Student Disability Services Alumni

Lauren found that Butler’s PA program was instrumental in preparing her for professional life, providing both the rigorous knowledge required to pass the national licensing examination and the clinical skills necessary to serve patients. She credited the program with shaping her into a capable provider, ready to offer high-quality care to those in need.

SDS played a vital role in Lauren’s academic success, particularly when it came to assessment. She noted that utilizing the resources provided by Student Disability Services was “exceptionally helpful when taking exams,” allowing her to demonstrate her understanding of the complex curriculum in an environment that supported her needs.

Looking ahead, Lauren is entering the professional field and will be job searching for her first role as a certified Physician Assistant.

Zoe found Butler to be a very supportive environment where the genuine care of the faculty made a world of difference in her educational journey. She shared that Butler truly cares about each individual, noting that the close relationships she built with several professors provided the tools and confidence necessary to succeed in her career and beyond. “They truly care about me as a student and as an individual, and it makes me feel so loved,” she said.

SDS played a pivotal role in Zoe’s development, offering both academic support and leadership opportunities. In addition to utilizing accommodations like extended testing time and meeting regularly with an advisor for note-taking and study advice, she became a member of the SDS honors society, Delta Alpha Pi. “This gave me the opportunity to be a leader on an exec team,” she noted, highlighting how the program helped her grow as a student leader.

Looking ahead, Zoe is moving on to pursue her Doctorate of Audiology at LSU. Having been equipped with a strong educational foundation and the leadership skills fostered at Butler, she is ready to take the next step toward her professional career.

Kayla found that Butler prepared her for life after graduation by offering a balance of leadership roles and hands-on experience. Whether she was working in the lab or engaging in real-life applications of her studies, these opportunities allowed her to build the confidence necessary for her professional career.

SDS played a supportive role in Kayla’s success by helping her manage the rigors of her academic schedule. She shared that utilizing SDS was helpful because it “helped to decrease some of my stress about exams” and provided her with additional support and advocacy when communicating with her faculty.

Looking ahead, Kayla is ready to begin her professional journey in the healthcare field. After graduation, she will be putting her hands-on training to work as she begins her career as a pharmacist.

Emma shared that Butler University effectively prepared her to be a leader in any environment. This foundation of leadership has set the stage for her next steps as she transitions from student to educator.

SDS played a vital role in Emma’s undergraduate experience, providing a sense of security that allowed her to thrive. Emma noted that utilizing SDS made it possible for her to feel safe and supported as a disabled college student. Beyond the practical support, the department empowered her to find her voice, noting that her experience “empowered me to not be afraid of advocating for myself.”

Emma is hoping to soon begin her career as an elementary school teacher this August. She is most looking forward to the opportunity to teach and shape future generations of leaders.

Brieanna Bokish found Butler to be a very rewarding place to attend, with personal discovery and providing lifelong resources that helped shape her undergraduate experience. As a Chemistry and Spanish double major, she shared that even though her classes were sometimes a struggle, they taught her the necessary skills she’ll need for a future career or graduate school.

SDS played a major role in Brieanna’s success at Butler. “SDS was such a big help in my time as a Butler student. I really utilized as many of my accommodations as I possibly could, and I went from struggling to hold on academically to being able to flourish,” she said. She also appreciated the sense of community SDS offered, noting that it was “welcoming to everyone regardless of what disability they had. 10/10 experience.”

Looking ahead, Brieanna is taking a gap year, with the goal of going to medical school. During this time, she plans to work and study to prepare for the next steps, while also enjoying a period of life without much worry.

Nathan Marohn made the most of his time at Butler by taking advantage of academic and personal resources that supported his growth. He shared, “Butler taught me essential life skills that I use every day in my post-grad life. From a young age, I was told that networking is key to success, and my time at Butler proved just how true that advice is. Through countless interactions and opportunities, I learned the value of building genuine connections, which ultimately helped me land a job right out of college.”

Nathan’s time at Butler also shaped his personal values and habits. “Butler taught me the importance of being authentic. There’s no need to try to be someone you’re not; everyone has their own unique story for a reason. Having the chance to connect with others and learn what makes them who they are is an incredibly rewarding experience,” Nathan reflected. He also credited Butler with helping him refine organization and time management skills, which he relies on in post-grad life.

SDS was another major factor in Nathan’s success. “From the moment I arrived on campus, they ensured I had what I needed to succeed both academically and personally. They provided a comfortable living situation my freshman year, helpful accommodations in the classroom, and access to resources whenever I needed extra support. Knowing I had a dedicated team behind me allowed me to focus on my goals without added stress or uncertainty,” he shared.

Today, Nathan works as an orthopedic associate sales representative for Smith & Nephew, a medical device sales company.

Jennah made the most of her time at Butler by accessing on-campus resources, like SDS and Career and Professional Services (CaPS), which she says made her feel prepared for her next chapter in life. “Between the resources from the CAPS Office, industry experience from professors, and opportunities in COPHS’s NYCU newsletters, I felt like there was a plethora of opportunities to gain experience in the real-world while in school.” Jennah’s experience in SDS helped her to gain confidence in her test-taking abilities. She shared, “Being a slow test-taker, it can be discouraging and nerve-racking when you see a whole room of students finish an exam much sooner than you. With SDS, I was able to complete exams feeling much more relaxed and confident in my answers since I did not need to rush.” 

Jennah used the industry opportunities she had at Butler to find what career path worked best for her. She is joining Milliman as a junior account executive working for their Pharma team. Jennah noted, “I was an account executive intern during summer ’23 and enjoyed my internship so much, so I was eager to receive a return offer.”

Mia Fazio found that applying the skills she learned at Butler to her career was easy, noting the confidence she has from her leadership and communications experiences in her hands-on classes. Mia said, “Butler prepared me for life after graduation by allowing me to take classes that would actually be applicable to my future career.” These skills have helped her to pursue a career in consulting. Mia credits Student Disability Services as a necessary aspect of her college career, saying, “Working with SDS was key to my academic success. I felt incredibly supported by everyone who works there. I truly felt like everyone wanted me to succeed. Asking for help has always been hard for me, but SDS made asking for help easy by treating me as an individual.”

Mia now works for Ultimate Kronos Group (UKG) as a solutions consultant.

Luke graduated from the College of Education, focusing his undergraduate degree in recreation and sports studies, as well as minoring in diverse learners. “From day one I was getting field experiences and learning opportunities that I never ever imagined getting so soon.” Luke recalled, “There were ample opportunities for hands-on learning and professors willing to help and empower me to be my best self. Looking back, I was able to hone my skills and narrow down my focus faster than I would have thought.” Luke experienced some adversity and health changes during his college years, and credits SDS for assisting him. “SDS was the place that helped navigate those changes and supported me with everything I went through. … I was always provided with an ear to listen and support to learn and take steps forward. … Thanks to SDS and Kathleen, I have grown into a person that feels good about themselves and feels confident they can do anything they want.”

Luke is pursuing a career in education, using his Butler education and experiences to explore the specialty career options available to him. He is also looking into graduate programs to further his education. “With the help of Butler, I was able to become an independent, knowledgeable person with the experience to walk into any workplace environment and feel capable and confident to succeed.”

Allan discovered his passion for research psychology while attending Butler University. “The breadth of courses available in my studies really helped me. Professors in the psych department are always trying to find ways to assist and expand our understanding.” As a registered student in SDS, Allan felt that “none of that would have been possible without SDS offices, who were always there to help and provide a comfortable and safe atmosphere for all students.” He credits SDS for providing another resource to seek assistance from staff that understand his unique circumstances.

Allan plans to attend graduate school, where he will pursue a master’s of science in General Experimental Psychology.

As a student in the College of Education, Hannah feels that Butler prepared her for her career by providing individual support and plenty of opportunities to apply her learning to real world experiences. Hannah feels she “was able to successfully apply study techniques and was set up for success in each of classes.” She also noted that SDS staff “made sure that was doing ok each semester and had everything needed, both at Butler and during my time abroad.”

Hannah will begin teaching in fall 2022 as a middle school reading and writing resources teacher. She will also be married in summer 2022.