Dr. Daniel C. Lustig, Ph.D, CRC, is the Director for the Center for Rehabilitation and Employment Research, as well as Associate Professor in the Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology and Research at The University of Memphis. Prior to his current employment he taught at Auburn University in the Department of Rehabilitation and Special Education, worked as a Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist with the Veterans Administration, and as a vocational evaluator with the State of Nebraska Vocational Rehabilitation and the Milwaukee Center for Independence.

Dr. Lustig is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor and continues to provide vocational expertise in a consulting capacity to several local and federal agencies. Dr. Lustig has published over forty-five articles related to topics in rehabilitation counseling. Dr. Lustig is co-editor for the Journal of Rehabilitation and serves on the editorial board for the Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin.

Dr. Richard K. James, PhD, is a Professor in the Counseling, Educational Psychology and Research Department, and the Program Coordinator of the School Counseling concentration at the University of Memphis. Dr. James provides extensive counseling experience and psychological assessment expertise to the Center. Prior to his roles at the University of Memphis, Dr. James worked both as a School Counselor in Illinois and as a Counselor in the Federal Correction System and community mental health centers, and served as the Director of a nationally validated Title III ESEA program for the socially mal-adjusted and emotionally disturbed children. Aside from his work at the Center and as a Professor, Dr. James is involved extensively with school counseling programs in Tennessee and trains police officers in Crisis Intervention with the mentally ill. Dr. James has published a number of articles related to School Counseling and Crisis Intervention, including the acclaimed book Crisis Intervention Strategies, and co-authored one of the most used Counseling Theories textbook, Counseling and Psychotherapy.

Dr. Erin Martz taught rehabilitation counseling at University of Missouri, Columbia for 3 years before being recruited by the University of Memphis in 2005. She has a Master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling (1999), and a doctorate in rehabilitation education and research (2002). Dr. Martz’s research interests include psychosocial adaptation to and coping with chronic illness and disability, posttraumatic stress reactions after disability, disability-related employment issues, attitudes toward disability, and international rehabilitation. She is now co-editing a book on coping with chronic illness and disability to be published in 2007 by Springer Publishers of New York.

Dr. David F. Roberts, PhD, CRC, CVE is the Coordinator for the Training and Technical Assistance Project at the Center. As the Coordinator, Dr. Roberts conducts research as well as designs in-service training for the Department of Rehabilitation Services staff. Prior to his role at the University of Memphis, Dr. Roberts provided the state of Tennessee his expertise in Vocational Rehabilitation as the State Director for the Tennessee Technology Access Project, which implemented state-wide assistive technology programs for persons with disabilities. Dr. Roberts served as the Director of Rehabilitation and Vocational Evaluation in Amarillo, Texas, and prior to his duties as the director, he worked as a Vocational Evaluator and a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor in Texas. Dr. Roberts has published over a dozen articles and presented papers related to Rehabilitation Counseling and Rehabilitation Education throughout his career; he maintains his affiliations with several professional Rehabilitation Associations, including serving as board member for one and journal editor for another.

Jean Johnson, M.S., CRC, is the Vocational Evaluation Lab Coordinator at the Center and is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor. For the past six years, Ms. Johnson has worked assisting persons with disabilities gain employment. Before her role at the Center, Ms. Johnson worked as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor for the Division of Rehabilitation Services at the Tennessee Department of Human Services. She has also provided job readiness training to persons with disabilities in areas such as resume and application writing, interviewing, and disability related issues while working on her graduate degree. As a result of her previous work experience and continuing education, Ms. Johnson provides vocational assessment expertise in regards to persons with disabilities. Ms. Johnson maintains her professional memberships in several counseling, vocational, and rehabilitation associations. Additionally, Ms. Johnson is currently pursuing her doctoral degree in Counseling Psychology at the University of Memphis.

Dr. Lavonnie Perry Claybon, Ph.D. is the Director of the Mid-South Access Center for Technology where she is responsible for implementing, coordinating, and evaluating a comprehensive Assistive Technology Program that provides services to individuals of all ages with disabilities. For over 20 years, Dr. Perry Claybon has worked as an expert in the fields of education, human development, budgetary management, assistive technology, and professional development and training. She has presented at local and national conferences in her various fields of experience. Her publications include an article on Diversity and an interview published in the H. R. Executive Magazine. Aside from her work in human resources, assistive technology, and human development and job training, Dr. Perry Claybon has taught on-line classes with focal points on educational technology, teacher education, research, and learning disabilities for The University of Memphis, George Washington University and Drexel University.

Laurie Brooks, M.S., CRC, is a Vocational Evaluator at the Center and a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor. During her time as a graduate student at the University of Memphis, Ms. Brooks worked at the Center and the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago performing vocational evaluations and assisting individuals with disabilities gain employment. She prepared individuals to return or enter into the work world through job-readiness training, job coaching and career counseling. Ms. Brooks is an experienced Vocational Assessment Administrator and continues to work in this capacity at the Center. Ms. Brooks maintains her professional memberships in several counseling and rehabilitation associations.

Neeraja Rangisetty, M.S., is the Rehabilitation Engineer at Mid-South Access Center for Technology. She earned her B.S. degree in Biomedical Engineering in the year 2001, from Osmania University, College of Engineering, Hyderabad, India. She graduated from The University of Memphis in May 2004 with M.S. degree in Biomedical Engineering with a specialization in Biosensors and Instrumentation. Prior to her work at the Mid-South Access Center for Technology, Ms. Neeraja Rangisetty worked for three years as a Research Assistant in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at The University of Memphis. During her work as a research assistant, she was responsible for conducting research experiments, coordinating research activities and writing technical research papers. She had the following research article published in the Journal of Talanta: “Microfabricated ISEs: Critical Comparison of Inherently Conducting Polymer and Hydrogel Based Inner Contacts” Róbert E. Gyurcsányi; Neeraja Rangisetty; Sarah Clifton; Bradford D. Pendley; Erno Lindner, Talanta 63(2004), 89-99. In addition to her specialization in Biosensors and Instrumentation, she had experience in designing and working with assistive technology devices.

William B. Coker, Jr., M.A., CCC-SLP – is an Associate Clinical Professor in Speech-Language Pathology with the University of Memphis, School of Audiology and Speech (AUSP). He provides clinical assessment and intervention expertise to the Mid-South Access Center for Technology (ACT), clinical training for graduate students in speech-language pathology, and teaches AUSP’s graduate level course on Augmentative Communication. He also serves as the research coordinator for ACT’s Partnership in Excellence Program with Advanced Multimedia Devices, Inc. Mr. Coker has worked as an evaluator and trainer of augmentative-alternative communication (AAC) systems and assistive technologies since 1981 for clients from preschool through geriatric ages and a wide variety of disabilities. He has published on designing homemade switches and toy adaptation for early training and has presented in several regional conferences on issues related to AAC, traumatic brain injury, cochlear implant, and transdisciplinary intervention. Mr. Coker maintains a professional membership in the American-Speech-Language-Hearing Association and the Special Interest Division 12, Augmentative-Alternative Communication. Additionally, Mr. Coker is currently pursuing his doctoral degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Cincinnati.