Institute for Disability Studies
IDS Staff
Page Content
Jerry R. Alliston, PhD, MSW
Interim Executive Director
Interest Area: Employment, Postsecondary Education, Leadership, Advocacy, Community Living, Person-Centered
Planning Practices, Independent Living Skill Development, Mentoring and Service/Volunteerism
Hattiesburg
Leslie LaVergne, PhD
Interim Associate Director
Emphasis Area
Special Education, Advocacy, Special Education Policy
Interest Area: Families of Individuals with Disabilities
Hattiesburg
Nellie Alliston
Family Engagement and Education Coordinator
Emphasis Area
Family Support
Hattiesburg
Rich Baker, MS
Director of Technology & Accessibility
Interest Area: Assistive Technology
Hattiesburg
Taylor Carley
Self-Advocacy Coordinator
Emphasis Area
Transition to Adulthood
Hattiesburg
Tracy Coleman, MSW
Executive Coordinator
Emphasis Area
Housing
Hattiesburg
Vantrell Coleman
Transition Specialist
Emphasis Area
Advocacy, Transition to adulthood, Meeting the needs of individuals with disabilities
Long Beach
Rebecca Holland, PhD, MPH, MLIS
Executive Coordinator for Communication and Development
Emphasis Area
Support Staff
Interest Area: Public Health, Postsecondary Education, Qualitative Research
Hattiesburg
Joanie Innes
Self-Advocacy Coordinator
Emphasis Area
Transition to Adulthood
Interest Area: Helping others and working with plants and animals
Long Beach campus
Bryant Tyler Johnson, MPH
Community Wellness Specialist
Emphasis Area
Wellness
Interest Area: Community Health & Wellness, Recreation, Assistive Technology, National service
Hattiesburg
Joseph King, LMSW
ToTAL Transition Executive Coordinator
Emphasis Area
Transition
Hattiesburg
Dan Lewis
Technology Assistant
Emphasis Area
Support Staff
Interest Area: Technology
Hattiesburg
Dawn Lewis
Parent Support Specialist, STEP OUT Coordinator
Emphasis Area
Transition to Adulthood
Hattiesburg
Danielle Mullins, LMSW
RISE Transition Executive Coordinator
Emphasis Area
Transition to Adulthood
Interest Area: Person-Centered Planning, Postsecondary, Employment
Hattiesburg
Scott N. Mullins, LMSW
Transition Coordinator
Emphasis Area
Transition to Adulthood
Interest Area: Employment, National Service/Volunteerism, Person Centered Planning, Sexuality & Relationships,
Special Olympic College
Hattiesburg
Michett Ramos
Family Support Specialist
Emphasis Area
Wellness
Long Beach
Aysha Robertson, MSW
Transition Specialist
Emphasis Area
Transition
Hattiesburg
Beth Robertson
ToTAL Transition Executive Coordinator
Emphasis Area
Transition to Adulthood
Long Beach
Amy Rhods
Family Support Specialist
Interest Area: Families of Individuals with Disabilities
Hattiesburg
Bruce R. Smith, MA
Finance and Personnel Manager
Emphasis Area
Support Staff
Interest Area: Administration, Budget, Data
Long Beach
Robert Sullivan, BS
Wheelchair Sports
Emphasis Area
Wellness
Interest Area: Wheelchair Sports and Recreation
Hattiesburg
Zach Taylor
IDS Affiliated Faculty/Assistant Professor
Emphasis Area
College of Education and Human Sciences
Interest Area: Education, Statistics, Research Methods, Linguistics
Hattiesburg
Laura Clements Thomas
Transition & Peer Mentor Coordinator
Emphasis Area
Transition to Adulthood
Interest Area: Community resources, Employment, and Supporting College Students that have a disability
with Peer mentoring
Long Beach
