Raymond Wos, Jr. is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Rowan Disability Student Union (RDSU), an organization he established in 2023 with a mission to advocate for accessibility, visibility, and inclusion of students with disabilities at Rowan University. Under his leadership, the union strives to foster a sense of belonging, peer connection, and social justice for the Disabled community.

His path to founding RDSU was inspired by his time as the 3rd Assistant Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the Rowan Student Government Association (SGA), where he successfully advanced initiatives for accessibility on campus. Most notably, he championed Resolution #2022-005, which addressed the need for Rowan University's Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to provide transportation vehicles for wheelchair users. This resolution passed through the SGA's Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Committee, Health, Wellness, & Safety Committee, and Senate.

In addition to this impactful work, he ensured that Dr. Judy Heumann, a renowned disability rights advocate and honorary doctorate recipient in Humanities, was properly honored after her passing in March 4, 2023, resulting in an Extra Edition published by the Rowan University on March 14, 2023.

The Rowan Disability Student Union operates with a clear mission to advocate for accessibility, create visibility on disability-related issues, and cultivate a strong support system. The union’s core values—advocacy, intersectionality, social justice, and community—align with Raymond's passion for ensuring that disabled students are empowered to have a sustainable and inclusive voice on campus. RDSU functions as an umbrella organization, representing various disability and intersectional student groups, making it a vital platform for activism and unity within the student body.

With a deep commitment to self-advocacy and activism, Raymond continues to work towards an accessible and equitable campus for all students. His leadership in establishing the Rowan Disability Student Union has solidified his role as a key figure in advocating for the rights and well-being of disabled students at Rowan University.

Topic: Resolution Concerning: Rowan University's Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Transportation Vehicles for Students with Physical Disabilities who are wheelchair users.

It outlines Rowan University's decision to award Judith Heumann an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree. Heumann is recognized as a key figure in both the U.S. and global disability rights movements. Her advocacy contributed to significant legislation, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Heumann has also served in the Clinton and Obama administrations, working on disability-related issues. She has been instrumental in founding the independent living movement in the U.S. and is a regular guest lecturer at Rowan University, advising on disability rights domestically and internationally.

Rowan University's Board of Trustees approved this honorary degree in recognition of Heumann's lifelong dedication to advancing human rights and promoting the dignity, equality, and independence of people with disabilities.

The world lost a disability rights pioneer and advocate when Judy Heumann, widely considered the mother of the disability rights movement, passed away March 4. Rowan University lost a friend and colleague.

Ms. Heumann was a seminal figure in national and international disability rights movements. In the 1970s, she famously sued the New York City Board of Education and became the school system’s first teacher who used a wheelchair. Her work and advocacy throughout her lifetime paved the way for landmark legislation, including the Americans With Disabilities Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Act.

Ms. Heumann helped found the independent living movement in the United States. She served in the presidential administrations of Bill Clinton and Barack Obama and was the first special adviser for international disability rights for the U.S. Department of State.

Named to TIME’s 100 Women of the Year in 2020, Ms. Heumann’s experiences at a summer camp for children with disabilities were part of the Oscar-nominated Netflix documentary, “Crip Camp.”

Through lively virtual classroom visits, Ms. Heumann generously--and frequently--discussed disability rights issues with Rowan faculty and undergraduate and graduate students. Ever a teacher, she did so with her characteristic ferocity, warmth, humor, and candor. 

In 2019, Ms. Heumann received an Honorary Doctor of Humanities Degree from our institution. 

“Some people say that what I did changed the world,” she once said. “But, really, I simply refused to accept what I was told about who I could be. And I was willing to make a fuss about it.”

As we continue to work together to build a more inclusive and just society, we are grateful for the incredible example Ms. Heumann provided to us and to the world. 

Yours truly, 

Ali A. Houshmand, PhD

President