Who We Are

Jane Castillón is DSP's Director and also carries a caseload that includes working with students impacted by psychological disabilities as well as coordinating services for all Extension Students. Jane is also employed at Pacifica Graduate Institute as adjunct faculty where she teaches in the counseling psychology program. Courses taught include Career Development, Human Sexuality, Psychological Assessment, and Psychopharmacology. She is originally from San Diego and has over decade of experience helping others succeed in their personal, educational, and professional pursuits. Jane is familiar with the University of California system having graduated from UC Irvine with BAs in Spanish as well as in Psychology and Social Behavior. In addition, she has worked at both UCLA and UCSD. After working a few years as a researcher on two NIMH sponsored grants, she earned her MA in Counseling Psychology from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, and completed a pre-doctoral internship at Counseling Services at UC Santa Barbara.

Jane has an excellent understanding of biological, familial, academic, and socio-cultural factors that can influence students at the university level. She welcomes the opportunity to meet with undergraduate and graduate students coping with disabilities and encourages them to schedule an appointment to discuss their specific needs as soon as possible.

Jane resides in Santa Barbara with her family. In her free time, Jane enjoys pranking office mates & children, running, painting, and cheering for the Chargers.

Anika Kitson is a Disability Specialist and has been working in the field of Special Education since the early 2000s. A native of Santa Barbara, she cultivated her passion for teaching and intervention through her undergraduate years at St. Mary's College and years of graduate work at Boston University. She looks through the lens of developmental psychology to assist students in need of academic support and disability management. Areas of specialty include mild to severe disabilities for visible and invisible impairment (ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, Anxiety/Depression, chronic medical conditions, to name a few). Some local projects include the creation of Santa Barbara's first autism inclusion program for the Santa Barbara School District and the founding of a unique learning center for neurodiverse learners. Anika has advised students at the high school and collegiate level for five years at Santa Barbara City College. Once upon a time she raced go-karts and also traveled to remote mountain villages in Thailand to teach English.

Elizabeth Pitts oversees all financial and payroll aspects of the department. Queries regarding payment can be sent to her or the Financial Assistant.

Kalli supervises and assists with the administrative coordination of support services for students, including exam accommodations, notetaking services, priority registration, and the AS Transportation Reimbursement Program. She graduated from UCSB in 2017 with high honors and a double major in Global Studies and German and managed DSP's front desk for three years before becoming the Support Services Coordinator. She's incredibly grateful for the knowledge and awareness she's gained working with the disabled student population and is proud to be part of an office that is both deeply compassionate and unflaggingly determined to create an equitable environment for students. 

David Dunlop has been a Disability Specialist at UCSB since December 2002. He primarily works with students with Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD) and students with Acquired Brain Injuries (ABI). Before coming to UCSB, he worked with students with ADD/ADHD, learning disabilities at the Center for Students with Disabilities at Santa Monica College and the Center for Accessible Education at UCLA. His educational background includes obtaining a Ph.D. in Education from UCLA. His dissertation examined community college students with learning disabilities’ motivation and service use. His interests in the field stemmed from his own learning difficulties and desire to understand how to learn more effectively. He understands many of the concerns that students with ADD/ADHD and Acquired Brain Injuries face in post-secondary settings. He is able to discuss the procedures for obtaining services with Disabled Students Program for students with ADD/ADHD and ABI and give an overview of the characteristics of these disabilities. He is also a part of Assessment Initiative team for the Student Affairs Division and is currently on Staff Assembly. When he's not at work, he enjoys camping, hiking, biking and kayaking.

Mark Grosch started at Disabled Students Program 25 years ago and then left to work in the Geography Department for the better part of eight years, also in the field of Disability. He greatly enjoys working with students at his alma mater.  If you can’t find him in the office, chances are he’s busy playing soccer with his 17 year old son, Ethan or creating amazing artwork with 15 year old daughter Kristin.  In his spare time he enjoys running along Santa Barbara's many beautiful shorelines and binge-watching true crime dramas.

Eric Kruger is a Disability Specialist at UCSB and has also been a Marriage and Family Therapist in Santa Barbara and Ventura for the past ten years, serving clients with a variety of issues including autism spectrum disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, grief/loss, addiction and adjustment to disability. Before that, he worked for ten years in the disability field, first for seven years at Santa Barbara City College Disabled Students Programs & Services as DSPS Service Provider and for three years prior to that as a Peer Support/Information & Referral Specialist at the Independent Living Resource Center. His education includes a Master’s Degree in Humanities from San Francisco State University where he wrote his thesis on Stereotypes of Disabilities in Literature, Film and Television as well as a Master’s in Counseling Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute.

When he’s not serving UCSB students, he’s usually hiking, doing tai chi or making music.

Vivian is a disability specialist and has been in the Disability field for over 10 years. Her career started as a testing coordinator and quickly grew to her seeking advanced degrees to better serve students. She holds an M.S. in Rehabilitation Counseling and an M.S. in Rehabilitation Administration from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. She also holds her CRC. Areas of expertise include chronic health conditions, mental health conditions, and application of accommodations in professional schools. Her current research areas include DisCrit, Latinx disabled populations, and familial bonds. 

In her spare time time, she can be found at her daughter’s dance studio and following her around dance competitions. She also enjoys reading, yoga, and lifting heavy weights. She welcomes students to make an appointment with her so together they can create a successful plan for the students academic journey. 

Brittany Tewari is a Disability Specialist for DSP at UCSB. Her prior experience includes working as a Disability Specialist for the Center of Accessible Education at UCLA and as the inaugural Program Director for the Disability Community Space at Stanford University. Her areas of interest include the mental health of students with physical disabilities, accommodation support in higher education, and disability awareness programming. Born with cerebral palsy and the daughter of Colombian and Indian immigrants, Brittany became hyper aware of the intersection between class, race, and disability at a young age. She is deeply passionate about providing support for students with disabilities and their myriad of identities. She is happy to help assist students navigate UCSB with their unique needs and welcomes all communication.
 

In her spare time, she enjoys reading poems, playing The Legend of Zelda, watching cartoons, overanalyzing the actions of fictional characters, and battling spiders with her cat, Arabella.

Cooper DiNapoli is the Test Proctor Coordinator and a UCSB Graduate. Cooper coordinates exam accommodations, proctor assignments, and student training - questions related to these areas can be directed to him. He is excited to return to UCSB and help facilitate equitable access to higher education.
 

In his free time, he enjoys playing video games, tabletop card games, and rewatching Avatar the Last Airbender.

Nacira Sahagun is an adaptive technology specialist at UCSB with a strong background in occupational therapy. She obtained her occupational therapy doctoral degree from Pacific University and holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from UCSB. With her expertise in occupational therapy, Nacira possesses a deep understanding of task analysis, functional limitations related to disabilities, and experience with adaptive equipment and environmental modifications. Throughout her career as an occupational therapist, she has actively collaborated with adaptive equipment vendors to ensure her clients have access to the necessary assistive technology and accommodations to engage in their daily routines. Her passion lies in promoting independence, inclusivity, and enhancing the academic experience of students with disabilities. She firmly believes in the power of adaptive technology to remove barriers and create equal opportunities for all students.

In her free time, she enjoys hiking, exploring new restaurants, tending to her indoor jungle, and spending time with her family. 

Kim assists the financial aspects of the department. Any questions regarding payment can be sent to her.

Tannah assists the financial aspects of the department. Any questions regarding payment can be sent to her.