The Office of Student Accommodations recognizes faculty and staff who have gone out of their way to make WVU a more accessible place for students with Disabilities. This distinction is voted on each spring by OSA staff. If you are a student or colleague who wishes to nominate a faculty member for consideration, please contact us with a short blurb describing the faculty or staff member’s exceptional contributions to accessibility.
2025-2026
Jason Bock, Director for Online Education, Eberly College of Arts and Sciences
Jason Bock is a great partner to work with, and he brings a wealth of knowledge about accessibility to his role as Eberly’s Director for Online Education. He has been instrumental in getting course documents and other materials remediated for numerous courses, and he proactively searches for solutions to make sure students have an equal opportunity, whether it's when filling out a worksheet or giving instructors feedback on their teaching. In some cases, specifically, Jason has worked to prioritize this remediation on a compressed deadline to ensure that students have access in upcoming courses without delay. Jason possesses an innovator's spirit, always looking for new and better approaches to make his college, and the wider University, a more accessible place for students. He has been especially active in exploring ways to leverage AI to make this an attainable goal for instructors without sacrificing the quality and trust integral to student success. This has been evident in his meaningful contributions to the ongoing discussion of digital accessibility across the institution.
Tyler Collie, Director, Student Support Services/TRIO
Tyler Collie is the definition of an advocate, driven to make WVU more accessible and inclusive. Through the TRIO program, she supports first-generation college students with disabilities, many of whom receive accommodations through the Office of Student Accommodations. She goes above and beyond to advocate for students in many aspects of their college experience that extend beyond their coursework, working with them on financial literacy, navigating college life, and seeking support when they need it. She serves as safe place for many students, and the difference she makes on this campus and in the lives of students is evident in their success.
Becca Coltogirone, Teaching Assistant Professor and Director of the Undergraduate Program in Neuroscience, Department of Biology
Affectionately known as “Dr. C,” Becca Coltogirone is a great supporter of students with disabilities. She has been a core collaborator with the Autism Support Program, supporting ASP students majoring in Neuroscience and/or taking Biology courses. She has met with ASP students and staff multiple times each semester to learn more about how she can help support their success and to address any concerns they have. Becca not only makes sure that her classroom is accessible, but she works with her colleagues behind the scenes to help ensure that her department prioritizes student needs. She has been a phenomenal advisor, professor, and advocate.
Erin Fowler, Interim Assistant Director of Teaching and Learning Applications, WVU Information Technology Services
Erin Fowler is a dream to work with. Each semester there are many courses at the Health Sciences Campus with video content that requires captioning and other forms of remediation for students with disabilities. Likewise, OSA transcribers and interpreters often need access to course shells in order to prepare for their upcoming assignments, which are highly technical and specific. Orchestrating that access can be a large task for OSA staff and for faculty alike, but Erin Fowler, in addition to her many duties, has been a great supporter of accessibility, handling these access requests for SOLE and communicating this need to faculty on the Health Sciences campus. She helped to establish standard procedures for requesting access, streamlining the process and making it more efficient so that there are no unnecessary delays when it comes to accommodating students.
Leighann Scott, Campus Dietitian, WVU Hospitality Group
Leighann Scott is an incredible advocate and resource for our students whose disabilities and medical conditions impact their dietary needs. She's wonderful at establishing rapport with students and working with them to develop a plan that students and their families can be confident is the best way to meet their individual needs. In addition to her expertise in nutrition and dietetics, Leighann is knowledgeable and considerate of the effects that various disabilities can have on some students' experience in the dining halls. Leighann consistently goes above and beyond by following up and checking in with our students to ensure their needs are being met, even if they aren't using the campus dining halls. The Accommodation Specialists greatly appreciate Leighann’s thoughtful insight and recommendations for every student they refer to her.
Carrie Showalter, Dean of Students and Associate Vice President, Student Life
Whether serving as Director of the CARE Team or, now, as the Associate Vice President of Student Life, Carrie Showalter has always been an ally and advocate for students with accommodations at WVU, including those enrolled in our support programs. She genuinely cares about equal access, and she works hard to ensure that students receive support and the resources they need to ensure that their basic needs are met. This includes work that extends beyond the normal boundaries of her workday. She has helped students navigate emergencies, connecting them with stakeholders in other areas, and has been a strong advocate with campus leadership. Her work has made WVU’s campus a more inclusive space for students, and she continues to embrace accessibility in her decision-making, for instance, ensuring that there are sensory spaces at various Student Life events.
Nevena Stojanovic, Teaching Assistant Professor, Multidisciplinary Studies Programs
Nevena Stojanovic has been a great supporter of accessibility, and for many years she has worked with OSA and her college's accessibility team to ensure that her course content is accessible. Nevena is notably proactive about having documents and videos remediated for individuals who use screen readers and captions, and she has worked with various stakeholders, including WVU’s librarians, to locate accessible versions of reading materials and multimedia that would, otherwise, be inaccessible. She does this even when there aren't students in her classes authorized for accommodation because she believes courses should be accessible by design. Nevena vets the tools and technology in her classroom so that she is not only using the most accessible options when designing and facilitating her courses but also chooses cost-free options that do not place extra financial burden on her students. As a curriculum chair within her unit, she supports her colleagues, as well, helping them to make their online classes more accessible while modeling best practices. Her leadership, dedication to students, and support of equality are all traits that stand out in service to students with disabilities.
Joan Vogtman, Professor of Physics, Potomac State College
Joan Vogtman is an exceptional advocate for her students. She works diligently to ensure that accommodations are implemented properly and without delay, including coordinating proctoring services when needed. She consistently takes the extra step, even going so far as to work with Potomac State facilities to lower the classroom whiteboard so a student could fully engage in group activities. Her thoughtful pre-planning and commitment to making her classroom accessible to others is what makes her a wonderful instructor.
Sarah Zamora, Program Assistant and Accessibility Transportation Coordinator, Transportation Services
Sarah Zamora is extremely supportive of students with accessibility needs. When coordinating schedules for accessible transportation, Sarah makes a strong effort to accommodate students' accessibility needs, even in situations where requests come at the last minute. She maintains a connection with each student, and when a student has a concern, or if Sarah notices a student may need support, she takes initiative to proactively notify the appropriate staff so the student can be connected and supported. Sarah is quick to respond, reliable, and welcoming, and she is a steady advocate.
2024-2025
Sally Brown, Curator, WVU Art in the Libraries
Jenna Edwards, Senior Academic Advisor, Davis College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Jacek Jaczynski, Professor of Food Science and Muscle Food Safety, Davis College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Eric Johnson, Assistant Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders, School of Medicine
Maureen Mansfield Kaddar, Teaching Assistant Professor of Dance, School of Theatre and Dance
Theresa Lubich, Academic Program Coordinator, College of Law
Tamba M'bayo Associate Professor of History, Eberly College of Arts and Sciences
Ron Reaser, Teaching Instructor in the Lane Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, Statler College of Engineering
2023-2024
Rodney Adlington, IT Operations Manager, WVU Libraries
Rick Bebout, Technology Manager, Reed College of Media
Rachael Conrad, Assistant Director of Employer Relations, Career Services
Anna Gravelin Coy, Assistant Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders, School of Medicine
Tammy Honesty, Associate Professor of Scene Design, School of Theatre and Dance
Dana Huebert Lima, Teaching Associate Professor and Associate Chair for Undergraduate Studies, Department of Biology
Sharon Martin, Vice President for University Engagement and CMO
Renée Nicholson, Director, WVU Humanities Center
Danica Ryan, Career Development Specialist, Career Services
Chris Schmoldt, Interim Director, Mountainlair
2015-2016*
Cassandra Pritts, Associate Professor and Chairperson, Department of History—Potomac State College
( *previously named “Commitment to Communication Access Award”)
Note: all listings reflect the awardee’s position and title at the time of the award.