Technical Assistance Providers

Think College National Coordinating Center Technical Assistance providers - those on staff and consultants from the field, are available to assist professionals, families and students on a wide range of issues related to inclusive postsecondary education.  Email our Help Desk and we will assign the provider with the best level of expertise related to your questions.  If you want to speak to a specific provider from the list below, please let us know in your request.

You can also email our Help Desk to request a speaker for your event.  Our technical assistance providers are available to speak at events related to postsecondary education for students with ID.  We welcome requests and will make every attempt to provide a speaker for your event, with staff and consultants located across the country.

Note that most services are currently provided at no cost.

National Coordinating Center Technical Assistance Providers 

Cate Weir, M.Ed.,
Project Coordinator

Focus areas: Program development and improvement, finding the right college, Comprehensive Transition Program application, program accreditation standards, funding options, strategic planning 

Kathleen Becht, Ph.D.,
Technical Assitance Coordinator

Focus areas: Program development and improvement, credential development, family support, literacy, academic access, state level coordination

Clare Papay, Ph.D.,
Senior Research Associate

Focus areas: Comprehensive Transition Program applications, program development, research and data collection

Debra Hart, M.S.,
Co-Principal Investigator

Focus areas: National policy, strategic planning, program development, grant writing

Meg Grigal, Ph.D.
Prinicipal Investigator

Focus areas: National policy, program development, research, employment supports and outcomes 

Lori Cooney, M.Ed.
Project Coordinator

Focus areas: Universal Design for Learning, technology supports

Maria Paiewonsky, Ed.D.
Program Director

Focus areas: College-based transition services (CBTS), college/school district partnerships, transition, Participatory Action Research

Ty Hanson, M.Ed.
Project Coordinator
 

Focus areas: College-based transition services (CBTS), family engagement, program development, inclusive research

Russell Thelin, MS, LVRC, CRC
Senior Research Fellow

Focus areas: Vocational rehabilitation, Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act

Denise Rozell, J.D.
Association of University Centers on Disabilities

Focus areas: State and Federal policy and legislation, advocacy

Kelly Kelley, Ph.D.
Western Carolina University

Focus areas: Program development and improvement, campus living, college academic access, peer mentors, admissions processes

Margo Izzo, Ph.D.
The Ohio State University Nisonger Center

Focus areas: Program development, strategic planning, transition to college and careers, vocational rehabilitation, industry recognized credentials, statewide alliances/consortia, program evaluation.

Brian Freedman, Ph.D
University of Delaware Center for Disabilities Studies

Focus areas: Program development, sustainability, mental health, family engagement, autism, campus access, admissions processes

Julie Lackey
LeadLearnLive

Focus areas: Grassroots efforts/non-profit development, early stage program development activities (needs assessment, developing relationships, etc), memoranda of understanding, program operations funding, statewide collaboration, family support

Lisa Pluff, MA
UNC Greensboro

Focus areas: Grassroots efforts/nonprofit development & management, Statewide partnerships, Medicaid Waiver for student support, Program development and improvement, Program Operations, Inclusive Campus living, Family Engagement, Admissions Processes

Susanna Miller-Raines, MSW
Georgia State University

Focus areas: Alliances & Consortiums, working with Vocational Rehabilitation, working with Developmental Disability Councils, systems change, collective impact, regional alliances and partnerships, professional development, legislative advocacy, policy