Brooke Ellison
Encyclopedia
Brooke Ellison was the very first quadriplegic
to graduate from Harvard University
. In 2000, she was selected by her fellow students to speak at the University's commencement ceremonies.
Ellison was struck by a car in 1990 while crossing the street on her first day of junior high school, resulting in being paralyzed
from the neck down.
Ellison graduated from Ward Melville High School
in 1996 with high honors, and was accepted by Harvard. She graduated magna cum laude
from Harvard with a bachelor of science
in cognitive neuroscience
in 2000, and a master's degree
in public policy from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government
in 2004. Ellison is currently a doctoral
candidate in political psychology
at the State University of New York at Stony Brook.
In 2009, Ellison teamed up with director James Siegel
to create the winning documentary "Hope Deferred", which aims to educate the general public about embryonic stem cell research
.
and Vanessa Marano
in The Brooke Ellison Story. The 2004
TV movie
was directed by fellow quadriplegic Christopher Reeve
, star of Superman. It is also notable for being Reeve's final directing project. The film aired after Reeve's death.
incumbent, John Flanagan
. Ellison has not commented on whether or not she intends to run for office again. One of Ellison's principal issues is her support for embryonic stem cell research
. She serves on the advisory board of the Genetics Policy Institute
.
Quadriplegia
Tetraplegia, also known as quadriplegia, is paralysis caused by illness or injury to a human that results in the partial or total loss of use of all their limbs and torso; paraplegia is similar but does not affect the arms...
to graduate from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. In 2000, she was selected by her fellow students to speak at the University's commencement ceremonies.
Ellison was struck by a car in 1990 while crossing the street on her first day of junior high school, resulting in being paralyzed
Paralysis
Paralysis is loss of muscle function for one or more muscles. Paralysis can be accompanied by a loss of feeling in the affected area if there is sensory damage as well as motor. A study conducted by the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, suggests that about 1 in 50 people have been diagnosed...
from the neck down.
Ellison graduated from Ward Melville High School
Ward Melville High School
Ward Melville High School is a public high school in the Three Village Central School District of Suffolk County, New York on Long Island, serving grades ten through twelve. It is fed by the two junior high schools in the district: Paul J...
in 1996 with high honors, and was accepted by Harvard. She graduated magna cum laude
Latin honors
Latin honors are Latin phrases used to indicate the level of academic distinction with which an academic degree was earned. This system is primarily used in the United States, Canada, and in many countries of continental Europe, though some institutions also use the English translation of these...
from Harvard with a bachelor of science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in cognitive neuroscience
Cognitive neuroscience
Cognitive neuroscience is an academic field concerned with the scientific study of biological substrates underlying cognition, with a specific focus on the neural substrates of mental processes. It addresses the questions of how psychological/cognitive functions are produced by the brain...
in 2000, and a master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in public policy from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government
John F. Kennedy School of Government
The John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University is a public policy and public administration school, and one of Harvard's graduate and professional schools...
in 2004. Ellison is currently a doctoral
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
candidate in political psychology
Political psychology
Political psychology is an interdisciplinary academic field dedicated to understanding political science, politicians and political behavior. Psychological theories of behavior including; belief, motivation, conflict, perception, cognition, information processing, learning strategies, socialization...
at the State University of New York at Stony Brook.
In 2009, Ellison teamed up with director James Siegel
James Siegel
James Siegel is an American thriller novelist. He holds a B.A. from the York College 1977, City University of New York, and lives in Long Island....
to create the winning documentary "Hope Deferred", which aims to educate the general public about embryonic stem cell research
Embryonic stem cell
Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent stem cells derived from the inner cell mass of the blastocyst, an early-stage embryo. Human embryos reach the blastocyst stage 4–5 days post fertilization, at which time they consist of 50–150 cells...
.
The Brooke Ellison Story
Ellison is portrayed by Lacey ChabertLacey Chabert
Lacey Nicole Chabert is an American actress and voice actress, known for her roles as Claudia Salinger in the television drama Party of Five and as Gretchen Wieners in the movie Mean Girls...
and Vanessa Marano
Vanessa Marano
Vanessa Nicole Marano is an American actress. She has appeared on the TV series Without a Trace, Gilmore Girls, Scoundrels and The Young and the Restless, among others. She is currently a main character on Switched at Birth, where she stars as Bay Kennish.-Personal life:Vanessa Marano was born...
in The Brooke Ellison Story. The 2004
2004 in film
The year 2004 in film involved some significant events. Major releases of sequels took place. It included blockbuster films like Shrek 2, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, The Passion of the Christ, Meet the Fockers, Blade: Trinity, Spider-Man 2, Alien vs. Predator, Kill Bill Vol...
TV movie
Television movie
A television film is a feature film that is a television program produced for and originally distributed by a television network, in contrast to...
was directed by fellow quadriplegic Christopher Reeve
Christopher Reeve
Christopher D'Olier Reeve was an American actor, film director, producer, screenwriter, author and activist...
, star of Superman. It is also notable for being Reeve's final directing project. The film aired after Reeve's death.
Candidate for State Senate
Brooke Ellison ran for State Senate in 2006 but was defeated by the RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
incumbent, John Flanagan
John J. Flanagan
John J. Flanagan represents the 2nd District of the New York State Senate, which includes the entire Town of Smithtown and portions of both the Town of Brookhaven and the Town of Huntington, all located in Suffolk County, New York. Flanagan was first elected to the State Senate in 2002, after...
. Ellison has not commented on whether or not she intends to run for office again. One of Ellison's principal issues is her support for embryonic stem cell research
Embryonic stem cell
Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent stem cells derived from the inner cell mass of the blastocyst, an early-stage embryo. Human embryos reach the blastocyst stage 4–5 days post fertilization, at which time they consist of 50–150 cells...
. She serves on the advisory board of the Genetics Policy Institute
Genetics Policy Institute
The Genetics Policy Institute is a 501 nonprofit organization that educates the public and promotes supportive public policy for stem cell research and other forms of cutting-edge medicine....
.