Meet the Staff

Kimberly McKeown

Director
kimberly.mckeown@yale.edu
(she/her)

Kim joined Yale as SAS’s director in 2021. Previously, she was part of the University of Connecticut’s Center for Students with Disabilities team, where—in addition to her own caseload—she supervised regional campus coordinators and the accommodations and assistive technology teams, and oversaw center outreach activities. Kim has also led projects and programs for state government, education, and healthcare, and taught high school special education. Kim received her M.A. from Chapman University and B.A. from Biola University. When not working, she enjoys time on the water boating with her family and spends time on high school sidelines watching her daughters play sports.

Kim works with students in the Yale Law School.

Jordan Colbert

Associate Director for Assistive Technology
jordan.colbert@yale.edu
(he/him)

Jordan joined SAS in 2021. Hailing from South Jersey, he identifies as and is proud to be a biracial first-generation and low-income graduate. He received his B.A in Classical Studies from the University of Pennsylvania and a Masters of Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Southern California (USC). He started in disability services in 2015 as a Graduate Counselor and transitioned to working as an Assistive Technology Specialist for USC in 2017. Prior to working in the field of accessibility, Jordan served as a psychotherapist with high school students and provided Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy to substance abuse populations. At Yale, he oversees the Student Workers in Assistive Technology (SWAT) Team, which coordinates the delivery, training, and accessibility for assistive technology solutions. Outside of his role, Jordan can often be found debating philosophy with friends, taveling, and watching professional sports.

Jordan directly provides accommodations for students in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and the Jackson Institute.

Jaclyn Moriarty

Associate Director for Accommodations
jaclyn.moriarty@yale.edu
(she/her)

Jackie joined SAS in early 2022. She received her B.A in Psychology from Central Connecticut State University and a M.A in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Saint Joseph. She began working in Disability Services in 2015 at Eastern Connecticut State University’s Office of Accessibility Services as a graduate student and later as a professional staff member, conducting intakes, supervising the support program designed to foster executive functioning skills and assist students with the adjustment to the college environment. In 2016, Jackie joined UConn’s Center for Student’s with Disabilities as their Accommodations Coordinator where she over saw the exam administration process, peer notetaking process, course modification process, and managed a team of professional staff and graduate student employees. At Yale, Jackie serves a caseload of students and oversees the exam administration process in the SAS office. Outside of her role at Yale, Jackie enjoys reading and writing, hiking, going to Maine, and spending time with her friends, cats, and horses!

Jackie works with students in Timothy Dwight and Pierson Colleges.

Susan Olson

Associate Director
susan.olson@yale.edu
(she/her)

Susan Olson DIV’93 joined SAS in 2019 after fifteen years in student affairs work elsewhere at Yale. She has a Master of Divinity from Yale, a Master of Arts in Counseling from Michigan State and a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from the University of Illinois. Outside of the office, Susan is a fellow and college advisor in Branford College, and an advisor to the University Wide Committee on Sexual Misconduct. In her spare time she enjoys singing, writing, swimming, reading novels of dubious quality, teaching Mental Health First Aid, volunteering for New Haven Reads and The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, and driving her teen-aged daughter to every golf course in the state of Connecticut.

Susan works with students in Morse, Ezra Stiles, Branford, Silliman, Davenport, Berkeley, and Trumbull Colleges. She also works with the Schools of Architecture, Drama, Music, Art, and Divinity.

Emily Sears

Assistant Director
emily.sears@yale.edu 
(she/her)

Emily joined SAS in early 2023. She received her B.A. in Human Development and Family Studies as well as her M.A. in Educational Psychology from the University of Connecticut. She began working at the Center for Students with Disabilities at UConn as a Graduate Assistant in 2018 and later as a permanent employee where she engaged in student intakes, accommodation provision, and exam administration. At Yale, Emily works with a caseload of students as well. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, taking her dog for walks, and spending time with friends and family- especially when dining out!

Emily works with students in Jonathan Edwards, Saybrook, Grace Hopper, Ben Franklin, Pauli Murray, and the School of Environment.

Shami Tarlanov

Associate Director
shamshir.tarlanov@yale.edu
(he/him)

Shami joined SAS in 2021. He works with Yale College, graduate and professional students. Prior to joining SAS, Shami worked as an Access Advisor for the Disability Resource Center at Missouri State University where he specialized in working with Deaf and hard of hearing students. Shami also served as an Assistant Coordinator of Disability Resources at Washington University. He earned a MSW from Brown School of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis (go Bears!) and a BA from Baku Eurasia University. He grew up in Baku, capital city of Azerbaijan and identified as a first-generation student. Outside of work, Shami enjoys cooking (trying different fish recipes), hiking and spending time with his friends.

Shami works with students in the Health Science Education programs and School of Management.

Carolyn Barrett

Senior Administrative Assistant
carolyn.barrett@yale.edu
(she/her)

Carolyn is the Sr. Administrative Assistant of the office and serves as the principal source of information to students and staff. She schedules and coordinates meetings and appointments for all office staff. Outside of work, Carolyn enjoys spending time with her family, at church and with her grandson RJ.