Brooke Mackenzie Ellison (October 20, 1978 – February 4, 2024) was an American academic, disability advocate, and the first person with quadriplegia to graduate from Harvard University.
[4][11] Ellison ran for New York State Senate as a Democrat in 2006[12] but was defeated by the Republican incumbent, John Flanagan.
[13] Ellison was a professor in the School of Health Technology and Management at Stony Brook University and a motivational speaker.
[14] In November 2015, Ellison teamed up with director James Siegel to create the award-winning documentary "Hope Deferred",[15] which aims to educate the general public about embryonic stem cell research.
She served as Vice President of Tech Access for United Spinal Association beginning in January 2023 following her 2022 appointment to their board.