Marla Runyan
Asst. Director of Digital Accessibility
Marla Runyan joined the Information Technology Services (ITS) team in 2022 as the Assistant Director of Digital Accessibility. She brings a wealth of both professional and personal experience in digital accessibility to SU. Marla was an Invited Expert on the W3C Accessibility Working Group in 2017 and contributed to the drafting of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 success criteria. Marla holds two master’s degrees in education and a certification in web accessibility issued by the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP). Marla has been legally blind since childhood and is a native user of assistive technology. Additionally, Marla is a former professional athlete in track and field and competed on the U.S. Olympic Teams in 2000 and 2004. Marla is earning her Juris Doctorate from Syracuse University College of Law.
Christian Jones
Digital Accessibility Specialist
Christian Jones joined the ITS Digital Accessibility Services team in 2023. He has over five years of experience as an ITS Administrative Specialist and possesses a broad portfolio of skills in administrative support. Christian holds a master’s degree in Higher Education Administration and is an IAAP Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC). Christian’s professional experiences include working in residential community life, refugee resettlement, and serving as an Assistant Language Teacher through the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) program. He is also bilingual in English and Japanese and has a passion for working with and learning from individuals from diverse backgrounds. Christian is currently pursuing his IAAP Web Accessibility Certification.
Kara Patten
Training Consultant & Resource Specialist
Kara Patten has worked for Information Technology Services at Syracuse University for over thirty years. She brings a wealth of administrative experience and vast institutional knowledge to the ITS Digital Accessibility Services team. Kara has played a key role in the evolution of digital accessibility at the University prior to and following the adoption of the ICT Accessibility Policy. She helped facilitate early accessibility training opportunities for the campus, including website testing, procurement of accessible ICT, and PDF remediation. Kara served on a team of trainers to support the rollout of major IT initiatives, including PeopleSoft, Hyperion/Brio, and the transition from Pegasus to MS Outlook. As an administrator in the ITS Service Center, Kara manages all student employee affairs and oversees logistical operations related to support for Syracuse Welcome.
Digital Accessibility Liaisons
The ITS Digital Accessibility Services team supports a network of liaisons across the University who provide local support for and guidance around digital accessibility needs. For the full list, please reference the Answers page, Who is my Digital Accessibility Liaison?