Staff
Charleen Katra
Executive Director ckatra@ncpd.orgCharleen Katra assumed the position of Executive Director of NCPD in December of 2019 after having served on NCPD’s Board of Directors in 2018 and 2019. She previously served as an Associate Director in the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis for the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. For over twenty years her primary responsibilities were directing the Ministry with Persons with Disabilities and Early Childhood Ministries. Katra is the co-author of The Adaptive Teacher: Faith-Based Strategies to Reach and Teach Learners with Disabilities (Loyola Press, 2019) and the author of How to Talk to Children about People with Disabilities (Twenty-Third Publications, 2019). She has extensive experience in systematic and sacramental catechesis and has served as a national consultant, author, and speaker on the topic of inclusion for various Catholic publishers. Katra currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the National Community of Catechetical Leaders (NCCL) and the Loyola Press Speaker Corp. She has a Bachelor's in Special Education and Elementary Education and a Master's in Pastoral Studies from the University of St. Thomas in Houston, TX.
Elizabeth Potts, Ph.D.
Associate Director of Diocesan Relations epotts@ncpd.orgBeth Potts earned a Ph.D. in special education from the University of Virginia. She then spent 17 years training current and future teachers to teach learners with disabilities, most recently as an Associate Professor of Special Education at Missouri Western State University. As a special educator and an engaging and clear presenter, she has a wealth of experience helping people realize a host of realities about persons with disabilities. Most importantly, regarding how their full participation in the Church and society benefits everyone. Potts is an active volunteer in her home parish in Kansas City, MO, where she leads their mental health ministry, an area that has been a passion since her days working with learners with emotional and behavioral disabilities in the K-12 classroom.
Bob Quinlan
Project Manager bquinlan@ncpd.orgBob Quinlan joined NCPD as Project Manager in October 2007. He handles items such as the Large Print Liturgical Books, graphics, videos, newsletters and CRM management. He has an M.A. in Religious Studies from St. Charles Seminary in Philadelphia and studied as an S.T.L. candidate at the John Paul II Institute in Washington DC. Quinlan has an ongoing music ministry and is currently an RCIA coordinator at a parish in downtown Washington DC.
Julia Whitney
Associate Director of Programs and Resource Development jgilberto@ncpd.orgJulia Whitney directs the advancement of resources and develops, implements, and seeks out funding for programs to further the mission, vision, and values of The National Catholic Partnership on Disability (NCPD). Responsibilities include: developing resources and programs to support the needs of stakeholders (e.g, online courses, educational materials, and other promotional items) that further the goals of NCPD; coordinating college and university outreach to enhance organizational visibility and awareness; forwarding development initiatives; managing English social media. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Human Services and Rehabilitation and Theology from Assumption College in Worcester MA, and a Master of Arts in Historical and Systematic Theology from the Catholic University of America in Washington D.C. She has six years of experience working with individuals with disabilities in schools and as a personal care attendant.
Kelsey Bell
Associate Director of Hispanic Formation kbell@ncpd.orgKelsey Bell joined the NCPD staff following her service as a consultant with the Secretariat of Justice and Peace at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Previously, she served as the Coordinator of the Office for People with Disabilities and Interim Coordinator of Hispanic Ministry at the Archdiocese of Portland where she strived to help parishes become places of belonging where all could actively participate. Bell earned a Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry and a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work and Spanish from the University of Portland. She served on NCPD's Committee on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities for several years. One of the biggest influences in her life is her younger sister Gina, who has Down syndrome.
Trinity Ruiz
Intern intern@ncpd.orgTrinity Ruiz is a rising senior at the Catholic University of America, pursuing a degree in Philosophy. She has experience working in disability ministry through the university's Cardinal Service Corps, where she led a service site that promotes faith and community among students and persons with intellectual disabilities in the DC area. Trinity has also interned with Jill's House (a respite care center for children with intellectual disabilities) where she engaged in faith formation with campers 6-17 years old and aided them with their daily living activities. Upon graduation, she hopes to pursue a master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology, while continuing to work in disability ministry using her dual language (English/Spanish) skills.