Elizabeth (liz) Anh Thomson

I identify as a dark-skinned, bi/queer, gender non-conforming, cisgender, Vietnamese adoptee, disabled female. I was born in Saigon, Vietnam, raised in Indianapolis, and matured as a socially conscious human being in Chicago. I have taught Women and Gender Studies and Asian American Studies. I have traveled in Europe and in Vietnam.

Why did you choose DHD at UIC?
After working in two of UIC’s cultural and diversity centers, Dr. Carrie Sandahl suggested I consider the PhD program in Disability Studies to expand my work and understanding of disabled students as cultural identity group in higher education.

What do you want to do with a DHD degree?
I want to work in a diversity and inclusion center supporting diverse and underrepresented students of all backgrounds. I want to make sure that the disability identity and disability social justice lens is appreciated and utilized.

Research Interests
Disability cultural centers in higher education; cultural centers in higher education; audio description; intersectionality of identities

Selected Presentations
Thomson, E. (2021). The Beautiful Intersections of Identities; Affirming Disability Identity and Culture. University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Thomson, E. (2018). Audio Description: Collaboration, Implementation, and Evaluation. AHEAD National Conference, Albuquerque, NM.

Selected Publications
Thomson, E. A. (2020). Audio Description as a Collaborative and Reflexive Tool (Practice Brief). Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability, 33(1), 103-107.

Awards and Honors
– Outstanding Support Faculty/Staff Award 2021. University of Minnesota Morris
– Graduate Student Award 2017, AHEAD
– Community Catalyst Award Recipient 2015, National Queer Asian and Pacific Islander Alliance

Education
B.A., German and Sociology/Anthropology, 1996; M.A., Women and Gender Studies with a Non-profit Management concentration, 2005