Board of Advisors
Delphine Andrews
Delphine Andrews
Delphine Andrews
Delphine Andrews is a communications professional who has spent the bulk of her career working in the non-profit sector. As someone with a disability, she has a lifetime of lived experience in diversity, inclusion, equity and access. She recently launched a blog entitled Driving Toward Thriving to reflect on her own personal journey with
Delphine Andrews is a communications professional who has spent the bulk of her career working in the non-profit sector. As someone with a disability, she has a lifetime of lived experience in diversity, inclusion, equity and access. She recently launched a blog entitled Driving Toward Thriving to reflect on her own personal journey with a physical disability, anxiety and depression. It is about accepting and loving herself through all the challenges and triumphs and doing so in an often inaccessible world. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism with a concentration in Visual Communications/Graphic Design, Minor in Creative Writing, from UNC-Chapel Hill and a Master of Arts with a concentration in Strategic Communications from UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media. As her voice and message continue to grow and evolve, she looks forward to more broadly speaking her truth and working toward change.
Deborah Dorfman
Delphine Andrews
Delphine Andrews
Deborah Dorfman brings almost thirty years of disability rights legal advocacy to her role as Executive Director at Disability Rights Connecticut. Immediately prior to coming to Connecticut, she served as a managing attorney at the Northwest Justice Project, headquartered in Seattle, Washington, where she and her colleagues established a
Deborah Dorfman brings almost thirty years of disability rights legal advocacy to her role as Executive Director at Disability Rights Connecticut. Immediately prior to coming to Connecticut, she served as a managing attorney at the Northwest Justice Project, headquartered in Seattle, Washington, where she and her colleagues established a statewide, free special education legal clinic for low-income families with students with disabilities. There she also provided legal representation to individuals with disabilities on issues concerning housing discrimination and access to Medicaid-covered services. Before working at NJP she was a senior attorney at the Center for Public Representation (CPR) in Northampton, Massachusetts. There she provided technical legal assistance to the national Protection and Advocacy network. Along with her colleagues at CPR, she also co-counseled class action litigation with Disability Rights Texas and a private firm in partnership with the U.S. Department of Justice to advocate for community services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) in, or at risk of admission to, Texas’ nursing facilities.
Cassandra Jeyaram
Cassandra Jeyaram
Cassandra Jeyaram
Cassandra Jeyaram is director of resource assessments and eligibility at United Cerebral Palsy of Georgia and South Carolina. She was previously a principal in Liquid Media Consulting, which provided clients with marketing services, including communication strategies and campaigns. She was also social marketing and promotions manager at I
Cassandra Jeyaram is director of resource assessments and eligibility at United Cerebral Palsy of Georgia and South Carolina. She was previously a principal in Liquid Media Consulting, which provided clients with marketing services, including communication strategies and campaigns. She was also social marketing and promotions manager at IHG, where she built its global social media program. Jeyayam has also been vice president of eBusiness for SunTrust Banks and internet marketing administrator for SouthTrust Bank. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Alabama and a PhD in communication law from the University of North Carolina.
Richard Ramsey
Cassandra Jeyaram
Cassandra Jeyaram
Richard Ramsey is an innovator and product developer at Nike. He is responsible for the creation of new technologies revolving around ease of entry, ease of securing, and adaptation. He actively participates in meetings with Product Creation during all phases of the development process and execute the decision-making process that leads to
Richard Ramsey is an innovator and product developer at Nike. He is responsible for the creation of new technologies revolving around ease of entry, ease of securing, and adaptation. He actively participates in meetings with Product Creation during all phases of the development process and execute the decision-making process that leads to on-time product confirmation, under budget product and on-time delivery. He helps plan and execute development according to critical dates and I ensure manufacturability of product concepts and utilize footwear knowledge and tools to effectively and appropriately achieve project objectives. Ramsey has been at Nike since May 2012. He holds a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from Arizona State University.
Our staff
Chris Roush
Gabriela Álvares
Dave Stevens
Dean of the School of Communications
Chris Roush is the dean of the School of Communications at Quinnipiac University. He previously spent 17 years at UNC-Chapel Hill, where he was Walter E. Hussman Sr. Distinguished Professor, senior associate dean, and director of the master's program. He is the author or co-author of 10 books, including
Dean of the School of Communications
Chris Roush is the dean of the School of Communications at Quinnipiac University. He previously spent 17 years at UNC-Chapel Hill, where he was Walter E. Hussman Sr. Distinguished Professor, senior associate dean, and director of the master's program. He is the author or co-author of 10 books, including the business journalism textbook "Show me the Money: Writing Business and Economics Stories for Mass Communication" and a biography of former Wall Street Journal editor Vermont Royster. He has written books about Home Depot, Pacific Coast Feather Co., and Regions Financial. He is advising Ability Media, and one of his sons grew up with a learning disability.
Dave Stevens
Gabriela Álvares
Dave Stevens
Professional in Residence at Quinnipiac University
Dave Stevens is the only legless player in sports history to have played NCAA football (Augsburg University, MN) and minor league baseball (St. Paul Saints) The 7 time Emmy winning sports journalist is now a motivational speaker and television host as he nears 40 years in broadcasting (20
Professional in Residence at Quinnipiac University
Dave Stevens is the only legless player in sports history to have played NCAA football (Augsburg University, MN) and minor league baseball (St. Paul Saints) The 7 time Emmy winning sports journalist is now a motivational speaker and television host as he nears 40 years in broadcasting (20 with ESPN). The father of 3 teen boys is a Professional in Residence at Quinnipiac University, and oversees the new Ability Media initiative at the college to teach media and production to disabled students and create job opportunities and careers.
Gabriela Álvares
Gabriela Álvares
Gabriela Álvares
Public Speaker and Relations Intern
Gabriela Álvares is a Communications Major in her junior year at Quinnipiac University. She will graduate in 2022 with a master's degree in Public Relations with a specialization in Social Media. In addition to being a full-time student, she also works in the Admissions Office as a tour guide. After grad
Public Speaker and Relations Intern
Gabriela Álvares is a Communications Major in her junior year at Quinnipiac University. She will graduate in 2022 with a master's degree in Public Relations with a specialization in Social Media. In addition to being a full-time student, she also works in the Admissions Office as a tour guide. After graduation, she aspires to be an ambassador, advocate, voice, and public speaker for Learning Differences. Her goal is to be an educator on the subject as she is Dyslexic. She plans to impact and break stigmas and misunderstandings surrounding learning differences with her personal experience.
William Gavin
Victoria Lorenz
Gabriela Álvares
Reporter Intern
Will Gavin is an experienced writer, interviewer, and reporter. Driven by an urge to give a voice to the unrepresented, he takes pride in providing the best stories possible. As a reporter, his goals include accurately informing and educating the public. When not working on the next big story Will enjoys catching up on the
Reporter Intern
Will Gavin is an experienced writer, interviewer, and reporter. Driven by an urge to give a voice to the unrepresented, he takes pride in providing the best stories possible. As a reporter, his goals include accurately informing and educating the public. When not working on the next big story Will enjoys catching up on the news, watching the political circus, and scrolling through Twitter.
Alyssa Biondio
Victoria Lorenz
Victoria Lorenz
Advertising and Marketing Intern
Alyssa Biondo is a graduate student at Quinnipiac University. In May of 2021, she will graduate with a bachelor's degree in Communications with a concentration in Advertising and Integrated Communications and a minor in Media Studies. She has begun to continue her education by obtaining a Master's in Busine
Advertising and Marketing Intern
Alyssa Biondo is a graduate student at Quinnipiac University. In May of 2021, she will graduate with a bachelor's degree in Communications with a concentration in Advertising and Integrated Communications and a minor in Media Studies. She has begun to continue her education by obtaining a Master's in Business Administration degree in a 4+1 accelerated program. She is a member of the MBA Society and Lambda Pi Eta, the official National Communication Honor Society.
Victoria Lorenz
Victoria Lorenz
Victoria Lorenz
Web Design Intern
Victoria Lorenz is an undergraduate student at Quinnipiac University. She is part of the 3+1 program, which will allow her to graduate with a bachelor's in Graphic and Interactive Design in 2022 and a master's in Interactive Media and Communication in 2023. She is also a member of the Quinnipiac chapter of the American Institute of Graphic Arts and the university honors program.
Alessandra Varon
Alessandra Varon
Alessandra Varon
Director of Ability Media TV
Alessandra Varon is the Director of Ability Media TV. She is a student in Quinnipiac’s Film, Television, and Media Arts BFA program in the class of 2022. Her love of film, combined with her passion for her minor— theatre studies— has led her to participate in on-campus activities such as Quinnipiac Tonight, QU’
Director of Ability Media TV
Alessandra Varon is the Director of Ability Media TV. She is a student in Quinnipiac’s Film, Television, and Media Arts BFA program in the class of 2022. Her love of film, combined with her passion for her minor— theatre studies— has led her to participate in on-campus activities such as Quinnipiac Tonight, QU’s live late-night comedy show, where she has been an actor and writer since freshman year, QU’s satirical newspaper The Barnacle, for which she manages social media, and several QU Theater productions, most notably Rage (as seen in American Theater Magazine), an adaptation of the Stephen King novel of the same name, in which she originated the role of Irma Bates, and most recently, as the co-host of the Quinnipiac Chronicle’s podcast: Chron-Versations.
Rachel Stingone
Alessandra Varon
Alessandra Varon
Media Distribution Intern
Rachel Stingone is a senior at Quinnipiac University. She is completing her bachelor's degree in Public Relations with a minor in business in the spring of 2021. She is passionate about media and entertainment and is eager to kickstart her career.
Alicia Brancato
Alessandra Varon
Alicia Brancato
Coordinating Producer
Alicia is the coordinating producer for Ability Media. She is a junior Film, Television and Media Arts major at Quinnipiac university. On campus she is currently writing coordinator for Quinnipiac’s sketch comedy show Quinnipiac Tonight. She’s an aspiring writer and filmmaker who wants to use her talents to help Ability Media grow and create content.
Alena Galan
Alena Galan
Alicia Brancato
Multimedia Host
Alena Galan living with a rare disease, has beat all odds! Alena is an accomplished singer and songwriter who advocates. Performed at Carnegie Hall, interned at CBS 2 News, starred on a TLC Reality show, the camera continues to be her life and home. Alena even completed her undergraduate in Marketing with Communications alo
Multimedia Host
Alena Galan living with a rare disease, has beat all odds! Alena is an accomplished singer and songwriter who advocates. Performed at Carnegie Hall, interned at CBS 2 News, starred on a TLC Reality show, the camera continues to be her life and home. Alena even completed her undergraduate in Marketing with Communications along with her MBA in the 3+1 program. She will continue to make a difference in the lives of other people by bridging the world of work to inspire with her passion and dream to work in the television and entertainment industry. Continuing to climb the ladder of hard work with perseverance, and being the possibilitarian that she is, standing tall at 4’3” as big things do come in smaller package, she knows she will succeed!
Ian Berkey
Alena Galan
Ian Berkey
Graphic Designer
Ian Berkey is an artist from NYC who specializes in illustration and mixed media. He really misses concerts and is super excited for the bands he's working with to start touring again!
Nora Carr
Alena Galan
Ian Berkey
Graphic Design Intern
Nora Carr is a Senior at Quinnipiac University where she is majoring in Graphic and Interactive Design and minoring in Public Relations. At only 13 years old Nora was diagnosed with a rare and serious illness called Idiopathic Primary Pulmonary Hypertension. Five years later Nora was granted a second chance at life wh
Graphic Design Intern
Nora Carr is a Senior at Quinnipiac University where she is majoring in Graphic and Interactive Design and minoring in Public Relations. At only 13 years old Nora was diagnosed with a rare and serious illness called Idiopathic Primary Pulmonary Hypertension. Five years later Nora was granted a second chance at life when she received a lifesaving double lung transplant. Now illness free, Nora is looking forward to graduating college, starting a career in the graphic design industry, and living life without regrets. In her spare time, she enjoys watching baseball and hockey games, listening to music, talking with friends, and writing creatively.