Beth Ann Balalaos ’15, MA ’16, is access and inclusion program director at the Long Island Children’s Museum. A champion for disability inclusion and social justice, she credits Adelphi for igniting her advocacy journey. She speaks nationally on accessibility and serves on state and local boards advancing equity in cultural spaces.
Member of Adelphi University’s 10 Under 10
Access and inclusion program director at the Long Island Children’s Museum
Beth Ann Balalaos ’15, MA ’16, is the access and inclusion program director at the Long Island Children’s Museum (LICM), where she creates and champions inclusive programming that ensures families—especially children with disabilities—feel completely welcome and free to be themselves. A passionate advocate for social justice and accessibility, Beth Ann first discovered her calling through gender studies courses at Adelphi University. These eye-opening classes inspired her to center her career around advocacy and community engagement.
Beth Ann earned both her bachelor’s degree in psychology (with a minor in gender studies) from the Gordon F. Derner School of Psychology and her master’s in education from the College of Education and Health Sciences through Adelphi’s Scholar Teacher Education Program (STEP). During her time at Adelphi, she immersed herself in leadership and service—from being an orientation leader and working in the Center for Student Involvement to volunteering after Superstorm Sandy and leading the Relay for Life team with the American Cancer Society. A pivotal experience was her 2014 internship with the Long Island Children’s Museum through Adelphi’s Community Fellows Program—a connection that launched her full-time career there in 2016.
In addition to her work at LICM, Beth Ann presents nationally at conferences on accessibility in cultural institutions. She also serves on the board of directors of the Museum Association of New York and contributes her insights as a member of the Town of Huntington LGBTQ+ Task Force.
Among her proudest accomplishments is developing LICM’s inclusive programming, which has transformed how families with disabilities experience cultural spaces. She recently co-curated the Visibility of Disability exhibit in partnership with the Viscardi Center—an experience that pushed her into new, meaningful territory as a museum professional and advocate with a disability herself.
Beth Ann encourages current students and recent grads to stay curious and proactive: “Your college experience is what you make of it. Be a lifelong learner—the learning never stops, it just takes new and exciting forms.”