Carol joined Access Living in November 2023. As the Director of Equity & Strategy, Carol is responsible for ensuring the implementation of Access Living’s disability justice strategy across the organization with an overarching focus on equity. This includes a strong emphasis on Access Living’s anti-racism and equity work. Before joining Access Living, Carol served as the AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC)’s first People Culture Equity Manager. Her work was instrumental in accomplishing key strategic goals outlined in AFC’s Race Equity Action Plan, such as the establishment of employee resource groups. Carol also worked at the Office of Minority Student Affairs at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA).
Carol holds a Master’s degree in Diversity and Equity in Education, Policy, Organization & Leadership from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She is currently pursuing a doctorate of education in leadership and learning in organizations at Vanderbilt University. She expects to graduate in 2025.
Additionally, Carol leads all of her work in equity and inclusion with lived experience as a disabled, Asian-American woman. She was born with Infantile Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy. As a result, has facial paralysis and uses a power wheelchair full time. When not at work or school, Carol enjoys art, live music, and writing. In 2017, Carol was selected as a semi-finalist for screenwriting as Universal Studios Inc.’s competitive Global Talent, Development, and Inclusion program.