Carnegie Mellon University

Disabilities Alliance

To become a member of the Disabilities Alliance employee resource group, please submit a membership form so you can be informed of upcoming meetings and events. There is no cost associated with membership and no time commitments. Members can attend as many meetings and events as they would like. Individual membership in ERGs is strictly voluntary and open to all employees who are interested in joining, regardless of identity. Refer to the ERG benefits and guidelines for more information.

Resources

Mission Statement

The Disabilities Alliance aspires to empower members by providing support, education and a space in which visible and invisible disabilities are celebrated and included in conversations across the university landscape. Open to all faculty and staff, it is our intention that, through the work of this inclusive group, we inspire awareness and positive change within our institution and beyond.

Leadership

Dave Lubovinsky, Co-Lead

Dave Lubovinsky joined Carnegie Mellon in 1999 as an IT manager with Housing & Dining Services, after a decade as a senior systems project leader with Penn State University. In early 2025, he transferred into CMU's Enterprise Applications group as a senior systems/software engineer, with continued primary focus on software development for Student Affairs. Dave graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in computer science/information science, and previously served 12 years in the military as a foreign language interpreter in Air Force Intel at the NSA.

Dave was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in the prime of his professional career, and like many with a permanent disability, had to learn how to continue to be productive in his professional field, while balancing the complexities of living with a disability. He has been active in a number of disability support groups in and around the Pittsburgh area, and the opportunity to be a co-lead in the CMU Disabilities Alliance employee resource group presented itself as a logical next step in helping to provide others at CMU with available disability resources, support and inclusiveness. He is passionate about helping others locate the resources and knowledge they need to navigate both a rewarding career and a personal lifestyle with a disability, including the disabled as well as their caregivers.

Martina Mangino, Co-Lead

Martina Mangino joined Carnegie Mellon University in July 2019 as a graphic designer for University Advancement Marketing and Communication. Before her time at CMU, Martina spent 20 years as a self-employed graphic designer.

Having lived with degenerative hearing loss since childhood, she understands firsthand the unique dynamics of navigating a professional landscape with an invisible disability. As an adult, she received bilateral cochlear implants — a transformative milestone that deepened her capacity to relate to others facing similar challenges.

Her understanding of resilience took on a deeper meaning in January 2025, when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Navigating this health crisis reinforced a vital, foundational truth for her: the absolute necessity of psychological safety and robust institutional support for employees managing visible, invisible and episodic health conditions.

Today, Martina channels her lived experiences and empathy into her role as the co-lead for the Disabilities Alliance employee resource group at CMU.

Kelly Rembold, Member Liaison

Kelly Rembold joined Carnegie Mellon University in 2023 as an associate director in advancement communications and marketing, where she writes and edits various alumni, donor and parent/family-focused communications. Prior to CMU, she worked for a local EDI-based supply chain company, and held marketing and communications roles at YMCA Camp Kon-O-Kwee Spencer and Lark Enterprises. She has a background in journalism and loves writing and sharing stories that make a difference. Kelly is excited to serve as the member liaison and support others who are navigating life with a visible or invisible disability.

Golden retriever service dog holding a leash in its mouth

Canine Service Pals presented at the Disabilities Alliance meeting on April 30, 2026.

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Woman petting golden retriever service dog

Canine Service Pals presented at the Disabilities Alliance meeting on April 30, 2026.

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Two representatives from Canine Service Pals presenting at podium

Canine Service Pals presented at the Disabilities Alliance meeting on April 30, 2026.

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Man petting golden retriever service dog

Canine Service Pals presented at the Disabilities Alliance meeting on April 30, 2026.

See more Disabilities Alliance photos

CMU police officer petting golden retriever service dog

Canine Service Pals presented at the Disabilities Alliance meeting on April 30, 2026.

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Group of attendees seated at table with food

The Disabilities Alliance observed National Disabilities Employment Awareness Month with an event on Oct. 28, 2025.

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Group of attendees seated at table with food

The Disabilities Alliance observed National Disabilities Employment Awareness Month with an event on Oct. 28, 2025.

See more Disabilities Alliance photos