Meet the Staff

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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