I enjoy serving as a volunteer on the AZSCIA’s Board of Directors for a few reasons. First, I believe in the mission and vision of AZSCIA and how their foresight involves inclusion for spinal cord injury survivors, and the families and friends that surround them, to live life to the fullest.
Why do you volunteer your time to serve on AZSCIA's Board of Directors?
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After a few years of this I actually earned an Associate degree. I transferred to Arizona State University and focused my attention on studying communication and history. It wasn’t long until I earned a Bachelor’s degree in both of those subjects.
Shortly after graduating from ASU, I received a phone call from a previous mentor at Mesa Community College asking me if I was interested in a job. Little did I know at that time that it would be the start of a career in education that I am still pursuing to this day. Not long after accepting the job at MCC, I interviewed and was hired at Phoenix College as the Coordinator of Disability Services. Fifteen years later with a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership, I am now the Director of Disability Resources & Services and Veterans Services at Phoenix College.
I am fortunate to be able to enjoy many of the same hobbies as a quadriplegic that I did prior to becoming paralyzed – albeit with some creative ingenuity and support from like-disabled friends. I enjoy fishing the many urban lakes imbedded in the Phoenix metropolitan area as well as in the northern part of the state. I drive a modified van which allows me to explore the numerous sites all across Arizona – from historic towns to picturesque landscapes – and all of the oddities in between. I also enjoy sampling craft breweries and wineries within Arizona. I have been known to visit the Arizona State Fair each and every year, multiple times (truth be told I am a self-diagnosed fair junkie).
The AZSCIA’s leadership on educating Arizonans about SCI is second to none.
Second, as a person with a spinal cord injury myself, I believe in sharing what I have learned up to this point in my journey in life with others who may follow after me. Everyone who is associated with the AZSCIA has personal knowledge that is significant to others who are newly disabled from a spinal cord injury. My goal is to support the mission and vision of the AZSCIA as we continue to provide resources and share awareness about SCI.
-Gene Heppard
Secretary