Projects

NCPAD Graduate Students

NCPAD Graduate students are responsible for answering NCPAD's 800-line, processing consumer requests, mass mailings, editing, and other clerical duties. They come from a variety of fields such as disability studies, health promotion, adapted physical activity, therapeutic recreation, kinesiology and public health.

	Ming-De Chen, M.S., is a registered occupational therapist in Taiwan. He received his undergraduate degree in Occupational Therapy from the National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan, and his Master’s degree in Special Education and Technology from the National Hualien University of Education, Taiwan. Ming is a doctoral student in Disability Studies and works as a Graduate Assistant at the National Center on Physical Activity and Disability. He assisted with the development of the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans chapter on disability. His current role is to examine the effects of exercise on health outcomes for people with disabilities by conducting a systematic review of the lifespan and meta-analysis.
	Jennifer Green, B.S., is from Portage, MI and is currently working as an intern at the National Center on Physical Activity and Disability. She is working on her Master's degree at Benedictine University in Clinical Exercise Physiology. Prior to moving to IL she attended Central Michigan University where she majored in Health Fitness in Preventative and Rehabilitative Programs.
	Chitra Gurung, M.A., is from Nepal and works as a Graduate Assistant at the National Center on Physical Activity and Disability. She is currently pursuing her Masters degree in Disability and Human Development with a concentration in Social Policy and Advocacy. For the past twelve years, before entering UIC’s graduate program, Chitra worked in a variety of Nepalese national and international non-profit organizations that work with and for the people with disabilities. She has extensive experience working in community based rehabilitation services including inclusion and advocacy program activities for persons with disabilities. As a sibling of a brother with multiple physical and intellectual disabilities, she has had first hand exposure to disability related concerns and issues. Her research interests include inclusion and advocacy of persons with disabilities with focus on the empowerment of women with disabilities.
	Dhairy Mamnia is from Mumbai, India and is currently working in the Department of Disabilities and Human Development as a Graduate Research Assistant in instructional technology. He is pursuing his Masters in Management Information Systems. His undergraduate degree and Diploma was in Information Technology. He worked with Tata Consultancy Services as an Assistant Software Engineer for a year.
	Ryan McGraw, B.A., is from Dearborn, Michigan and works as a Graduate Assistant at the National Center on Physical Activity and Disability. He is currently enrolled in the Masters program in Disability and Human Development, with a concentration in social policy and advocacy. Before coming to UIC, he attended Kalamazoo College, receiving his undergraduate degree in Political Science. After receiving his degree in 2006, he worked on an inclusive recreation grant in Kalamazoo. Ryan’s interests in the disability field include advocacy, education policy, and inclusive recreation.

	Jess Tourtellotte, B.A., is from Olympia, Washington and received her undergraduate degree from The Evergreen State College with an academic emphasis in Humanities and Disability Studies. She is currently a student in the Master’s program in Disability and Human Development at UIC where Jess is interested in public and social policy work and also the development and maintenance of grass root/non-profit organizations, which focus on disability. Currently, Jess also, works as a graduate assistant for the National Center of Physical Activity and Disability.