January 13, 2020

Presentation by noted expert on Disability Studies will challenge listeners to rethink “what we think we know about disability.”

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J., Jan. 13, 2020— Renowned authority on access and design for the disabled Amanda Kraus, Ph.D., will present “Everyday Ableism: Challenging What We Think We Know about Disability” on Tuesday, Jan. 21, as part of Centenary University’s Gates-Ferry Distinguished Visiting Lecture series. The event will begin at 7 p.m. in the University’s Sitnik Theater, located in the David and Carol Lackland Center, 715 Grand Ave., Hackettstown. This lecture is free and open to the public.

A well-known speaker in the United States and abroad, Dr. Kraus was recently invited to join a delegation convened by the U.S. Department of State to engage in dialogue on disability access in education and employment in Beijing, China. She is president-elect of the Association of Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD) Board of Directors, and previously chaired its standing committee for diversity.

A resident of Tucson, Dr. Kraus is assistant vice president for campus life and executive director for disability resources and housing & residential life at the University of Arizona (UA). One of the largest in the nation, UA’s Disability Resource Center is an international model of progressive service delivery. Dr. Kraus is also assistant professor of practice in higher education, coordinating the master’s program and teaching courses on student services, student development, and disability in higher education. She earned an undergraduate degree from Carnegie Mellon University, as well as master’s and doctoral degrees in higher education from UA.

Outside of work, Dr. Kraus is an avid wheelchair tennis player. As past president of the United States Tennis Association Southern Arizona District Board, she works to grow opportunities for disabled players and increase the national visibility of wheelchair tennis.

ABOUT THE GATES-FERRY DISTINGUISHED VISITING LECTURE

The Gates-Ferry Distinguished Visiting Lecture at Centenary University recognizes the dedication to the University of Joseph R. Ferry, trustee from 1948 to 1976 and treasurer of the Board of Trustees for 20 years. It was established to set high standards and goals for students and faculty, and to enrich the quality of life on the Centenary campus.

ABOUT CENTENARY UNIVERSITY

Founded in 1867 by the Newark Conference of the United Methodist Church, Centenary University’s academic program integrates a solid liberal arts foundation with a strong career orientation. This mix provides an educational experience that prepares students to succeed in the increasingly global and interdependent world. The University’s main campus is located in Hackettstown, N.J., with its equestrian facility in Washington Township. The Centenary University School of Professional Studies offers degree programs at two locations, Parsippany and Edison, as well as online and at corporate sites throughout New Jersey.

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