Harper McKenzie serves as the program coordinator for the Disability Cultural Center. She is also a student in Syracuse’s Masters of Higher Education program and previously served as the graduate student worker at the DCC. She will graduate in 2025 and is excited to continue working with the Intercultural Collective in a full-time role. As a queer disabled woman, Harper cares deeply about fostering disability community, supporting identity development, and creating inclusive, intersectional spaces that allow students to thrive as their most authentic selves.
Born and raised in Dallas, Texas, Harper’s first experience of disability community came while attending a K-12 learning disability school. She earned a BA in Creative Writing and Disability Studies from Emerson College, where she co-founded the student group Access: Student Disability Union. She enjoys staying connected with staff, faculty, and students doing disability cultural work in education across the country, especially through the Disability Cultural Center Professionals Network.
Harper is also a young-adult novelist who writes about the intersection of disability and queerness. She shares her experiences on her blog, “Write it Disabled,” and co-hosted the podcast “The Disabled Standard.” She values her time cooking, listening to audiobooks, and practicing community care.