Carissa Madden

Carissa Madden is a disability advocate not only in the Gainesville area but nationwide. She has previous work experience in the non-profit sector, higher education, career services, and disability resources. Madden is the Career Specialist at the Career Exploration Center at Santa Fe College. She enjoys helping students and incoming students with their career goals at Santa Fe College. Carissa has partnered with the Division of Student Affairs and the Office of Accessibility and Gender Equity to make the Gator Nation accessible for all. Also, she volunteers with the Career Connections Center as a Gator Career Consultant at the University of Florida, and with the Resource Key, an agency that promotes inclusion and accessibility. She presents at several conferences and panel discussions on inclusion and career readiness for the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD). Madden completed her master’s degree along with a Graduate Certificate in Disabilities in Society from the University of Florida in August 2019. She plans to go back to school to get her doctoral degree in Higher Education Administration from the University of Florida. She plans to write and publish books, and one day present at a TED talk Conference. She continues to work that one day in a world where no one experiences any barriers. For the Gator Good, access for all!