It was really cool to have Elizabeth (liz) Anh Thomson, PhD as a guest for the Just Sustainability Podcast. One of the reasons that I created this podcast was that I wanted an excuse to pester friends and colleagues with the random questions that I have about the cool work that they do. The conversation that I had with liz for Just Sustainability is a perfect example of how this podcast affords me opportunities to do just that.

How often does one get to take up 90 minutes of one’s supervisor’s time asking them to explain in detail how they conceptualize disability, believe that disability relates to the broader equity movement, and think about universal design and creating accessible spaces? Not often.

Elizabeth (liz) Anh Thomson, PhD is 5’2″, dark-skinned, disabled, Vietnamese adoptee, gender non-conforming person with shaved black hair, black eyes, and tortoise colored thick-rimmed glasses. They’re the Interim Associate Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the University of Minnesota Morris. They’re a disability studies scholar that studies cultural centers and works to create counter and home spaces for students belonging to marginalized populations.

Links:

1. https://students.morris.umn.edu/elizabeth-liz-anh-thomson
   
   
2. https://students.morris.umn.edu/equity-diversity-intercultural-programs
   
   
3. https://vimeo.com/625713356