Paula Possenti-Perez, Director
Phone: (315) 443-4498
ppossent@syr.edu
Paula Possenti-Perez (she/her/hers), M.S. Ed., began her tenure at Syracuse University in 2014 as the Director for the Center for Disability Resources. Her primary responsibilities include overseeing all disability-related resources and supports for undergraduate and graduate students attending Syracuse University and SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry. Committed to a climate of inclusive excellence and incorporating disability as a rich expression of diversity, under her leadership, CDR endeavors to lead nationally in creating a cultural shift in higher education, embracing a critical lens to social justice and disability in adopting an equity-minded praxis.
Bethany Heaton-Crawford, Associate Director
Phone: (315) 443-4498
bbheaton@syr.edu
Bethany Heaton Crawford (she/her/hers), M.S. Ed, M.S. Ed., is a Syracuse University graduate school alum. Her primary responsibilities are to assist the Director in the operation and management of the center and in meeting our social justice mission to adopt equity minded practices. She also serves as the primary liaison and Access Coordinator who works with SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry students.
Judy Kopp, Assistant Director
Phone: (315) 443-4498
jkopp@syr.edu
Judy Kopp (she/her/hers), M.Ed., began at Syracuse University in 2001, and has been with the Center for Disability Resources (CDR) since 2013. As Assistant Director, Judy supervises the access counseling staff and the academic support area. She is also the support liaison to Falk College. As CDR represents a social justice model in envisioning disability as diversity, Judy is an advocate for equal access to all.
Jateavia Gibson, Administrative Specialist
Phone: (315) 443-4498
jngibson@syr.edu
Portia Altman, Access Coordinator & Service Coordinator
Phone: (315) 443-4498
pjaltman@syr.edu
Leanne Burrell, Access Coordinator
Phone: (315) 443-4498
lbburrel@syr.edu
Leanne Burrell (she/her/hers), M.S. Political Science/History -SUNY Oswego; M.Ed., School Psychology Loyola University, Chicago. I enjoy working one-on-one with students to provide academic accommodation to offset the impact of disability on academic achievement, allowing students with disabilities to shine in the classroom and graduate at levels commensurate with non-disabled peers.
Annette Jenner-Mathews, Access Coordinator for the Law School
Phone: (315) 443-4498
arjenner@syr.edu
Annette Jenner-Matthews (she/her/hers), is trained as a Cognitive Neuroscientist with a particular interest in reading disabilities. In recent years she has taken several courses in disability studies and continues to research topics related to disability disclosure, stigma and academic ableism in higher education. She has held faculty positions at several institutions, including Syracuse University before joining the staff at Center for Disability Resources as an Access Coordinator in 2014. Annette holds a B.A. from Mount Holyoke College and a Ph.D. from Harvard University.
Michael Mazzaroppi, Access Coordinator
Phone: (315) 443-4498
mwmazzar@syr.edu
Michael Mazzaroppi (he/him/his), B.A., Gallaudet University; M.Ed., Syracuse University. I am interested in reframing what people traditionally view as “disabilities”, and instead, have them see it as part of diversity, because this is how see my disability. This helps me as an Access Coordinator when working with students and their families, because I will not see their “deficits” but rather their successes.
Mary Kate Menges, Access Coordinator
Phone: (315) 443-4498
mmenges@syr.edu
Mary Kate Menges (she/her/hers), B.S., Recreational Therapy- SUNY Cortland. I serve as a primary liaison and Access Coordinator for the College of Engineering and Computer Science, College of Arts and Sciences. I am passionate about equal access for all students and promoting a diverse and inclusive environment in higher education.
Monika Mihajlovska, Access and Success Advocate
Phone: (315) 443-4498
mmihajlo@syr.edu
Monika (she/her) collaborates with students in a one-on-one environment to understand their academic and personal needs and provide support. In addition, Monika’s work involves reach-out and using a holistic approach to connect students with other campus resources.
Academic Support:
Karen M. Toole, Coordinator of Academic Support and OnTrack at SU
Phone: (315) 443-4498
kmtoole@syr.edu
Karen Toole (she/her/hers), B.S. Business Management – SUNY Empire State College, C.A.S. Disability Studies – Syracuse University, M.S. Cultural Foundations of Education – Syracuse University. As Coordinator of Academic Support and OnTrack at SU, Karen oversees the academic support unit of CDR. In addition, she meets regularly with students to work on various academic skills. Her main duties involve listening and understanding student experiences so she can support them with their college goals and interests.
Claude Bisson, (he/him/his), M.Ed. in Special Education specializing in neurodivergent youth. Claude views disabilities from a lens of social justice and intersectionality, embracing accessibility and community empowerment. His ADHD/LD coach position within the OnTrack program empowers students through active engagement in self-reflection, perspective-taking, and functionality in their executive functions.
Learning Assessment Center (LAC):
Jack Gherardi, Supervisor of Learning Assessment Center
Phone: (315) 443-4498
jpgherar@syr.edu
Benjamin Jones, Operations Coordinator
Phone: (315) 443-4498
bcjone02@syr.edu
Alternate Format, Exam Services, and Note-Taking Services:
Donna Trinca, Coordinator of Services
Phone: (315) 443-4294
djtrinca@syr.edu
Donna Trinca (she/her/hers), Studied Accounting and Business Management at the University of Maryland. Her primary responsibilities are to manage the services of testing, note-taking, and alternate format to ensure all accommodations are met. She also hires all student assistants and is the IT and Human Resources Liaison.
Exam Services:
Note-Taking Services:
Kristofor Minta, Assistant Coordinator of Services
Phone: (315) 443-4498
sunotes@syr.edu
Kristofor Minta, (he/him/his), B.A., Vanderbilt University; MFA, Syracuse University, is focused on training students in the use of assistive technology, and is also responsible for managing our network of peer note-takers. He is a published poet and translator and teaches the occasional writing course at SUNY-ESF.
Alternate Format:
Michael Grattan, Alternate Format and Assistive Technology Coordinator
Phone: (315) 443-4498
CDRalternateformat@syr.edu