Dr. Lisette E. Torres-Gerald

Dr. Lisette E. Torres-Gerald (she/her/ella) is a disabled Latina scholar-activist and trained scientist whose work bridges education, equity, and healing. As a Senior Researcher at TERC and Director of Inclusive Communication and Capacity Development for the NSF REVISE Center, she leads national efforts to foster more inclusive and just STEM learning environments. Her journey—from studying zoology and ecology to earning a doctorate in education with a certificate in social justice—reflects her lifelong commitment to dismantling systemic ableism and advancing racialized gender justice in science and higher education.

Lisette’s leadership is deeply informed by her lived experiences and a vision for liberatory, healing-centered practice. Her scholarship centers trauma-mending for disabled scientists of color through contemplative, arts-informed research methodologies. She co-founded Sines of Disability and the National Coalition for Latinxs with Disabilities, amplifying intersectional advocacy and community care. For Lisette, joining the Acosta Institute Fellowship is about deepening her connection to a community of practice that honors complexity, centers healing, and fosters critical transformation at both the personal and systemic level.

During the Fellowship, Lisette hopes to explore new ways to co-create trauma-informed, accessible educational ecosystems that uplift disabled and BIPOC voices. She is eager to continue integrating contemplative and somatic approaches into her leadership and research, while learning alongside a cohort committed to collective liberation.