National Leadership Program, Fall 2023
Julian Gavino
Julian Gavino (she/they) was a Leadership and Workforce Development Fellow in RespectAbility’s National Leadership Program for Fall 2023. RespectAbility is a national nonprofit organization fighting stigmas and advancing opportunities so that people with disabilities can fully participate in all aspects of community.
Gavino is a public health professional with a passion for encouraging individuals to be more socially conscious through marketing, program management, consulting, and public speaking. Her ultimate goals are focused on equitable design, access to healthcare, and policy change. She began her disability activism career at 18 when she started building an online community of disabled and LGBTQ+ advocates during a stay in the hospital.
Gavino holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology with a concentration in Neuropsychology from the University of South Florida. Much of her academic work focused on the patient-caregiver dynamic and public health policy. Gavino plans to pursue a Master of Public Health degree and specialize in healthcare equity within underserved populations, including the disabled and LGBTQ+ community.
Since graduating, Gavino relocated to Pennsylvania. There she has focused on working to improve access to government programs and medical care by working closely with the Pennsylvania Health Law Project on improving HCBS waivers for disabled Pennsylvanians via policy change and community building. In 2022, she was invited to the White House Pride Month celebration to discuss the recent surge of anti-LGBTQ+ laws and brainstorm solutions. She spoke with lawmakers and other international leaders about the public health ramifications of these harmful policies from the lens of her personal and professional experiences.
Gavino also specialized in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion education and strategy and has worked as a DEI consultant for companies like Sephora, PepsiCo, Apple, HP, Instagram, Maybelline, and Tommy Hilfiger. In addition to her work as a consultant, she also worked as Senior Program Manager at Entertainment for Change. In this position, her responsibilities included securing funds and partnerships, designing DEI models, building educational programs, and working with the United Nations to mobilize youth to fight for policy changes via the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
Outside of work, Gavino enjoys traveling, painting, and spending time with her partner, Sky, and service dog, Atlas.
