Tara Mata is the Advancement Services & Scholarship Coordinator at Richland Community College in Decatur, IL.  Her experience includes over 5 years with Richland Community College, half of which was spent as the Accommodations Specialist, working with students with disabilities.  Coupled with an additional 7 years of disability and social services experience, she embraced the role of accessibility in the Community College setting. She championed the formation of the Richland Community College Accessibility Plan and facilitated implementation.  She created and presented various accessibility-related trainings and informational sessions for faculty and staff.

Transitioning to her role as Advancement Services & Scholarship Coordinator, she keeps accessibility best practices and universal design top of mind when working with students, donors, faculty, staff, and the public.  By utilizing an accessibility-focused lens, she is able to remove barriers and create an inclusive environment for all.  She is passionate about sharing her knowledge of accessibility best practices with Community College Advancement Services professionals to support donor engagement and fundraising efforts.