Dr. Davi Kallman is a Mexican, Jewish, Disabled Woman. Her intersecting identities help bring a voice to traditionally marginalized communities. She is a published author, award winning speaker, and an institutional change maker. Her keynotes, speeches, and presentations include topics such as Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion; Intersectionality; Disability and Education; Disability Advocacy; and Leadership and Organizational Growth. She is thrilled about the opportunity to work with you and your organization.
Dr. Davi Kallman is the Interim Co-Dean of Retention and Student Success and the Director of Access Services at Tacoma Community College (TCC), where she applies her research on disability in higher education to help students get the accommodations they need and deserve. Kallman also serves as TCC’s 504/A.D.A. Coordinator. In this role she works with TCC students, faculty, and staff to ensure that student disability rights are upheld.
Previously, she worked as Assistant Director, Access Advisor, and Awareness Coordinator for the Washington State University (WSU) Access Center. While at WSU, she used disability awareness programming to help normalize disability across the WSU system.
She received her Ph.D. in Health Communication from the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication at WSU and her master’s in communication theory from the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). Kallman uses media literacy and other media-based interventions to break down prejudices and stereotypes in institutional settings.
Kallman, who is herself dyslexic, does not hesitate to challenge the status quo. She established the Disabled Student Services Task Force through the Student Government Association at The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) to increase awareness of the needs of students with both obvious and “hidden” disabilities and was the driving force behind the creation of the Appreciation of Diverse Dispositions (ADD) a student-driven disability advocacy organization focused on providing scholarships for university students with disabilities.
Honored as UTEP’s Department of Communication’s Outstanding Student of the Year and the recipient of numerous other awards for academic excellence and service to her community. In May 2012 she received her master’s degree in Communication Theory from UTEP and received the UTEP Outstanding Teaching by a Graduate Student award 2011-2012 for her dedication to her students and her implementation of liberating structures in the classroom.
She lives in Lakewood, Washington with her husband Kyle and their four cats, Mozzy, PomPom, Ash, and Leeloo and a Bullmastiff puppy, Josie. Go Titans!