BIOGRAPHY

DR. NATHAN R. STENBERG is a distinguished leader in disability advocacy, public-facing scholarship, and innovation, serving as the first-ever Director of Disability at The Johns Hopkins University. 

Dr. Stenberg’s unique blend of expertise in disability law, policy, bioethics, and biomedicine informs his work, with the aim of transforming political and societal perceptions of disability in the United States. His academic background includes a BA in Music, and MDiv from Princeton Seminary, and a PhD in Performance Studies from the University of Minnesota, providing him with a rich interdisciplinary perspective on disability.

As a first-generation, developmentally disabled college graduate from a single-parent family in rural Minnesota, Dr. Stenberg’s professional background spans roles as a public speaker, consultant, filmmaker, performing artist, and certified personal trainer.

At Johns Hopkins, Dr. Stenberg leads transformative initiatives, challenging conventional approaches to disability. He spearheads the creation and execution of an expansive vision for disability at Hopkins, with a focus on disability-led policy, research, innovation, and culture-making. Beyond Hopkins, Dr. Stenberg extends his leadership as a member of the Steering Committee for the Proposed National Museum of Disability History & Culture and serves on the Board of Directors for the Pennhurst Memorial & Preservation Alliance.