The Lurie Institute for Disability Policy

Undergraduate Fellows in Disability Policy

Rachel Bindman

Rachel Bindman (she/her) is a senior double majoring in Health: Science, Society, and Policy (HSSP) and Sociology. She is looking forward to sharpening her research skills and expanding her knowledge on disability policy. Rachel is passionate about health communications and making the messages of the medical field understandable, digestible, and accessible for all audiences. This year, Rachel is also conducting her own original research about the importance of public libraries for her senior Sociology thesis. On campus, Rachel is the president of her a cappella group, Starving Artists, and serves as a coordinator of the Waltham Group program Brandeis Buddies. Rachel is looking forward to growing as a researcher and learning from the incredible team at the Lurie Institute.
Isabella Doulas

Isabella Doulas

Isabella ("Bella") Doulas is a double major in Biology and Health: Science, Society, and Policy. At Brandeis, Bella is a Peer Health Educator/Coordinator for Bridge to Wellness, President of Pre-Dental Society, a teaching assistant for Physiology and Anatomy, and recipient of the Giumette Academic Achievement Award. Off campus, she is a dental assistant for a private practice in Wellesley and is a Pre-Dental Fellow for HSDM ASDA. As a Lurie Fellow, Bella facilitates research on nursing-home transitions for disabled people of color. She is particularly interested in seeking affordable and accessible preventive dental care solutions for disabled individuals without compromising quality.

Leilani Segura

Leilani Segura (she/her) is a senior majoring in Education Studies; International and Global Studies; and Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies. She is excited to be working with the Lurie Institute to grow as a disability rights activist and researcher. With a passion for child advocacy, education reform, and disability justice, Leilani aims to dedicate her career to using education as a tool for democracy; she believes in the power of a quality education to create better citizens and build stronger communities. Outside of her studies, Leilani enjoys reading, journaling, and curating playlists. She is honored to be contributing to the development of disability policy as she recognizes that inaccessibility affects both disabled and not-yet-disabled folks alike. Knowing that disability is fluid, she hopes to make absolute accessibility not only the goal, but the standard.
Elena Soranno

Elena Soranno

Elena (she/her) was a major in HSSP with a minor in Environmental Studies during her fellowship. She channels her passion for equity into addressing workforce shortages, promoting equity in governmental resources, and teaching self-advocacy. Elena was thrilled to continue her impactful work at The Arc of Massachusetts, and view policy from a different perspective at the National Research Center for Parents with Disabilities and the National Center for Disability and Pregnancy Research under Nicole Lomerson. Beyond her academic pursuits, Elena served as a coordinator for Kids Connection, a Waltham Group organization committed to supporting underfunded after-school programs in the local community. She was eager to embark on her research journey, delving into the intricacies of how research is conducted and crafted into policies behind the scenes!