The fall semester has arrived and the Longmore Institute on Disability has expanded our team!
Our Longmore Student Fellows program offers students with disabilities paid professional development opportunities, as well as a place on campus where they can learn more about disability communities, culture, and history.
Please meet: Sandra Lane (continuing), Maxfield Hunt (continuing), Ryan Hibdon, Nathan Burns, Akaelah Rain Flotho, Stephanie Christine Martin
Sandra Lane
Sandra Lane (she/her) is a native of San Francisco, who previously enjoyed a lengthy professional career as a paralegal in civil litigation, as well as an antiques and collectibles shop proprietor in San Francisco. She recently returned to SFSU to complete a major in Women and Gender Studies as well as a minor in Holistic Health. She had a personal epiphany while taking a disability studies class as she realized her own efforts to make invisible her disabilities; a class which helped her come out to herself and others as a person living with an unseen disability. Sandra has spent many years as a volunteer doula working with underprivileged teen girls as well as working with other social service organizations such as Shanti, Fill Up America and St. Anthony’s. She is dedicated to participation with organizations and movements for social change benefiting those who are most marginalized. She loves the outdoors, taking scenic road trips and is an animal rescuer and lover.
Sandra hopes to contribute to the Longmore Institutes’ long-standing dedication to community engagement in establishing cultural visibility and participating in disability studies scholarship by utilizing her professional skills on its’ behalf, while simultaneously increasing her knowledge as to both non-profit policies and functions.
Maxfield Hunt
Maxfield Hunt (he/him) is an undergraduate student pursuing the field of communication with a minor in history at San Francisco State. Disability has been an underpinning throughout Maxfield's life ever since he had a stroke at birth. Maxfield finds that life is enhanced by surrounding himself with folks with differences whether they are visible or not. It is invigorating to be around people with the tenacity and diligence to persevere past challenges.
He is also the product of a California upbringing enriched by The Cheesecake Factory, Apple products, Marilyn Manson, and Woody Allen. He is equally invested in Frasier-fandom as he is in Disney-mania. This compulsive obsession with culture lends itself to tackling media through the Longmore Institute lens and looks forward to contributing to the Longmore Institute in as many ways as it is possible in the future.
Ryan Hibdon
Ryan Hibdon (he/him) is a junior at San Francisco State University, majoring in Philosophy. His philosophical journey has transformed his life and he aims to one day share his transformative experiences with future students in his own classrooms. Ryan hopes that his experience in Philosophy, and his sixteen years of experience with type one diabetes, can be put to great use in helping the Paul K. Longmore Institute on Disability.
Nathan Burns
Nathan Yacur (he/him) is a freshman at San Francisco State, majoring in Sociology. He hopes to use this education and continue on to law school to eventually work as a civil rights lawyer. Both his disabilities and the fact that he is part of the LGTBQ community has thrown him head first into the realm of social justice, and he is incredibly passionate about working with and supporting those who are disadvantaged by society at large. Nathan feels that it is an honor to be able to work with the incredible team at the Paul K. Longmore Institute in their efforts to highlight the skills and experiences of those with disabilities.
Stephanie Christine Martin
Stephanie Martin (she/her) is a transfer student from Pasadena City College finishing up her undergraduate degree in Comparative Literature at SFSU. Stephanie is a SoCal native that hails from LA county, so, yes; she loves Disney, movies, tacos, and the Trojans.
Stephanie has lived in a world of disability since she was born she just didn't become aware of it till she was fourteen when she was diagnosed with bipolar. Ever since then, she has had a constant love for comics and superheroes; she even teaches a course at SFSU with the EXCO program on those topics. She is excited to be working for the Longmore Institute on Disability and hopes to contribute with her outreach abilities to help Longmore accomplish their goals.
Akaelah Rain Flotho
Akaelah (they/them) is an undergraduate studying History with a minor and emphasis on Queer Ethnic studies. They are focusing on U.S history and are specifically interested in studying intersections of race, sexuality and disability.
They are currently working on the Fair Act at the Longmore Institute to implement disability history into K-12 social science curriculum.
A huge THANK YOU from all of us at the Paul K. Longmore Institute to our donors. Your support allows for the Longmore Insitute to keep expanding and thriving!