Home > About Us
DSS staff members are available to assist students in obtaining the maximum benefit from educational life at GW. Please feel free to contact us with any question you might have. We look forward to hearing from you!
Christy Willis
Director
Christy has worked at the University since 1984. In her present capacity, she oversees a comprehensive and individualized support service program for over 700 GW students with disabilities. She produced a video, "ADD: The Race Inside My Head," which received an Honorable Mention award at the New York Film and Video Festival. The video is available from the Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD). Christy received her BFA from the California College of Arts and Crafts in painting and her MA in deaf education from New York University
Susan McMenamin
Associate Director
Susan brings to her position at The George Washington University a strong background in post-secondary level disability support having previously served as Coordinator of Services at the University of Maryland. Her education includes a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology/Psychology with a minor in Education from the State University of New York at Albany, and Master of Arts in Special Education from Regis College in Massachusetts. Susan has served in K-12 education in public school systems and as a clinician with the Comprehensive Evaluation Unit in the Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine at the University of Maryland, School of Medicine. Her training as a special educator and diagnostician provides the foundation for her current responsibilities, the review of documentation, determination of eligibility for accommodations, and individualized support for GW students.
Joe FisherLearning SpecialistJoe assists students primarily with writing
assignments, paying particular attention to the writing process
(prewriting, drafting, and revision). Additionally,
Joe
helps students develop effective time management and study
strategies, along with adjusting to, and managing, college life.
Joe
has taught composition and literature at the high school, community
college, and four-year university levels, and he received his PhD in
English from GW in May 2007. His professional interests include
twentieth century American literature, disability studies, and popular
culture—music culture in particular.
Melissa Nichols
Learning Specialist
Mel works with students in all stages of the writing process, as well as strategies for assignment management both short term and for the full semester. She has a Master of Fine Arts in poetry and teaches composition, literature, and creative writing at the college level. She offers both online and evening hours for students who need this flexibility in their schedules, and her current interests include universal design applied to course curriculum planning.
Mandy Haltrecht
Career Development Specialist
Mandy is an intern with the DSS for the 2007-2008 academic year. She
earned a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Richmond and is
currently pursuing an M.A. in Rehabilitation Counseling and a Job
Placement/Job Development Certificate from the GW Graduate School of
Education and Human Development. Between her
undergraduate and graduate terms, she worked as a Job Developer/Coach,
Clinical Assistant for a forensic vocational evaluator, and Management
Analyst contractor with the Federal Aviation Administration.
This year, Mandy will be working with DSS students in career
exploration, job development and internship seeking skills, résumé and
interview preparation, as well as issues related to disability
disclosure and job accommodations. She will serve as a liaison with the Career Center, and will coordinate the Workforce Recruitment Program.
Diane Chaney
Office Manager
Diane joined our staff in December of 1999 after almost twelve years as office manager of the Bookstore. She helps to keep the office running smoothly. Diane processes payroll for staff and student workers and handles the business aspects of DSS.
Christina Galarza
Executive Associate
Christina has been with the University since 1983. She comes to us from GW Television, where she supported a nine-person production crew, as well as three managers. Her main focus with DSS is coordinating the services available to students, such as test proctoring, notetaking, books on tape, interpreting and assistive technology.
Thomas Tarantino
Executive Assistant
Tom graduated from Gallaudet University with a B.S. degree in Home Economics, specializing in Food and Nutrition. He is pursuing a second degree in Computer Information Systems, also at Gallaudet. He joined our staff in April 2003 and assists with test proctoring, scanning, notetaking, and database development. He is proud of being deaf.
Terri West
Executive Assistant
Terri is a native Washingtonian. She began working in the GW Bookstore in 1995; she joined the DSS staff as senior secretary in 1999. She assists in coordinating direct services including test proctoring, notetaking, and students' letters to professors.
Kate Lacey
Staff Interpreter
Kate graduated from Marymount Manhatten College with a fine arts degree in theatre. She then obtained a degree in interpreting/transliterating from Gallaudet University. In 1991, she became certified by the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf. In addition to her staff duties, she is a freelance interpreter in the greater Washington, D.C. area.
Cheryl Ringel
Staff Interpreter
Cheryl holds a Bachelor's degree in both Psychology and Theatre Arts Performance and Directing. Her graduate work includes an MS in Criminology from Southern Illinois University and an MA in Sign Language Interpreting from Gallaudet University. Cheryl continues to work as an RID certified interpreter in the DC metro area along with her staff interpreting position at DSS.
