How we support your institution

Ian is the Co-Founder/CEO of EdPros. He has nearly two decades of experience in disability resources and accessibility services, student affairs, institutional innovation, student success initiatives, and transitional issues. Most of this has been through leadership roles at institutions including Virginia Commonwealth University, The Johns Hopkins University - School of Medicine, and The Catholic University of America. He also has extensive consulting experience in both the education and EdTech sectors through his work with organizations including EdPros and Educational Testing Services.

Ian is a recognized and sought-after expert on postsecondary disability resources and accessibility. He regularly presents at regional and national events including the Postsecondary Disability Training Institute and annual AHEAD conferences. His work and publications have been featured in the Journal on Postsecondary Education and Disability and Disability Compliance for Higher Education.

Enjie is the Director of the Disability Resource Center at the Twin Cities campus and ADA Coordinator systemwide for the University of Minnesota. She brings more than 15 years of experience in the disability resources field and 25 years of advocacy work in the disability community. She is a former board member for AHEAD. Enjie has co-authored publications pertaining to the interactive process, assistance animals, and professional competencies and offered presentations on leadership, the interactive process, digital accessibility, and disability and access in DEI efforts.

Adam has worked in the field of disability services since 2004 and is currently the Director of Student Accessibility Services at The University of Central Florida. He has a broad range of experiences working at smaller to mid-sized schools with teams of one to five professionals and larger universities with 30+ staff. Adam is a former member of AHEAD’s Board of Directors. He is now a regularly featured presenter at AHEAD conferences and serves on their external review team for campus program evaluations.

Randall started in Higher Education Disability Services in 2007 following 18-years working with employers in the placement of disabled veterans and employees in the workplace. Randall has extensive leadership experience ranging from the community college setting to a large Big-10 school, Purdue University. Randall is a past advisory board member for the Disabilities committee of the Illinois Board of Higher Education and the AHEAD standing committee on Professional Development.

A presenter at the national, regional, and state level, Randall’s interests range from: “New to the Profession: Building A Strong Foundation” to “Re-thinking the Disability Paradigm: A Conversation to Have with Faculty and Staff.” With experience at five different campuses in four different states, Randall is astute at understanding institutional cultures and planning sustainable change over time. Randall was Awarded the 2014: AHEAD Diversity Recognition Award.

With over twelve years of dedicated service in higher education, Dr. Mitchell has held critical roles in Disability Services, including Assistant Dean of Students/Director at Florida State University. In this capacity, she spearheaded initiatives to enhance services for over 7,000 students with disabilities. Dr. Mitchell’s leadership at FSU was marked by a comprehensive overhaul of Student Accessibility Services, where she was instrumental in integrating accessibility into the fabric of the campus culture.

Dr. Mitchell’s tenure included the development of robust policies and procedures that not only complied with ADA standards but also set a higher benchmark for campus accessibility. She managed a team of accessibility specialists, supervised an exam lab that provided testing accommodations, and led an alternative text lab equipped with the latest digital accessibility tools. Her experience underscores her commitment to fostering an educational environment where all students can thrive.

Sohail Akhavein is a dedicated leader in higher education, championing accessibility, inclusion, and community-driven change. With over 19 years of experience advancing equity for students with disabilities, Sohail has transformed institutional practices, developed inclusive policies, and built partnerships centered on student experiences.

They have led cross-campus initiatives that embed accessibility into university culture, advocating for disability as a valued part of diversity. Their strategic efforts have improved accommodations, enhanced faculty and staff education, and fostered systemic change to create more inclusive learning environments. Sohail’s leadership has advanced student retention, inclusive design, and the integration of assistive technology.

Rooted in collaboration and innovation, Sohail’s person-centered approach empowers students, staff, and faculty. They’ve worked closely with Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, and Equity & Inclusion offices to build sustainable accessibility initiatives. Committed to cultivating community and advancing equity, Sohail strives to create a higher education landscape where access and belonging are fundamental to student success.

Valerie has worked in the field of disability services since 1996. She was a social studies and special education teacher in the K-12 system before working in higher education. She has been an accessibility coordinator and has worked in leadership as a director at institutions ranging from smaller community colleges to large research institutions like the University of Colorado at Boulder and the University of Washington at Seattle. Throughout her career Valerie has presented locally and nationally on topics related to case management, team development, and transition from high school to college. She is currently a consultant to accessibility services teams and helps out with case management staffing needs during peak times and in times of office transitions.

Kappy has worked in student disability services in higher education since 1996. She has held leadership roles as Deputy Director at the University of Chicago, and Director of SDS at Cornell University. She is currently a consultant to accessibility resources staff, providing support with student services during peak enrollment periods and staffing shortages.

Chris Stone, Ed.D. is Director of Disability Resources at Washington University in St. Louis. Dr. Stone has over 20 years of experience in public and private higher education settings following a brief tenure teaching and coaching in 7-12 education. Chris has facilitated numerous workshops and presentations speaking on a variety of topics, most frequently related to the equitable access and inclusion of disabled students; the role of disability resource professionals in Behavioral Intervention Teams and with Title IX; and campus policy development. He is the current President of Missouri AHEAD (MO-AHEAD), and previously held positions on the board of AHEAD (Director-at-Large) and NC-AHEAD (Treasurer, President).

Annissa has worked in disability services for almost 15 years. She started as a student employee in document conversion and took on the role of the document conversion coordinator at UArizona's Disability Resource Center after graduating from the University of Arizona. Since that time, she has received her master's degree in Higher Education from Northern Arizona University and coordinated captioning and document conversion services at the University of Arizona. She has presented at both the AHEAD and Accessing Higher Ground conferences in recent years.