SUNY Canton Criminal Justice Faculty Named SUNY Accessibility Advocates and Allies Fellow

State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. announced the second cohort of the SUNY Accessibility Advocates and Allies Fellowship Program, including SUNY Canton Associate Professor Kelly R. Ficner, Ph.D.

“There is a place at SUNY for everyone, and we work tirelessly to ensure our campuses are inclusive and welcoming for every student,” SUNY Chancellor King said. “The work of the Accessibility Advocates and Allies faculty fellows is essential to ensuring SUNY faculty have the resources they need to foster a supportive and accessible environment for students with disabilities. Congratulations to the faculty fellows selected for this year’s program, which will help advance accessibility throughout the SUNY System.”

Ficner, who teaches in the college’s Criminal Justice and Criminal Investigation programs, was one of 11 faculty fellows from across the SUNY System who will work to expand digital accessibility and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) practices across their campuses, which is crucial for student success.

“I am excited that I have a vehicle to do the work that I am already doing every day,” the faculty member said about her fellowship appointment. “I look forward to growing the culture of accessibility on the SUNY Canton campus because everyone will benefit.”

Ficner has been working with accessibility and UDL since 2020. She has completed training in teaching and learning, curriculum development and inclusive learning. Her passion lies in learning communities that enable everyone to reach their professional and personal potential. She has developed course material for the Criminal Justice program in alignment with SUNY’s mission to expand access for students with disabilities. “Allyship and advocacy are a part of what I do every day,” she said.

Ficner moved to the area from St. Paul, Minnesota. She earned her undergraduate degree at Hamline University, her master’s at Concordia University St. Paul, and her doctorate at Capella University. She advises the Alpha Phi Sigma Criminal Justice Honor Society. She also serves as the college’s faculty athletic representative and can often be found cheering on student-athletes at home games. She has been involved in several true crime television productions, including Investigation Discovery’s documentary series “See No Evil,” the Hulu docuseries “Me Hereafter” and the U.K. true crime show “Killers Caught on Camera.”

SUNY serves more than 41,000 students with disabilities, with the largest group of students reporting a neurodevelopmental disability. SUNY has taken several actions to support students with disabilities and ensure they can succeed, including allocating $10 million in annual recurring State funding to support State-operated campuses in increasing support for students with disabilities.

The SUNY Accessibility Advocates and Allies Faculty Fellowship Program is co-led by the SUNY Office of Student Success in partnership with the Provost’s Office. This year's faculty fellows will build on the success of last year's program to continue establishing a community of faculty leaders and champions committed to promoting and expanding digital accessibility practices on and off their campuses.