Faculty
Hala Annabi, PhD
Dr. Hala Annabi is an Associate Professor in the Information School at the University of Washington. Her research focuses on creating and maintaining inclusive learning organizations. Dr. Annabi investigates diversity and inclusion interventions in the technology industry aimed at retaining and advancing women, as well as recruiting, retaining, and advancing individuals with autism. She also investigates the design, development, deployment, and assessment of asynchronous learning networks, distributed work, open source software groups, and virtual communities of practice. While at Ohio University, Dr. Annabi held academic leadership positions and co-founded the Select Leadership Development Program, and founded Women in Information Systems and the OU College of Business Honors Program. In addition to her academic career interests, she is a partner in McGann Annabi Consulting, an independent consulting firm providing services in the areas of system strategy, diversity and inclusion interventions, and leadership development. Dr. Annabi earned a B.S. in Business Administration and Management Information Systems and an MBA from Le Moyne College. She earned a Ph.D. in Information Science and Technology from The Information School at Syracuse University in 2005.
Stephanie Grant
Associate Professor of Accounting, Deloitte & Touche Endowed Professor in Accounting – UW Foster School of Business
Dr Grant’s research is centered around financial accounting. She is interested in pursuing research related to neurodiversity in accounting firms and neuroinclusive teaching pedagogy in introductory accounting courses.
Sean McGann
Teaching Professor – UW Information School
Dr. McGann assisted in developing the Founding Employers Group guidelines and will support the Institute launch. He will assume the role of Associate Director of Community Engagement, including the management of the Founding Employer Group.
Sara Sanford
Assistant Teaching Professor, Associate MSIM Program Chair – UW Information School
Professor Sanford is a leading practitioner and educator specializing in equity in employment, public policy, and product design. She will draw on her expertise as the founder of Gender Equity Now to lead the development of the Institute’s measurement framework.
Gary Stobbe
Director, Adult Autism Clinic at UW Medical Center & Associate Professor, Neurology and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Dr. Stobbe directs Adult Transition Services at Seattle Children’s Autism Center and is a core founding faculty member who supported the development of the Institute’s vision and goals. He will continue to provide thought leadership and serve as Lead for Community Advocacy.
Richard Sturman
Associate Teaching Professor, iAffiliates Director – UW Information School
Professor Sturman is a leading practitioner and educator specializing in user- centered design and systems thinking. Professor Sturman is the Director
of the Information School’s iEngage Program and will support community engagement activities and outreach with employers to advance research, education, and advocacy pillar activities.
Elizabeth Umphress
Dr. Umphress’s research is centered around ethical decision making, organizational justice, and diversity issues. She is currently leading a research team investigating autism disclosure behaviors.
Elijah Wee
Assistant Professor of Management – UW Foster School of Business
Dr. Elijah Wee’s research is centered around established social hierarchies and the emergence and implementation of employee-led change, with an interest in addressing issues in marginalized individuals and groups.
Larry Wright
Center Director, Forefront, Assistant Dean for Innovation Management, School of Social Work
Dr. Wright’s research and service focuses on helping others lead full and healthy lives. As CEO of MENTOR/the National Mentoring Partnership, he worked with a network of state partnerships to close America’s mentoring gap. As COO of the state’s largest private scholarship provider, the College Success Foundation, he helped first-generation college students in Washington state and in Washington, DC find success in and out of the classroom.