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Institute for Critical Disability Studies Co-Directors
The ICDS is headed by two half-time co-directors. Andrew (English), and GIM (College of Science and Engineering) are faculty at WWU. You can contact them at ICDS@wwu.edu.
![A selfie photo of a white man with a rainbow-colored flower earring and blue-rimmed glasses. He is wearing a jacket, and standing with a cloudy forest of trees in the background.](https://wp.wwu.edu/disabilitycollaborative/files/2022/11/IMG_0295-225x300.jpg)
Andrew Lucchesi
he/they
Associate Professor, English
![A nonbinary person with lighter brown skin wearing a blue shirt with maroon necktie, a white N95 mask, large rectangular glasses, and a black beret cocked to one side, looking toward the camera.](https://wp.wwu.edu/disabilitycollaborative/files/2022/11/McGrew_thumbnail_5459-200x300.jpg)
GIM (G McGrew)
he/they
Senior Instructor, College of Science & Engineering
Find office hours for Co-directors, Graduate Assistants, and Faculty teaching DISA courses here
Affiliated Members
The diverse faculty, staff, students, and community members who contribute to the critical disability studies program represent colleges and departments across Western Washington University as well as collaborators outside of Western.
WWU Faculty and Staff
![Disability Studies and Action Collaborative Logo, in dark blue, blue, and green, implying letters I, C, D, and S using colors and negative space.](https://wp.wwu.edu/disabilitycollaborative/files/2022/08/WWU-ICDS-SMprofile-180x180-1.png)
Elizabeth Boland
Professor, Health and Community Studies
![Disability Studies and Action Collaborative Logo, in dark blue, blue, and green, implying letters I, C, D, and S using colors and negative space.](https://wp.wwu.edu/disabilitycollaborative/files/2022/08/WWU-ICDS-SMprofile-180x180-1.png)
Kathleen Brian
Senior Instructor, Global Humanities and Religions
![Disability Studies and Action Collaborative Logo, in dark blue, blue, and green, implying letters I, C, D, and S using colors and negative space.](https://wp.wwu.edu/disabilitycollaborative/files/2022/08/WWU-ICDS-SMprofile-180x180-1.png)
Kristen Chmielewski
she/her
Faculty, Recreation Management & Leadership
![Disability Studies and Action Collaborative Logo, in dark blue, blue, and green, implying letters I, C, D, and S using colors and negative space.](https://wp.wwu.edu/disabilitycollaborative/files/2022/08/WWU-ICDS-SMprofile-180x180-1.png)
Kat DeNicola
she/her
Access Manager, Disability Access Center
![A woman with dark, shoulder-length hair and small golden earrings, wearing a black blazer, and white and blue floral top. She is standing in front of a tree bearing red fall foliage and is smiling at the camera.](https://wp.wwu.edu/disabilitycollaborative/files/2023/02/ElglalyY-med-269x300.jpg)
![Disability Studies and Action Collaborative Logo, in dark blue, blue, and green, implying letters I, C, D, and S using colors and negative space.](https://wp.wwu.edu/disabilitycollaborative/files/2022/08/WWU-ICDS-SMprofile-180x180-1.png)
David Engebretson
he/him
Digital Technologies Accessibility Coordinator
![A woman with very pale hair wearing dark-rimmed glasses and sweater, sitting in a wooden chair in front of a bookshelf filled with old books](https://wp.wwu.edu/disabilitycollaborative/files/2022/09/GiffenA-300x271.jpg)
I am a professor in the English department and specialize in 19th-century American literature and culture with an emphasis in disability studies and critical childhood studies. My current research in explores the intersections of race, disability, and childhood in late 19th-century literature.
Note: Allison was our Interim Co-director in Spring 2023
![A white man with wide rectangular glasses and facial hair. His light brown hair is pulled back in a ponytail. He is wearing a maroon button shirt and smiling at the camera in front of a flowering shrub.](https://wp.wwu.edu/disabilitycollaborative/files/2023/02/KowalczykT-med-1024x576.jpg)
![A woman with short wavy gray hair and glasses and wearing a red tank top is smiling and walking forward in front of an audience of seated elderly people](https://wp.wwu.edu/disabilitycollaborative/files/2023/07/KuntzP2-300x300.jpg)
Pam Kuntz
she/her
Dance Program Advisor / Senior Instructor
![Disability Studies and Action Collaborative Logo, in dark blue, blue, and green, implying letters I, C, D, and S using colors and negative space.](https://wp.wwu.edu/disabilitycollaborative/files/2022/08/WWU-ICDS-SMprofile-180x180-1.png)
Ceci Lopez
Assistant Professor of Law, Fairhaven
![Disability Studies and Action Collaborative Logo, in dark blue, blue, and green, implying letters I, C, D, and S using colors and negative space.](https://wp.wwu.edu/disabilitycollaborative/files/2022/08/WWU-ICDS-SMprofile-180x180-1.png)
Scot Nichols
Fairhaven College
![A man with short hair and slight beard wearing a jacket, sweatshirt, and jeans, standing with hands in pockets](https://wp.wwu.edu/disabilitycollaborative/files/2022/09/MogharrebanJ-223x300.jpg)
![Disability Studies and Action Collaborative Logo, in dark blue, blue, and green, implying letters I, C, D, and S using colors and negative space.](https://wp.wwu.edu/disabilitycollaborative/files/2022/08/WWU-ICDS-SMprofile-180x180-1.png)
Tara Perry
she/her
Professor, Department of Communication Studies, faculty affiliate to Institute for Critical Disability Studies and Women Gender and Sexuality Studies
![Disability Studies and Action Collaborative Logo, in dark blue, blue, and green, implying letters I, C, D, and S using colors and negative space.](https://wp.wwu.edu/disabilitycollaborative/files/2022/08/WWU-ICDS-SMprofile-180x180-1.png)
Candice Styer
Instructor of Special Education, Woodring
![A fair-skinned nonbinary person with short light-brown hair, maroon framed glasses, and ear rings smiling at the camera in front of a nature background. They are wearing a grey collared shirt with green paisley neck tie.](https://wp.wwu.edu/disabilitycollaborative/files/2023/09/Tilland-StaffordA-294x300.png)
Anika Tilland-Stafford, PhD
they/them
Senior Instructor, Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies & Honors College
Office: Miller Hall 415D
![Disability Studies and Action Collaborative Logo, in dark blue, blue, and green, implying letters I, C, D, and S using colors and negative space.](https://wp.wwu.edu/disabilitycollaborative/files/2022/08/WWU-ICDS-SMprofile-180x180-1.png)
Adrian J. Villicana
Assistant Professor, Social Psychology, Fairhaven
![A man with short blond hair and a grey sweater sitting outdoors](https://wp.wwu.edu/disabilitycollaborative/files/2022/09/WandkeD.jpg)
Collaborators and Community Members
![Disability Studies and Action Collaborative Logo, in dark blue, blue, and green, implying letters I, C, D, and S using colors and negative space.](https://wp.wwu.edu/disabilitycollaborative/files/2022/08/WWU-ICDS-SMprofile-180x180-1.png)
Pau Abustan
||All Pronouns||
Formerly Visiting Assistant Professor, Women Gender, and Sexuality Studies
![A Hispanic man with short salt and pepper hair and round glasses, smiling at the camera. He is wearing a blue collared shirt and grey blazer with a subtle grid pattern, and he is standing in front of green plants in the background.](https://wp.wwu.edu/disabilitycollaborative/files/2022/11/Bruna-Sean-Bruna-300x225.jpeg)
Graduate Teaching Assistants
Graduate TAs assist the operations of the Institute in many invaluable ways, including event logistics and planning, course and curriculum feedback, office hours, and student mentorship and leadership organizing.
![Asian girl wearing a black blazer and a red blouse smiling.](https://wp.wwu.edu/disabilitycollaborative/files/2023/06/2021-03-28_W210328-0049_hires-683x1024.jpg)
Hidemi Mitani Shen
she/her
Graduate Student, Computer Science
ICDS GTA Fall 2022 – Spring 2023
![Disability Studies and Action Collaborative Logo, in dark blue, blue, and green, implying letters I, C, D, and S using colors and negative space.](https://wp.wwu.edu/disabilitycollaborative/files/2022/08/WWU-ICDS-SMprofile-180x180-1.png)
Spike Osadchuk
Graduate Student, Anthropology
ICDS GTA Fall 2022 – present
![Disability Studies and Action Collaborative Logo, in dark blue, blue, and green, implying letters I, C, D, and S using colors and negative space.](https://wp.wwu.edu/disabilitycollaborative/files/2022/08/WWU-ICDS-SMprofile-180x180-1.png)
Eden Chapman
Graduate Student, Masters in Teaching
ICDS GTA Fall 2023 – present
![Disability Studies and Action Collaborative Logo, in dark blue, blue, and green, implying letters I, C, D, and S using colors and negative space.](https://wp.wwu.edu/disabilitycollaborative/files/2022/08/WWU-ICDS-SMprofile-180x180-1.png)
Lorraine Floyd
Graduate Student, Rehabilitation Counseling
ICDS GTA Fall 2023 – present
Find office hours for Co-directors, Graduate Assistants, and Faculty teaching DISA courses here
ICDS Committees
For questions about joining Institute for Critical Disability Studies standing committees, ad-hoc committees, and task forces, please email icds@wwu.edu.
Standing Committees
- Curriculum Committee*
- DISA coursework approvals and interdisciplinary minor in critical disability studies
- Programming Committee*
- ICDS and community events, workshops, lectures, and other projects
- Development Committee*
- grants and fundraising
- Outreach Committee*
- publicity & collaborative relationship-building
Advisory Councils
- Student Advisory Council*
- a student-organized body of undergraduate and graduate students providing recommendations to the ICDS
- Leadership positions are compensated: learn more at student employment
- ICDS Advisory Council* (formerly Interim Advisory Council)
- an advisory council to the ICDS co-directors consisting of internal and external members
General Membership & Community
- Disability Studies and Action Collaborative Community* (formerly DS Steering Committee)
- The DSAC Community is open membership: Use this quick-join link to join our Outlook group, or fill out our mailing list form.
- Students, Faculty, Staff, Administrators, Alumni, and Community Members from all backgrounds and abilities are welcome!
Ad-Hoc Committees and Task Forces
- DS Minor Task Force
- Objective: Complete submission of disability studies minor paperwork and propose additional core classes for the minor
- COMPLETED!
- ICDS ADEI Statement Task Force*
- Objective: Collaboratively finish the Institute’s statement on accessibility, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging
* = this committee is looking for additional members