Biography
Presenting Recognizing, Preventing, and Responding to Disability-Related Microaggressions
Kate Upatham, J.D., is the Section 504 Coordinator for Harvard University, and Senior Director of Harvard’s University Disability Resources. She has expertise in civil rights laws in an educational context, including preventing and responding to disability discrimination.
Prior to joining Harvard, Ms. Upatham served as: Director of Nondiscrimination Initiatives at Wellesley College; an Attorney at Sanghavi Law Office; and a Civil Rights Attorney with the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR) in Boston. Ms. Upatham served on the Steering Committee for OCR’s Disability Network, and is a member of the Commission on Disability for Milton, MA.
Ms. Upatham graduated cum laude from Notre Dame Law School in 2004. While at Notre Dame Law School, she served as an editor on the Journal of Legislation. Prior to law school, Ms. Upatham taught English Literature and composition skills to high school students in a rural Zimbabwean school with the U.S. Peace Corps.
Ms. Upatham brings to Harvard a strong background in partnering with different departments and offices to build cooperation and open dialogue among students, faculty, and staff across the University.