DO-IT Volunteer Career Mentors

Mentors encourage DO-IT Scholars, Ambassadors, and Pals as they pursue academic programs and careers. Some Mentors are still in college; others are pursuing careers in science, engineering, mathematics, and technology. Most have disabilities themselves. They share valuable experiences, insights, and resources with younger participants.

Sue Yasuko Abe
Cerebral Palsy
Youth Services Coordinator
Center for Independent Living

John Armstrong
Post polio quadriplegic
Director of Admissions
University of Washington, School of Social Work

Malik Ashiru
Aersospace Engineer

Sean Barrett
Mobility impairment
Business Relations Manager
WA State Business Leadership Network

Kevin Berg
Cerebral Palsy
Motivational speaker

Arthur Blaser
Hemiplegia, brain injury, impaired speech from stroke
Professor of Political Science
Chapman University

Karen L. Braitmayer, AIA
Osteogenesis Imperfecta
Architect, Business owner
Studio Pacifica, Ltd.

Roger Bruland
Diabetes
EMT
Hood Canal School District

Len Burns
Computer Consultant
Sasquatch Computer Services

Laura Caparroso
Blind
Social Services

Wendy Chisholm
Web Accessibility Engineer
W3C

Laurie Clark
Science Educator
Seattle Public Schools

Kristina Courtwright
Cerebral Palsy, Learning Disability
Occupational Therapist

Frank Cuta
Blind
Electrical engineer
Battelle Pacific Northwest Labs

Thomas Dreschel
Biologist/Science Education Coordinator
Kennedy Space Center

Dr. Imke Durre
Blind
Physical Scientist
NOAA National Climatic Data Center

Marni Goldman
Spinal Muscular Atrophy
Education Director for Science Research
Standford University

Julie Grant
Spinal Cord Injury - Para (level L4)
HR Support Specialist
Washington Mutual Bank

Jeff Harris
Blind
Hosting Service Provider

Roger Harris
Stroke, kidney failure
Associate Professor of neuroanatomy
University of Washington School of Medicine

Nan Hawthorne
Blind
Writer, Content Developer
eSight Career Network

Dr. Todd Heywood
Hearing impairment
Computer specialist
IBM Power Parallel Systems

Sungeeta Jain
Paraplegic
Law clerk
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

Ed Keller
Diabetes, mobility impairment
Professor, Biology Environmental Science
West Virginia University

Mark Koontz
TBI, asthma
Writer, artist

Douglas Lefever
Cerebral Palsy
Life Instructor

Marciano Lopez
Retired Electrical Engineer

Dean Martineau
Blind
Math tutor, Internet Resources Assistant

Cindy McAuliffe
Assistive Technology Specialist, Special Educator
Puyallup School District

Robert F. McKellar
Spina Bifida
Author: An Accident of Birth; Educator; and Counselor

Jennifer Mundl
C1-Centilator Dependent Quadriplegia
Assistive Technology Specialist
Courage Center Rehabilitation Facility

James O'Connor
Dyslexia
Teacher
Juanita High School, Kirkland, WA

Katherine Pananen
Cerebral Palsy
Secondary School Teacher

Bruce Parks
Hearing impairment
School Improvement Coordinator
Vermont Department of Education

Dr. Gay Lloyd Pinder
Deaf
Program Director and Speech Language Pathologist
Children's Therapy Center of Kent, WA

Ed Pottharst
Deaf
Neighborhood District Coordinator
City of Seattle, Department of Neighborhoods

Tracy Rackensperger
Cerebral Palsy
Consultant
Prentke Romich Company

Richard Radtke
Quadraplegia
Researcher and Professor of Oceanography
Hawaii

James Ryan
Blind
Programmer/analyst

Terri Scott
Director
Spokane MESA (Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement)

Greg Smith
C-5 quadriplegia
Software Design Engineer
Microsoft

Carole Snyder
Cerebral Palsy
Software Developer Engineer

Virginia Stern
ENTRY POINT! and ACCESS Director
American Association for the Advancement of Science

Bill Taylor
Retired Software Engineer

Aimee Verrall
Research Coordinator
Virginia Merrill Bloedel Hearing Research Center
University of Washington

Andrew Riggle
Cerebral Palsy
Graduate Student

Will Schell
Low Vision
Disabled Student Service s Support Staff
University of Washington

Stephen Wallin
Hearing disability, some vocal tract paralysis
Professor of Physics
University of Southern Colorado

Dr. Paul Zaveruha
Surgeon

Dr. William Zoller
Brain injury
Professor, Chemistry
University of Washington