It is always exciting to celebrate big moments, here are a few of my favourites!
Upcoming Presentation
In my new role at Ontario Tech University I get to do Accessibility, Universal Design and Accommodations work EVERYDAY! I’ll be sharing this work at the Teaching and Learning Technology Conference Summer 2021.
The Summit Continues
Over 1,000 people attended the 4th UMD Disability Summit. We are virtual for now, and forever! We continue the conversation on Twitter @UMDDisabilityS1
#MovetheDial Partners Reception
Watching Mpumi Nobvia do an amazing interview at Shopify for MovetheDial was breathtaking.
Disability Activism website goes live!
The Routledge Handbook Of Disability Activism
As part of our contribution to the volume the editors have created a website that showcases the advocacy and work of authors within and outside the academic context. The full book is coming soon but it is amazing to see our work next to so many other amazing folks! We’re in Part VII (7): Campus Activism in Higher Education, Chapter 22 “Beyond Random Acts of Diversity: Ableism, Academia and Institutional Sites of Resistance.”
Emerging Scholar Award
Diversity in Organizations, Communities and Nations Conference (2020)
In May 2020 I will be presenting part of my doctoral dissertation research at the annual conference. I was also chosen as part of the Emerging Scholars Award program, and will be running a session as well as supporting the conference committee in Milan, Italy.
SPH Commencement
The University of Maryland School of Public Health (SPH) hosted the spring commencement ceremony on Wednesday, May 22 in the Xfinity Center. The amazing keynote was Dr. Leana Wen, American physician and author. I did have the proper side tam but my uncle was also generous enough to bequeath me with the paper hat I made for him for his Master’s graduation (when I was about five years old).
3rd Biennial UMD Disability Summit
On April 5th, 2019 we hosted the 3rd biennial Summit, founded by myself and Dr. Paul Jaeger in 2016. The summit is free and open to the public, and is a space for the community to come together across disciplines and disability to share resources, research and advocacy efforts.
Two Awards!
I nominated my organizing committee from the 3rd UMD Disability Summit, and we won! But to my surprise I was also given an award in recognition for my contributions to the disability community during my doctoral studies at the University of Maryland, College Park. Working with this wonderful commission I was able to support events such as Disability Awareness Month, the Disability Studies Minor, TerpAccess, the Disability Day of Mourning, Bathroom Justice, the RadAccess Workshop and the UMD Disability Summit.
Dissertation Defense
On April 29th, 2019 I was surrounded by my wonderful committee members as well as friends for the culmination of my doctoral research, “The Physical Culture of Diversity Work: A Case Study of Embodied Inclusion and Exclusion in American Higher Education.”
Finalist: Graduate Distinguished Service Award
35th Annual University Awards Banquet
Each spring the University of Maryland celebrates graduate students who have made outstanding contributions to the University community in the areas of service, involvement, leadership, and scholarship. I was nominated and became a finalist in 2016 and even though I didn’t win I got to share the stage with the winner, the amazing Dr. Angel Love Miles .
Laura Wilson Leadership Award
University of Maryland, School of Public Health
This award honors Laura B. Wilson Ph.D., perpetuates her legacy, and recognizes her leadership in envisioning and designing the Department of Health Services Administration in the University of Maryland School of Public Health. Dr. Wilson created and implemented this new department, which enabled the nascent School of Public Health to meet the requirements of the Council on Accreditation in Public Health.
MiPequeñaAyuda
As part of the Disability Goes Global at UMD program in the Summer of 2016 I was able to travel to South America to document education abroad students experiences. With videographer Rachel George we spoke to students with about their experiences working with organizations such as MiPequeñaAyuda – MySmallHelp Peru and Baca Ortiz Pediatric Hospital in Quito, Ecuador, that focus on supporting disabled youth.
Stephanie J. Cork 