AUBURN — Cayuga Community College Professor Melissa Johnson has been selected as one of 11 faculty members across the State University of New York system to participate in the prestigious Accessibility Advocates and Allies Fellowship Program for the upcoming year.
The announcement was made Monday by SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr., who said the program supports student success through increased digital accessibility and the advancement of Universal Design for Learning practices across the SUNY system. Johnson and the other fellows will form the program’s second cohort, building on the inaugural group that began its work in January 2025.
“There is a place at SUNY for everyone and we work tirelessly to ensure our campuses are inclusive and welcoming for every student,” King said. He added that the fellows’ work is essential to ensuring faculty have the tools needed to support students with disabilities throughout the State University of New York system.
Johnson is the director of Cayuga’s Studio Art and Design A.S. program at Cayuga Community College. Throughout her tenure, she has focused on developing inclusive and flexible approaches to instruction and assignments, while also incorporating artists with disabilities into her coursework.
Cayuga President Brian Durant praised Johnson’s selection, saying she has been a determined advocate for expanding opportunities for all students and is known for her innovative approach to accessibility in the classroom.
“The importance of accessibility and expanding access to higher education goes beyond courses and programs,” Johnson said in a statement. “It requires efforts to make all areas of the college experience welcoming for all students, where all classes and student experiences and spaces are designed to work for everyone.”
In recent years, Johnson has also taken courses through Disability Studies Programs at City University of New York to further strengthen her understanding of accessibility and how to incorporate it into higher education coursework. Through the fellowship, she will continue that work while also supporting broader accessibility efforts across SUNY campuses.
As part of the program, the faculty fellows will research accessibility strategies on their respective campuses and develop solutions to increase the adoption of accessibility practices. Fellows will collaborate with each other and also work with campus leaders, including chief diversity officers and accessibility directors.
“I’m honored to be selected to work with other SUNY staff and faculty in an effort to bring accessibility in even more ways to our campuses,” Johnson said. “I’m also proud to be a part of SUNY as they continue expanding accessibility across the system.”
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