Skip to content Skip to main navigation Report an accessibility issue

2022 Commission for Disability Graduate Student Award

The Commission for Disability Graduate Student Award honors a graduate student who is a champion for support and recognition of people with disabilities.

Kevin Mallary

Kevin Mallary Smiling at the cameraKevin Mallory is a PhD candidate in Communication and Information. Through his award-winning scholarship, teaching, and service, he aims to help higher education institutions become more accessible to students with disabilities. Starting in July 2022, he will be a tenure-track assistant professor in Library and Information Studies at Old Dominion University.

What does being a Volunteer mean to you? How has UT empowered you to make a difference in a way you might not have imagined elsewhere?

Being a Volunteer means dedicating oneself to the betterment of your community. During my time at the University of Tennessee, my professors and peers have inspired me to embrace my identity as a deaf scholar so I can help higher education institutions become more accessible to fellow students with disabilities. Alongside my professors and peers, Student Disability Services and their unparalleled staff members have empowered me to conduct this meaningful scholarship. The university has prepared me to be a tenure-track assistant professor in Library & Information Studies at Old Dominion University starting in July 2022, where I shall proudly advance the Volunteer spirit and champion accessibility.