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 27 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 ultimate frisbee with his 18 year old son, Ethan or creating amazing artwork with 16 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, an M.S. in Rehabilitation Administration and an EdD in Educational Administration, both 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.

Nacira is a disability specialist at UCSB. She obtained her occupational therapy doctoral degree from Pacific University and holds a bachelor's degree in psychology with a minor in Spanish from UCSB. As a first-generation undergraduate student at UCSB, she experienced the struggle of learning how to navigate a university setting with limited support from her family. 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. Her areas of interest include the intersection of Latine identity and disability, digital accessibility, and universal design. Her passion lies in promoting equal access, inclusivity, and equal opportunity on our campus. 

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

Rachel Moore is a Disability Specialist at UCSB, returning to her alma mater where she earned a B.S. in Biopsychology and a minor in Applied Psychology. She furthered her education at CSU Long Beach, obtaining an Education Specialist degree in School Psychology and later becoming a Licensed Educational Psychologist. Prior to her current role, Rachel served in Santa Barbara K-12 schools within special education programs as a School Psychologist, honing her expertise in learning assessments and linking outcomes to accommodations. Her dedication lies in empowering students with disabilities to excel in their educational endeavors.

Outside of work, Rachel enjoys exploring new restaurants, delving into a variety of books, and embarking on adventures with her dog, Peaches.

Dr. Michelle Hoff is a Disability Specialist for the Disabled Students Program (DSP) at UCSB. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology with a Minor in Art from Concordia University Irvine and earned her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences. Education has played a large role in her life. Following the completion of her doctoral degree, Dr. Hoff completed the Executive Certificate in Home Modification from USC and has taken many online courses to further her knowledge in various areas. She is very passionate about universal design and accessibility both in the built environment and the digital environment. She is delighted to have the opportunity to support UCSB students access their education!

Dr. Michelle Hoff has many hobbies, of few of which include cozy video games, attending plays and musicals, traveling, and playing and listening to music (ask her about handbells!). She enjoys many pop culture favorites such as Disney, Harry Potter, and Animal Crossing.

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.

Yee Tran is a Remote Participation Coordinator for DSP at UCSB. His prior experience includes
coordinating for the Deaf and Hard Hearing and Support Services Coordinator at Orange Coast College.
Yee was a college basketball coach at Stanislaus State, Metro State (CO), and Orange Coast College. He
graduated from Cal St Fullerton and received his Bachelors of Science in Child Development. When he
not at work, he likes to spend time at the beach with his fiancé Petra who is a professor/researcher at
UCSB and his golden retriever Kona. Yee is excited to build community and serve UCSB students.

With over a decade of experience in special education, Marion is passionate about connecting learners with resources, tools, and technologies that allow them to thrive and succeed in their academic, personal, and professional endeavors. She loves discovering and integrating innovative technologies into the learning environment, making content and curriculum engaging and meaningful for all students. Her approach is rooted in creating supportive and inclusive environments where every student can be themselves, enjoy learning, and shine! She is a proud alumni of the UC system and received her B.A. in Community Studies from UCSC in 2009. Having worked in both K-12 education and at the college level, she greatly enjoys seeing the evolution and growth of students in and between both academic worlds. In her free time Marion enjoys cooking, seeing live music, dancing, hiking, biking, running, being with family, and spending as much time in nature as possible!

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.