Dear Members of the SUNY Oswego Community-
I write to inform you of administrative changes at the university that will serve to advance SUNY Oswego’s commitment to equity and inclusion and ensure our campus, programs, and services are accessible to all.
I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Starr Wheeler, effective January 1, 2024, as the ADA/504 Compliance Officer in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. She will report directly to the Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer and will lead and administer all aspects of SUNY Oswego’s compliance with the Americans with Disabilities (ADA) Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and other federal and state laws and regulations pertaining to persons with disabilities as well as University policies and procedures pertaining to protections for persons with disabilities.
Prior to this appointment, Dr. Wheeler was Coordinator for Disability Support Services in the Office of Accessibility Resources. She has worked in higher education for more than 25 years providing accommodations to students with disabilities.
Dr. Wheeler is president-elect of the New York State Disability Services Council and member of the Conference Planning Committee. Additionally, she holds memberships in the Association for Higher Education and Disability, New York College Learning Skills Association, and the Oswego Heritage Federal Credit Union Board. Dr. Wheeler holds a master’s degree in Human Services Counseling from SUNY Oswego and a doctorate in Higher Education, Leadership and Change from Fielding Graduate University.
I am also pleased to announce the appointment of Annie Jannarone as the interim Director of the Office of Accessibility Resources. Reporting to the Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs/Dean of Students, Ms. Jannarone is responsible for strategic leadership and the day-to-day management of the Office of Accessibility Resources. Ms. Jannarone works collaboratively with campus partners, faculty, staff and students to provide a culture of inclusion and equal opportunity for students with disabilities. Ms. Jannarone began work in November 2023 and will remain in this role through the end of June. We will begin a national search for a permanent director in the spring.
Ms. Jannarone comes to SUNY Oswego with more than 30 years of experience leading accommodation and access efforts for students with disabilities. Most recently, she was the assistant dean of students and director of the Office of Disability Services at the Georgia Institute of Technology. She has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD), chair of the Regents Committee on Disability for the University System of Georgia, and president of Arkansas AHEAD, among others. She holds a master’s of education in rehabilitation counseling and an education specialist degree in higher education administration from Kent State University.
Please join me in welcoming Dr. Wheeler to her new role and Ms. Jannarone to her interim role on our beautiful campus.
As I wrote in Vision 4040, expanding SUNY Oswego’s promise is undergirded by our unwavering commitment to serve all students. These appointments are key to creating and maintaining an accessible campus community where all feel welcome.
Remain well,
Peter O. Nwosu, Ph.D.
President