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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.
Andrew Lucchesi
he/they
Associate Professor, English
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
Elizabeth Boland
Professor, Health and Community Studies
Kathleen Brian
Senior Instructor, Global Humanities and Religions
Kristen Chmielewski
she/her
Faculty, Recreation Management & Leadership
Kat DeNicola
she/her
Access Manager, Disability Access Center
David Engebretson
he/him
Digital Technologies Accessibility Coordinator
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
Pam Kuntz
she/her
Dance Program Advisor / Senior Instructor
Ceci Lopez
Assistant Professor of Law, Fairhaven
Scot Nichols
Fairhaven College
Tara Perry
she/her
Professor, Department of Communication Studies, faculty affiliate to Institute for Critical Disability Studies and Women Gender and Sexuality Studies
Candice Styer
Instructor of Special Education, Woodring
Anika Tilland-Stafford, PhD
they/them
Senior Instructor, Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies & Honors College
Office: Miller Hall 415D
Adrian J. Villicana
Assistant Professor, Social Psychology, Fairhaven
Collaborators and Community Members
Pau Abustan
||All Pronouns||
Formerly Visiting Assistant Professor, Women Gender, and Sexuality Studies
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.
Hidemi Mitani Shen
she/her
Graduate Student, Computer Science
ICDS GTA Fall 2022 – Spring 2023
Spike Osadchuk
Graduate Student, Anthropology
ICDS GTA Fall 2022 – present
Eden Chapman
Graduate Student, Masters in Teaching
ICDS GTA Fall 2023 – present
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