• About the DRC
  • Who We Serve
  • Who We Are
  • How to Reach Us
• Getting Started with the DRC
• Accessing Accommodations and Services
• Forms
• Learning Disabilities Program (LDP)
• How to become a DRC Note-taker
• Housing Accommodations

Who We Are

Director

Mary A. Barrows, M.Ed., Senior Director, Learning Strategies and Student Success
Mary administers the Disability Resource Center’s (DRC) programs and services with the ability to establish project priorities, track and monitor service delivery and address accommodation needs and services of students with disabilities.  Mary also provides leadership and oversight for related student support programs, including the Learning Disabilities Program, and Student Athlete Support Services. Contact Mary at m.barrows@neu.edu

Administrative Staff

Debbi Auerbach, Service Coordinator
Debbi serves as the contact person to prospective students and their parents to provide information about the DRC and its services. She reviews diagnostic documentation for adequacy and provides guidance in obtaining additional documentation when needed. Debbi also handles requests for certain support services. Contact Debbi at d.auerbach@neu.edu or (617) 373-4428.

Patrick Fabics, Administrative Assistant
Patrick serves as the Administrative Assistant for the DRC. He coordinates daily operations, scheduling, and test administrations at the DRC. In addition, he hires, trains, and supervises work-study students for the front desk. Contact Patrick at p.fabics@neu.edu or at (617) 373-2675. (Exam-related correspondence should be e-mailed to Correspondence_DRC@neu.edu.)

Westina Fernandes, Administrative Assistant
Westina serves as the Administrative Assistant to the Director of the DRC. She also oversees the front desk and office operations. Contact Westina at w.fernandes@neu.edu or at (617) 373-2675.

Disability Specialists

Jan Anderson, Associate Director
Jan serves as the Associate Director of the DRC. In addition to her administrative responsibilities, Jan acts as NU's technical liaison to ensure compliance with the ADAAA. She advises and advocates for students who have mobility impairments, chronic and degenerative disorders, psychiatric disorders, and acquired/traumatic brain injuries. Contact Jan at j.anderson@neu.edu or (617) 373-4426.

Courtney Joly-Lowdermilk, Learning Disability Specialist
Courtney provides disability-related support services to students with learning disabilities and/or AD(H)D, ensuring the student's equitable participation in the academic experience. Courtney helps students understand their disability, and the impact it has on their academic lives. She offers one-on-one, specialized advising and instruction with academic skills and other compensatory strategies specific to each student's needs. Contact Courtney at c.joly@neu.edu or at (617) 373-3525.

Marci Shaffer, Disability Specialist
Marci provides disability-related support services to students with Asperger's Syndrome and Autism-Spectrum Disorders. She works to ensure the student's equitable access to the academic experience. She helps students understand and manage their disability, and the impact it has on their academic lives. She offers one-on-one, specialized advising and guidance on academic skills and other compensatory strategies specific to each student's needs. Contact Marci at m.shaffer@neu.edu or at (617) 373-4427.

Lisa Toft, Learning Disability Specialist
Lisa provides disability-related support services to students with learning disabilities and/or AD(H)D, ensuring the student's equitable participation in the academic experience. Lisa helps students understand their disability, and the impact it has on their academic lives. She offers one-on-one, specialized advising and guidance on academic skills and other compensatory strategies specific to each student's needs. Contact Lisa at l.toft@neu.edu or at (617) 373-3524.

Service Specialists

Richard Allegra, Coordinator of Alternative Format Materials
Richard serves as the Coordinator of Alternative Format Materials. Through this role he helps provide accessible texts, exam materials, and other relevant course materials to students approved for this accommodation. He also serves as a Disability Specialist, working primarily with students with vision impairments. Contact Richard at r.allegra@neu.edu or at (617) 373-8167.

Meenal Purandare, Note-taking Services Coordinator
Meenal serves as the Coordinator of Note-taking Services for the DRC. She and her staff of assistants process student requests for this accommodation, and also hire and train all note-takers. Contact Meenal at DRCnotetakers@neu.edu or at (617) 373-4427.