who benefitted from Student Disability Services when she was an SDSU student, Laura wants to learn as much as she can about the services that exist now for disabled students, and wants to do the best to make sure all instructors know about how they can support their students' learning in the classroom.
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