Del Abney
Del is a senior majoring in Psychology and Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies with a minor in English. In addition to their work as a Lurie Fellow, they work as Coeditor in Chief of Laurel Moon, Brandeis' oldest literary magazine. Over this past summer, they interned at Chastain Horse Park's therapeutic riding branch in their hometown of Atlanta, Georgia, working with mounted physical and occupational therapy, as well as adult mental health and learning groups. As they plan to continue focusing disability and accessibility in their future career in the social work and psychological fields, they are thrilled to be part of the Lurie Fellowship program.
Quieraney Belvin
Quieraney is a second year master’s student studying public policy with a concentration in economic and racial equity, and disability studies. Quieraney began disability advocacy work at her undergraduate campus in Texas, mobilizing strategies to keep campus accessible as an active campus leader in several different roles. Before entering graduate school, Quieraney worked as an ABA paraprofessional in New Hampshire working with K-12 students with autism, supporting their academic and behavioral needs. She studied Political Science at Texas State University and has plans to continue her studies in a PhD program. She is extremely excited about this opportunity and cannot wait to challenge and apply herself!
Ella Chase
Ella is a senior majoring in Psychology and HSSP with a minor in Journalism. Her passion for disability inclusion was sparked during an internship where she worked with people with acquired brain injuries to improve their quality of life through functional movement and personalized support. She has also volunteered with Handi Racket, a recreational tennis program for teens and adults with disabilities. She currently works as a research assistant at the Institute for Behavioral Health at the Heller School, the Mood and Behavior Lab at Harvard Medical School/MGH, and the Child and Adolescent Research on Development (CARD) Lab at Brandeis. Around campus, Ella serves as a peer research mentor, peer tutor, teaching assistant, and UDR. She is excited to join the Lurie team to deepen her understanding of disability policy and contribute meaningfully as both a researcher and an advocate for equity and access!
Lauren Farley
Lauren is a senior majoring in Anthropology and minoring in Education, Environmental Studies, and Theater. She is passionate about disability access and inclusion, and works to bring this into all of her studies. As well, working in renewable energy internships, she has created educational materials and access guides about disability to make the industry more accessible. Around campus, Lauren is a member of Too Cheap for Instruments a cappella and multiple Brandeis theater clubs, as well as working for the Schusterman Center. This past semester, she studied abroad in Ireland, learning about Irish culture, language, and policy, and cross-cultural perspectives on disability education. She is excited and honored to join the Lurie Institute to grow her research skills and deepen her awareness of disability policy to better advocate for inclusion and accessibility.
Emma Ortman
Emma is a student at the Heller School pursuing an MS in Global Health Policy and Management. She graduated from Brandeis in May 2025 with a triple undergraduate major in Anthropology, Health: Science, Society & Policy, and International & Global Studies, with a minor in French. Outside of classes, she volunteers as an organ donation advocate for New England Donor Services, has conducted health-policy research and advocated for nursing facility reform through Brandeis' Women's Studies Research Center, and has facilitated occupational therapy and equestrian physical therapy for people with disabilities both at home in Dallas, Texas and abroad in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Emma is a member of Brandeis' Adagio Dance Company and is passionate about traveling, studying American Sign Language, reading, and cooking with friends. As a Lurie Student Fellow, she looks forward to advancing disability-policy research as well as deepening her studies of population health and disparities facing people with disabilities.
Bipasha Roy
Bipasha Roy is a Master’s student in Sustainable International Development at the Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University, and is cross-registered at MIT, where she is studying Economics. She is passionate about advancing disability rights, inclusive education, and gender equity through research and policy. Before coming to Brandeis, Bipasha worked in India as a Program Associate with ChangeInkk Foundation, where she supported government stakeholders and educators to strengthen inclusive education practices. As a Gandhi Fellow with the Piramal Foundation, she contributed to policy frameworks, district-level governance reforms, and led initiatives to expand menstrual health and hygiene access for adolescent girls. At Brandeis, she serves as the Student Accessibility & Support Coordinator for the Heller Student Association and as a Graduate Assistant in the Academic and Student Services Office. In her free time, Bipasha enjoys singing, contour drawing, reading fiction, cooking, and going on long walks. She is excited to deepen her disability and housing policy research through the Lurie Fellowship and looks forward to a year of collaboration, advocacy, and learning.
Aamna Tirmazi
Aamna is a junior double-majoring in Computer Science (BS) and Economics (BA). On campus, Aamna is a Treasurer for The Intersection, Brandeis’ QTPOC Student Coalition, Advocacy Chair for the Brandeis Chapter of Athlete Ally, Deputy Treasurer for the Student Union and Treasurer for the Disabled Students’ Network. Outside of Brandeis, Aamna likes making art, watching crime shows, playing Scrabble, doing LeetCode, writing poetry, and crocheting. Through this fellowship, Aamna aims to address disparities in healthcare by developing tools and conducting research that can show policymakers and corporations the economic cost of inaction.