Institute on Disabilities STAFF DIRECTORY

Kristin Ahrens
Ms. Ahrens is Project Coordinator of The Partnership (The Pennsylvania Training Partnership for People with Disabilities and Families), a program of the Institute. She has more than 15 years of experience working with people with developmental disabilities. Before joining the Institute, Ms. Ahrens was the Interim Director of Self-Determination Resources, Inc., a regional brokerage serving adults with developmental disabilities in Portland, OR.

Titania Boddie
Ms. Boddie is the Program Coordinator of the Academy for Adult Learning and Assistant Coordinator for Supported Leadership Facilitation. She is responsible for supervising student mentors and for coordinating activities for the Academy. In addition, insures the participants' access to Temple's campus. Ms. Boddie has a bachelor's degree in Elementary/Early childhood Education from Temple University.

Yvette Bolden
Ms. Bolden is the Administrative Assistant for Pennsylvania's Initiative on Assistive Technology (PIAT), responsible for many of the administrative functions of this Institute program. In addition, Ms. Bolden chairs the Workplace Diversity Committee to assure, initiate and facilitate dialogue among staff and students within the Institute.

Diane Bryen
Dr. Bryen serves as director of numerous programs at the Institute on Disabilities, including Augmentative Communication and Empowerment Support (ACES), The Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Communication Enhancement, Inclusive Teacher Education Program, Pennsylvania's Initiative on Teacher Preparation for a Diverse Society, and The National Academy for Equal Justice. Dr. Bryen also serves on the boards of The AAUCD Legislative Affairs Committee, AHVA - Israel, The Pennsylvania Office of Mental Retardation Planning Advisory Committee, The Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation, and the Teddy Pendergrass Alliance.

After serving more than 17 years as Executive Director of the Institute, Dr. Bryen stepped down in July 2008.

Guy Caruso
As Western Coordinator, Dr. Caruso is responsible for training and related activities in western Pennsylvania. In addition, he provides technical assistance to Pennsylvania's OMR Independent Monitoring for Quality Program. He has worked in human services for 32 years as an advocate, teacher, trainer, researcher, and consultant. Dr. Caruso has a master's degree and a doctorate from Syracuse University.

Carol Csaniz
As Project Assistant, Mrs. Csaniz is responsible for all logistics involving The Partnership and for the Confidence and Competence: Partners in Policymaking (C2P2) Trainings. A graduate of the Institute's C2P2 program, she has been active in issues involving people with disabilities for more than 20 years. Mrs. Csaniz serves as Treasurer for the Delaware County Down Syndrome Interest Group and is Co-Chair of the Delaware County Right to Education Task Force. She is the mother of a daughter with a disability who has graduated from high school and will soon enter the work force.

Virginia DiLello
As Graphic Designer for the Institute, Ms. DiLello is responsible for designing and producing all print publications. She is both a designer and writer, following a project from conception to printing, insuring accessibility. Ms. DiLello has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism/Advertising from Temple and before joining the Institute, was a freelance writer and designer, with clients such as E.P. Henry, Wheaton Scientific and Renault Resort.

Ann Dolloff
Ms. Dolloff, Assistant Director, Accessible & Assistive Technologies, coordinates assistive technology device demonstrations, provision of consumer-responsive information and referral services regarding the types and availability of assistive technology devices. She has a master's degree in Education from Temple University. Before joining the Institute staff, Ann was Associate Professor and Extension Specialist at University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension.

Mike Dorn
Dr. Dorn oversees the academic Disability Studies courses and course infusions of the Institute on Disabilities. He is the academic instructor of the graduate-level Seminar in Disabilities. He also teaches and advises in the Urban Education Program for the College of Education. Trained as a social geographer, Dr. Dorn is a member of the Society for Disability Studies, the Association of American Geographers, and the Disability and Geography International Network.

Celia Feinstein
Ms. Feinstein is the Associate Director of Training and Technical Assistance at the Institute on Disabilities, directing the Institute's Leadership Development activities (Competence and Confidence: Partners in Policymaking) and all of its variations. In addition, Ms. Feinstein directs The Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Partnership for People with Disabilities and Families, as well as evaluation activities such as Independent Monitoring for Quality, Montgomery County monitoring and evaluating family support services. Ms. Feinstein received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and an Master of Arts. in Medical Sociology from Temple University. She has also completed her doctoral coursework in Medical Sociology.

Bev Frantz
As Criminal Justice Coordinator, Ms. Frantz coordinates activities such as training, technical assistance, curriculum development, and data collection to prompt equal justice for victims, witnesses, and defendants. She has published numerous journal articles and personal safety/sexual abuse curricula. Ms. Frantz earned an Master of Science degree from Villanova University and the London School of Economics and is currently a doctoral candidate in Human Sexuality, with a concentration in disabilities.

Susan Fullam
As Dissemination Coordinator, Ms. Fullam is responsible for all material created and distributed by the Institute, including web, print, audio and video. She spent the greater part of her career in publishing and communications in the private sector. After graduating from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Ms. Fullam served first as graphic designer, then as managing Editor, of a local newspaper. She then spent more than 10 years at TV Guide magazine as Director of Marketing Services.

Amy Goldman
Ms. Goldman is an Associate Director of the Institute on Disabilities, directing Pennsylvania's Initiative on Assistive Technology, the Commonwealth's "Assistive Technology (AT) Act" Program. She also directs Pennsylvania's Assistive Technology Lending Library, and the Mid-Atlantic Consortium on Accessible Information Technology in Education. Ms. Goldman provides technical assistance around AT to Philadelphia early intervention teams serving infants and toddlers and their families. As a licensed speech-language pathologist, she has many years of practice in the area of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). Ms. Goldman is currently on the steering committee of the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) Special Interest Division on AAC.

Adora Hatten
Ms. Hatten is Coordinator of the Supported Leadership Initiative, which supports people with intellectual disabilities to participate on boards and committees as fully participating members. In addition, she serves as Assistant Administrator for the Institute, with a variety of budgetary responsibilities. Ms. Hatten has a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Temple University and co-chairs the That All May Worship Network of Greater Philadelphia.

George Heake
As the Information & Technology Accessibility and Emergency Management Coordinator, Mr. Heake is responsible for all accessible electronic information and technology support, outreach and educational activities for the Institute. He also coordinates emergency preparedness and response management efforts for the disability community up to the national level. Mr. Heake background includes 12 years in the mental health field and over 25 years of technology, training and teaching experience.

Zona Jackson
Ms. Jackson is the Project Assistant for Pennsylvania's Assistive Technology Lending Library, handling administrative functions as well as participating in product reviews and determinations for purchasing new additions to the inventory, ordering equipment, verifying equipment orders, overseeing the on-site equipment loan program and updating the Lending Library website.

Mary Jones-Furlow
Ms. Jones-Furlow is Projects Coordinator helping to manage the quality-of-life monitoring of individuals with cognitive and developmental disabilities. In addition, she coordinates the Mini Series on Disability and facilitates the completion of the leadership training programs' individual projects. Ms. Jones-Furlow earned her bachelor's degree in Business Education from Albany State College in Georgia and her Master of Social Work degree from Temple University.

Julie Kessler
As Graduate Assistantship Coordinator, Dr. Kessler oversees graduate assistants for various projects at the Institute, and teaches the Introduction to Disability Studies Course. She coordinates the efforts of the Inclusive Education Work Group to support schools in developing model inclusive practices. Dr. Kessler has taught students with disabilities in a wide variety of settings and other students in preparation to teach diverse learners. She has a doctorate degree from Temple University in special education/inclusive practices. Dr. Kessler is a clinical assistant professor in the special education program in the Curriculum Instruction and Technology in Education Department here at Temple University.

Jim Lemanowicz
Mr. Lemanowicz is Assistant Director of Research at the Institute on Disabilities, as well as the Data Coordinator for the NIRS database. A 30+ year employee of Temple his responsibilities include statistical analysis and data management on multiple research projects. Mr. Lemanowicz co-authored several publications in developmental disabilities and presented at many forums. Currently his area of concentration is quality assurance, consumer interviews, and evaluation of the quality of life for individuals with disabilities. Mr. Lemanowicz received a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Temple University.

Carol Marfisi
Ms. Marfisi is an instructor with a master's degree in Counseling Education from the University of Edinboro and has B.S. in Psychology from Scranton University. She lectures throughout Temple University on disability-related issues. Ms. Marfisi develops and conducts community training and is a senior instructor for the ACES program. Ms. Marfisi is an integral part of the graduate certificate disability studies program.

Sandra McNally
As the Information & Referral / Special Projects Coordinator for PA's Initiative on Assistive Technology, Ms. McNally is involved in advocacy, outreach and guidance to identify and obtain appropriate AT devices and services including the borrowing of assistive devices through PA's AT Lending Library. Ms. McNally, the mother of two children with disabilities, received a master's degree from Temple University.

Kathy Miller
As Assistant Director of Training, Ms. Miller is responsible for overseeing the Institute's leadership development training programs. She also manages the Supported Leadership Initiative providing supports to self advocates on boards and committees and the Academy for Adult Learning a postsecondary opportunity at Temple for adults with intellectual disabilities. Kathy has a Master Degree in social work, and has worked along with and for people with disabilities for over 25 years.

David Mitchell
As Executive Director, Dr. Mitchell oversees all aspects of the Institute on Disabilities. He represents the Institute on Disabilities within the University, The Commonwealth, and throughout the UCEDD network.

Throughout his 25 years in higher education as a faculty member, instructor, researcher, and administrator, Dr. Mitchell has worked to achieve social justice in the classroom and within the broader community. Teaching courses in disability history, culture, art, policy, economics, politics, and globalization energizes his work on and off campus. His research efforts as one of the founding scholars of disability studies in the Humanities has led to the publication of three co-authored books on disability representation and the historical treatment of people with disabilities, and more than three dozen refereed journal articles on a variety of topics in Disability Studies. read more..

Diane Perry
Ms. Perry is Family Inclusion Coordinator for the Confidence and Competence, Partners in Policymaking program for families who have children receiving Early Intervention services and school age children receiving special education services. She also supports The Partnership, coordinating support efforts for all family members and self-advocates to attend trainings, workshops and meetings. Ms. Perry is a parent of a child who receives special education services.

Amanda Reinsfelder
As Assistive Technology Specialist for Pennsylvania's Initiative on Assistive Technology (PIAT), Ms. Reinsfelder helps individuals explore different options available through the Assistive Technology Lending Library. In addition, she educates employers about the availability of accommodations for the workplace. Ms. Reinsfelder also serves as the Consumer Educator for the Telecommunications Device Distribution Program for Pennsylvania through PIAT. She helps people understand the differences between the telecommunication devices and assists with equipment set up.

Mary Kay Rentz
As the Assistant Director of Technical Assistance, Ms. Rentz is responsible for providing technical assistance to Pennsylvania's Independent Monitoring for Quality (IM4Q) Project, a statewide project assessing the quality of life of individuals receiving mental retardation services. Before joining the Institute staff, Mary Kay worked for a provider organization in Philadelphia overseeing the agency's quality management activities and promoting continuous quality improvement. She has a Master of Social Work degree from Temple University and more than 10 years experience working with individuals with disabilities.

Jennifer Seale
Ms. Seale is the Augmentative Communication Services Coordinator for the Institute. She received her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees from Duquesne University in 2006 and 2007, respectively. She has experience evaluating and treating individuals with complex communication needs. Ms. Seale has conducted research and frequently presents on the topic of Augmentative and Alternative Communication.

Mary Segal
Mary Segal, PhD, Research Scientist for the Research and Evaluation Core at the Institute on Disabilities, has received grants from the National Institutes of Health, the National Institute on Disabilities and Rehabilitation Research, and the William Penn Foundation. Dr. Segal's peer-reviewed publications and presentations at national conferences are in the areas of community outcomes for people with disabilities, particularly functional status and quality of life; impact of care-giving provided by family members of persons with disabilities; and empowerment and decision-making by the public regarding illness prevention and health care system access, with an emphasis on the influence of electronic technology.

Amy Semenuk
Ms. Semenuk, Graphic/Web Design Specialist, manages the websites for the Institute and The Partnership, a program of the Institute, and also designs and produces print, multimedia, and photographic materials. Since earning her BFA degree she has built her career in photography and graphic design, as well as focusing on Internet technologies beginning in 1999.

Jill Smith
Ms. Gates Smith is the technical writer for The Partnership, a program of the Institute. Working closely with self-advocates, she adapts PowerPoint presentations on topics that guide individuals through the state MR System and encourage self-determination. She attended SUNY at Cortland and earned a master's degree from Temple University.

Lisa Troy
As Telecommunication Device Distribution Program (TDDP) Coordinator, Ms. Troy is responsible for screening and processing all TDDP applications. Much of her career has been in healthcare administration and customer service. Ms. Troy is currently a continuing education student at Temple University.

Ann Marie White
Ms. White is the Associate Director of Finance and Administration and is responsible for the daily operations and financial management of the Institute on Disabilities. She brings with her over a decade of experience in research administration and research financial management. Ms. White earned a bachelor's degree in Accounting from La Salle University, a master's degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix and is a Certified Research Administrator.

Brian Zimmerman
Mr. Zimmerman is the Special Assistant to the Executive Director and has a wide range of experience in the field of disabilities. He has studied disability theory and also worked as an advocate for people with disabilities in the Social Security system. He has particular experience in the field of disability arts and culture.