By Kate Carroll, Sr. Applications Specialist, UITS
UMass Dartmouth MSTM Graduate - Class of 2025
In addition to my current role supporting international applications here in UITS, I’ve also been pursuing a master’s degree in technology management through UMass Dartmouth’s online program. This spring—just before (finally) walking across a rainy stage to collect my symbolic diploma jacket (diplomas are sent via mail)—I was fortunate to lead a small but mighty team of graduate students in creating accessibility resources for the UMass Dartmouth student community.
This project, fueled by three ambitious (and at times sleep-deprived) grad students, two dedicated faculty members, and the invaluable guidance of the UMass President’s Office Digital Accessibility Team, was developed as part of a graduate-level course in “Managing Projects for Technology;” however, it meets a real need within the campus, especially as UMass works towards meeting updated ADA Title II standards.
The goal: to build a practical, student-designed toolkit, which could immediately be used by Charlton College of Business (CCB) students to create and deliver accessible presentations. The kit contains a downloadable PowerPoint template featuring UMass Dartmouth and CCB branding, step-by-step training videos, and curated accessibility resources created by the UMass community and beyond. You can check out our project site if you are interested in learning more!
This project was particularly meaningful to me because it allowed me to directly support the university’s accessibility initiatives while sharpening my project management and collaboration skills in a real-world setting.
I’m deeply grateful to my teammates, Hailee Cabral (MBA ’25), and Susmitha Digumarthi (MSTM ’25), our professor, Yuzhu Li, Ph.D., PMP, our project sponsor, Soheil Sibdari, Ph.D., and our unofficial team cheerleader and sounding board, Kristina England. Without their support, this project would not have been possible. We hope these resources inspire UMass Dartmouth students to make accessibility a routine part of their daily Corsair experience!
