Meet Our Staff

Phone: (315) 443-4498
daxelson@syr.edu

Danielle Axelson holds a B.S. in Communication from SUNY Geneseo. She serves as an Access Coordinator and is the primary liaison for Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University. 

Phone: (315) 443-4498
cobisson@syr.edu

Claude holds an 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.

Phone: (315) 443-4498
lbburrel@syr.edu

Leanne Burrell holds a M.S. in Political Science/History from SUNY Oswego and a M.Ed. in School Psychology from Loyola University, Chicago. Leanne enjoys 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.

Phone: (315) 443-4498
dicole@syr.edu

(315) 443-4498
CDRalternateformat@syr.edu

Michael holds a B.S. in Psychology from the Pennsylvania State University as well as an M.S. in the Cultural Foundations of Education and a C.A.S. in Disability Studies from Syracuse University. Michael’s primary area of focus is on Alternative Format and Assistive Technology.

Phone: (315) 443-4498
bbheaton@syr.edu

Bethany Heaton Crawford, 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.

Phone: (315) 443-4498
arjenner@syr.edu

Annette Jenner-Matthews 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.

Phone: (315) 443-4498
bcjone02@syr.edu

Ben Jones holds a B.A. in Anthropology from Syracuse University (Class of 2015) and a Master’s in Disability Services in Higher Education from the City University of New York CUNY (Class of 2022). He manages the Accommodate Software system for CDR and works behind the scenes to ensure students can access all the required features.

Phone: (315) 443-4498
mkanaan@syr.edu

Mariam works in all areas of operations within the Syracuse University Center for Disability Resources (CDR). She works closely with the CDR Access Coordinators to identify and conduct intentional outreach to students with disabilities to address social, emotional, and academic concerns impacting their success and retention.

Mariam holds a B.A. in speech, language, and hearing sciences from the University of Connecticut and is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Developmental Disabilities from Teacher’s College at Columbia University in the City of New York. She has a particular interest in Middle Eastern & North African (MENA) Studies due to her Arab-American heritage and continues to research topics related to Autism, ADHD, and developmental disabilities in the MENA region. In her current role, Mariam works to enhance access for all students in her role by engaging in outreach to campus partners to facilitate and develop a positive relationship with the center. She also provides personalized, direct academic support for students who are unable to register with our office.

Phone: (315) 443-4498
jkopp@syr.edu

Judy Kopp, 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.

Phone: (315) 443-4498
mwmazzar@syr.edu

Michael Mazzaroppi holds a B.A. from Gallaudet University and an M.Ed. from Syracuse University.  Michael is interested in reframing what people traditionally view as “disabilities”, and instead, having them see it as part of diversity because this is how he sees his disability. This helps him as an Access Coordinator when working with students and their families because he will not see their “deficits” but rather their successes. Mike also teaches American Sign Language (ASL) at Syracuse University

Phone: (315) 443-4498
mmenges@syr.edu

Mary Kate Menges holds a B.S., in Recreational Therapy from SUNY Cortland. She serves as a primary liaison and Access Coordinator for the College of Engineering and Computer Science, College of Arts and Sciences. Mary Kate is passionate about equal access for all students and promoting a diverse and inclusive environment in higher education.

Phone: (315) 443-4498
sunotes@syr.edu

Kristofor Minta holds a B.A., from Vanderbilt University as well as an MFA from Syracuse University. Kris 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.

Phone: (315) 443-4498
ppossent@syr.edu

Paula Possenti-Perez , 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.

Phone: (315) 443-4498
cdrexams@syr.edu

Phone: (315) 443-4498
ctedesch@syr.edu

Phone: (315) 443-4498
kmtoole@syr.edu

Karen Toole holds a B.S. in Business Management from SUNY Empire State College, a C.A.S. in Disability Studies, and an M.S. in Cultural Foundations of Education from Syracuse University. In addition to serving as the coordinator of both the Academic Support Department and the OnTrack Program at SU, Karen also 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.