UW Employment Program

Our Team

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Kurt Johnson, Ph.D, CRC

Principal Investigator

Dr. Johnson, Co-director of the UW Center for Technology and Disability Studies and Principal Investigator for the UW Employment Program, received his Ph.D in Rehabilitation Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has taught at UW-Madison, Florida State University, and now is a Professor in the School of Medicine at the University of Washington where he serves as head of the Division of Rehabilitation Counseling in the Dept. of Rehabilitation Medicine.

Katherine Bournelis

Katherine Bournelis, M.A. CRC

Director

Katherine Bournelis joined UWEP in 2015.   She is the Director of the program, as well as a Rehabilitation Counselor. Katherine received her Masters degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from Assumption College in Worcester, MA, and is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC). Katherine works with private pay, DDA and DVR participants providing assessments, job placement, training, independent living skills, and long-term vocational support.  

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Lee Olsen

Program Coordinator

Lee joined the UWEP Team in 2000.  He is the Program Coordinator for both the UW Employment Program and the Center for Technology and Disability Studies. He coordinates the functions of these programs, providing support to the directors and several professional and classified staff. Additionally, he is involved in general office and budget management as well as a liaison on fiscal matters between the Employment Program and the King County Developmental Disabilities and Early Childhood Support Division.

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Megan Hammer, B.S.

Associate Director

Megan Hammer joined the UWEP team as an Employment Specialist 1 in 2019. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Whitworth University. Megan has worked with people with disabilities in a variety of settings, including teaching first grade, doing ABA therapy for children with autism, and working at an Occupational Therapy clinic.

Elizabeth Kubin

Elizabeth Kubik, B.A.

Employment Specialist 2

Elizabeth Kubik joined the UWEP team as an Employment Specialist 1 in 2022. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Development from Chico State University in California. Elizabeth has worked in a variety of work settings and has dedicated the last four years to implementing Early Intervention Services as a Developmental Specialist and as a Certified Behavior Technician.

Miranda Olson

Miranda (Mo) Olson, B.A.

Employment Specialist 2

Mo Olson joined the UWEP team as an Employment Specialist 1 in 2022. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Drake University. She has spent the previous five years as a teacher in Minnesota, in both elementary and special education classrooms.

Robbie Cowell, B.A.

Robbie Colwell, B.A.

Employment Specialist 1

Robbie Colwell joined the UWEP Team as an Employment Specialist 1 in 2023. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from St. Martin’s University in Washington.  As a veteran of the armed forces, Robbie is the distinguished recipient of multiple awards, commendations, and is a member of the SALUTE Veteran’s Honors Society.  Robbie also has experience as a certified nurse assistant in elder care settings and as a small business entrepreneur.  

Danielle Sparks

Danielle Sparks, B.S.

Employment Specialist 1

Danielle joined the UWEP team as an Employment Specialist 1 in 2024. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Washington State University. After several years working in corporate environments, Danielle moved to the field of social work following the Covid-19 pandemic. Most recently, she worked at a local nonprofit helping survivors of sex trafficking find and maintain employment.