Cohort 3 Ambassadors
States and Territories Represented by Cohort 3:
Ivan Gradjansky
Ivan Gradjansky (he/him/his) is a PhD student in Education and Social Policy at the University of Delaware interested in understanding how disability education is funded. His current research is split between his advisor's work on understanding the impact of how math coursework in high school impacts whether students attend college and research at the University of Delaware Center for Disability Studies where he is studying the rules of Medicaid funding for different states. Once he graduates he hopes to work with districts and states to improve how funding is managed and the rules around reimbursements to improve efficacy in helping students with disabilities across the country. Ivan is excited to learn more along with his fellow C3 ambassadors about how the State of the States manages their data and how to help make data accessible to all individuals regardless of their disabilities since data literacy is a fundamental skill which can help with advocacy for all communities.
Jennifer Haggerty
Jennifer Haggerty is a current AZ-LEND fellow and alum of the University of Arizona. Her undergraduate degree was in Human Development and Family Science with a certificate in Developmental Disabilities through the Sonoran Center's UCEDD. In her time at the UA she studied topics on how to build strong and resilient families and communities. As a parent of a child who is nonverbal, with level 3 autism, her focus has always been on supporting and resourcing families raising children with developmental disabilities. Her research is rooted in the intersection of family science and disabilities. Her Honor's thesis explored maternal mental health in mothers raising children with autism, and she created and coded an interactive dashboard that explored Home and Community-Based Service Waivers across States. She is excited to learn how to use data to serve individuals/families within this population by driving systems change through research, education, policy, and advocacy.
Siqi You
Siqi You, M.S., M.P.H., J.D., is a second-year Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) student in Health Policy and Management at New York Medical College, with an academic interest in children with autism, special education needs, and broader child health issues. She holds a JD from New York Law School, an MPH from New York University, and an MS in Applied Analytics from Columbia University. Her background spans public health policy, law, and data analytics, supported by training as a research assistant and experience working with large national datasets. Siqi aims to strengthen her skills in interpreting ID/DD data through the Data Ambassador Program to support more informed and equitable decision-making for children with developmental disabilities and their families.
Nicholas Young
Nicholas Young (he/him) is a social/clinical research assistant working at the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities and is currently a LEND trainee at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He received his bachelor's degree in psychology from Whitman College and has a background working in Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) therapy as a Registered Behavior Technician. He is passionate about ensuring effective and accessible clinical services are available to all members of the community. Nicholas hopes to use the knowledge from the Data Ambassadors program to improve advocacy efforts and enhance access to resources for individuals with I/DD within the community.
Nailah Smith
Nailah Smith (She/Hers), MS, CCC-SLP, CTC, is an ASHA-certified speech-language pathologist and third-year doctoral student in the Communication Sciences and Disorders program at Howard University. Her research involves the effects of cannabis on the brain and communication mechanisms for neurodiverse individuals, as well as the integration of machine learning into augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems for people with severe disabilities that impact speech production and/or language development. Nailah brings clinical experience in speech and language development, a background in assistive technology, and expertise in alternative holistic medicine. She also uses skills in data analytics for social justice to improve communication outcomes for diverse communities. Nailah looks forward to collaborating with other colleagues who share a passion for using data to advance equity and accessibility for neurodiverse communities.
Chelsey Carr
Chelsey Carr (she/her) is a first year doctoral student in Special Education at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. While still developing her focus, she is broadly interested in supporting adolescents and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities as they transition to adulthood. She is also exploring how technology and AI-enhanced tools can support classroom instruction, increase independence, and strengthen preparation for employment and community life. Prior to beginning her doctoral program, Chelsey worked for over a decade as a special education teacher serving students with intellectual and developmental disabilities, where she emphasized authentic vocational experiences and social-emotional learning. She is excited to join the Data Ambassador program and looks forward to strengthening her ability to analyze and communicate educational data, as well as learning how to better support districts and educators in utilizing data to improve outcomes for individuals with disabilities.
Camile Borja
Camile Borja is a third-year doctoral student in Clinical Psychology at the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus. She has worked closely with children and young adults on the autism spectrum and their families. Camile cares deeply about providing quality care and wants to keep learning about intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD). As a State of the States Data Ambassador, she looks forward to working with other professionals to find new ways to improve clinical practice and make data more accessible. She plans to use what she learns from the program to help close service gaps and support real change in systems at local, national, and international levels. Camile is glad to be part of the AUCD network and aims to use data to make a positive difference in the ID/DD community.
Zoey Blackburn
Zoey Blackburn, B.A., is a Master of Public Health (MPH) student in Health Policy and Law at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Public Health. She earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology and Philosophy from Hendrix College. Zoey's academic and professional interests center on maternal and child health policy, health equity, and improving systems of care for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Through her training as an Arkansas LEND Fellow, Zoey has gained interdisciplinary experience in disability policy, family-centered care, and systems-level approaches to improving outcomes for children and adults with IDD. Her work emphasizes policy evaluation, qualitative and quantitative data interpretation, and translating evidence into actionable recommendations for state and local decision-makers. Zoey aims to strengthen her skills in analyzing national IDD datasets through the State of the States Data Ambassador Program to support more informed, transparent, and equitable policymaking. She is dedicated to advancing public health strategies that ensure children, families, and individuals with developmental disabilities receive high-quality, person-centered, and accessible services.
Camryn Thompson
Camryn Thompson (she/her) is a student in the Master of Social Work Advanced Standing program at the University of Southern Mississippi. Her undergraduate degree is also in social work from the University of Southern Mississippi, where she began interning at Mississippi’s UCEDD, the Institute for Disability Studies. She is currently a graduate assistant at the Institute for Disability Studies, assisting with the RISE To The Top! inclusive postsecondary education program. In her role, she assists in student internship site placement and evaluation, student partner communication, employment training, research, and other duties. As an Arkansas LEND trainee, Camryn has gained experience and training in disability policy, systems approach, and family-centered care. Her areas of interest are postsecondary education, transition to adulthood for individuals with ID/DD, and early intervention for children with ID/DD. Camryn is excited to participate in the Data Ambassadors Program and looks forward to learning how to interpret data to determine interventions.
