Global Awareness Series: Students with Disabilities

Dr. Chris Rosa became President & CEO of The Viscardi Center, a network of non-profits that educate, employ and empower children and adults with disabilities, in January 2022. He is a staunch advocate for equity and economic justice for people with disabilities, being a wheelchair-user since age 12 who has Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy. A published disability studies scholar, he serves in national leadership roles for organizations that promote access and wellness for Americans with disabilities. He is also a sought-after orator. Before joining Viscardi, Dr. Rosa held numerous leadership positions at the City University of New York (CUNY), the nation’s largest urban public university system, the most recent as the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Inclusion Initiatives. In this role, Dr. Rosa designed and led programs that promote access, equity, and inclusion for over 35,000 students who have historically under-participated in higher education. Dr. Rosa earned his B.A. in Sociology & Philosophy from Queens College in 1989 and his Ph.D. in Sociology from the CUNY Graduate Center in 2001.

Ben Freier has over 20 years’ experience working with students with disabilities in higher education. Ben currently serves as Director of Office of Accessibility Services (OAS) at Queensborough Community College (QCC) where he manages a multi-faceted disability services program consistent with nationally regarded best practices. Ben also directs the award-winning CUNY’s Assistive Technology Services (CATS) Project, a University center of excellence providing leading-edge technical assistance and professional development to CUNY campuses regarding access technologies for individuals with disabilities.