Our Vision
We envision a world where the majority of students with intellectual disabilities are pursuing post-secondary education and developing meaningful career opportunities.
The Mission
Through academic research and economic insight, our mission is to identify and share strategies for building sustainable post-secondary programs for students with intellectual disabilities.
About Us
Loc H. Nguyen
Founder & Executive Director
As a young child, I came to the States as a refugee, by way of a war that lasted nearly two decades.
In my mid-twenties, I answered a calling after the events of 9/11. The gravity was so strong it compelled me to leave everything I knew on behalf of the United States Air Force, to somehow make reparations for a war that sent me here in the first place.
Halfway through that journey, during my first foray as a parent, I was blessed with a beautiful girl with Down syndrome, and my sense of life began evolving many times over.
Today, after multiple career paths along with all the lessons learned, I’ve come to understand the value of my wide-ranging skill set and the profound nature of my intersectional identities. As a doctoral candidate at USC and a community college instructor, I'm evolving my ability to lead human-centered teams that drive real, practical change.
Most recently, I'm pouring my efforts into building the BTR TMRW Center for Advancement, sharing the leadership and optimism needed to pave unique roads toward success.
Academic Research
University of Southern California
Organizational Change and Leadership
As a doctoral candidate in Organizational Change and Leadership at the University of Southern California’s Rossier School of Education, my research centers on transforming postsecondary education systems to better serve students with intellectual disabilities (ID), with an emphasis on institutional change, inclusive program design, and long-term sustainability. My dissertation, Transforming Postsecondary Education for Students with Intellectual Disabilities, focuses specifically on a postsecondary institution that received a TPSID grant during the 2020–2025 funding cycle, offering direct insight into both the opportunities and challenges associated with TPSID-supported program development.
Through qualitative research involving program leaders and institutional staff, the study identifies essential conditions for building inclusive, campus-based programs that are integrated into the academic and social fabric of higher education. The findings highlight strategies for cultivating cross-functional infrastructure, aligning leadership vision with capacity-building efforts, and framing inclusive postsecondary education as both a social justice and economic imperative.
In addition to research and advocacy, I’m particularly focused on developing workforce development programs that align with inclusive postsecondary education. I’m currently exploring strategies that integrate career exploration, employment readiness, and industry partnerships to ensure that students with ID are equipped with the skills, experiences, and opportunities necessary to transition into meaningful, competitive employment. This approach emphasizes the role of higher education institutions as catalysts for inclusive economic mobility and community integration.