Dr. Catherine Campisi

Catherine Campisi has dedicated her professional life and personal time to advancing opportunities for persons with disabilities, with a focus on higher education, employment, and independent living. Her passion, informed by her lived experience, led her to be a part of the disability rights and other civil rights movements.

After obtaining a Ph.D. in social psychology, Dr. Campisi went on to have a 30 plus year career in rehabilitation and higher education.  She served for seven years as the Director of the California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR).  During her career, Catherine also served as Dean of Student Services and statewide Coordinator of Disabled Student Services at the Chancellor’s Office of the California Community Colleges (CCCs). Prior to becoming Director, she was a member of the Executive Leadership Team at DOR from 1992-1998.

Dr. Campisi has served in a leadership capacity in various disability related professional and advocacy organizations.  These include the Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD), the Association of California State Employees with Disabilities (ACSED), the California Association on Postsecondary Education and Disability (CAPED). In addition, she taught a graduate class on Counseling Persons with Disabilities at CSU Sacramento.

After retiring as DOR Director in 2007, Catherine has worked as a consultant on higher education issues related to students with disabilities and as a volunteer with ACSED and the Youth Leadership Forum for Students with Disabilities.