Meet Our Team
Lauren Fontana, Director
Lauren (she/her) serves as the Director of ODAI, having joined the office in January 2022. She has worked at CU Denver | Anschutz since 2016, predominately in the ADA and Affirmative Action spaces. Prior to joining CU, she was a civil rights attorney litigating employment discrimination and police misconduct cases. She also taught in the University of Denver Sturm College of Law’s Civil Rights Clinic for two years. Outside of work, you can usually find Lauren cheering on her beloved Michigan Wolverines in whatever sport happens to be in season.
Jacob Lueders, Assistant Director
Jacob (he/him) serves as the Assistant Director of the Office of Disability, Access, and Inclusion (ODAI) at CU Anschutz. With over a decade of experience in K-12 public education, Jacob transitioned from a role as a special education leader in DPS to CU Anschutz, where he continues his strong commitment to advocacy for individuals with disabilities. He is honored to work in a higher education setting, supporting various healthcare professionals in training who will undoubtedly impact the future communities they serve. Outside of work, Jacob enjoys maximizing his time outdoors through activities like hiking and coaching high school cross country. He's also a fan of attending concerts, hosting game nights with friends, and spending quality time with his family and dogs.
Maya Gallardo, Access Coordinator
Maya (she/her) joined ODAI as an Access Coordinator in 2023. Originally from El Paso, TX, Maya obtained her M.A. from Sul Ross State University. Since 2018, she has worked in a wide array of higher education arenas, with a focus on first generation, and low income students as well as members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Kaelyn Schultz, Access Coordinator
Kaelyn (she/her) serves as an access coordinator with ODAI, joining the team in June of 2024. She obtained her B.S. in Sociology in 2018 at Colorado State University and since then has worked in a wide array of community development and human services spaces, with a focus on Social and Environmental Justice and Special Education. Outside of work, she enjoys adventuring in the mountains in all seasons, game nights with friends, jamming out to live music, and traveling.
Alyssa Bigby, Accessible Testing Coordinator
Alyssa (she/her) joined ODAI as the Accessible Testing Coordinator in 2023. Her undergraduate degree is in Applied Linguistics, and she has thrived in a variety of administrative and financial roles throughout her career. One of her favorite things about working at ODAI is that her love of administration is combined with her passion to serve others. Outside of work, Alyssa loves traveling, cake decorating, and putting together jigsaw puzzles. She is also writing a book about living with mental illness and is pursuing her Master's degree online.