Welcome to my website! My name is Karly B. Isaacson (recently changed from Karly Ball), and I am a postdoctoral research associate at Michigan State University. I am currently on the academic job market for Fall 2025 and would love to discuss potential employment opportunities with you!

My research focuses on disability/chronic illness in higher education, with attention toward the role of higher education policies and practices in creating equitable opportunities for disabled students. My dissertation explored discrepancies between postsecondary financial aid and need among undergraduate students with disabilities across the U.S.. Additionally, I've led research on disability disclosure in graduate school settings, as well as projects on chronically ill undergraduate student experiences. As someone who navigated higher education with type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis, my biggest priority is centering disabled/chronically ill students and their support needs. Check out the research tab on this website to learn more about my current work!

I am also a research methods enthusiast and currently serve as an AERA Mixed Methods Research SIG Webmaster. Most of my work prioritizes research that aims to directly support tangible social change (via institutional policy and practice reform) centered on people with disabilities. In line with my focus on student experiences, my research typically takes a qualitative dominant mixed methods approach. That said, I also believe in the importance of scalable research with influence at the public policy-level, and I believe that integrating what we know from individual experiences with wider scale research is key to fostering truly meaningful change for marginalized groups. This belief drove me to mixed methods!

In addition to academic research, I regularly partner with educational institutions and other non-profits in my consulting practice. I welcome you to peruse the consulting tab on this website to learn more about my recent consulting projects!