Director - Center for Disabilities Studies, University of Delaware

Posted: Friday, March 7, 2008

The University of Delaware is seeking a Director of the Center for Disabilities Studies, Delaware's federally designated University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Research, Training, and Service. This is a senior, full time position with faculty rank in the Department of Individual and Family Studies at Associate Professor or Full Professor and a member of the senior management of the College of Human Services, Education and Public Policy. The Center was established in 1993 as part of the nation-wide network of University Centers on Disabilities, with core funding from the Administration on Developmental Disabilities of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and designed to enable persons with disabilities to achieve their personal goals of greater independence, productivity, and participation in their communities. The Center operates with a $4 M+ budget from federal, state, local, and foundation funding sources. The mission of the Center is to improve the quality and quantity of services and supports available to individuals with disabilities and their families within the state. As part of the national network of University Centers on Disabilities, Delaware's Center for Disabilities Studies both contributes to the generation of new knowledge concerning persons with disabilities and their families and serves as a resource for the sharing of national information with local agencies and organizations. The Center provides undergraduate and graduate opportunities for 100-150 students from up to 15 different disciplines and has a leadership role in the undergraduate Disabilities Studies Minor.

REQUIREMENTS: Ph.D., Ed.D. or other terminal degree in a disabilities-related field; seven or more years experience beyond the doctoral degree; strong organizational and collaborative skills are required; knowledge and experience in disabilities, prevention, programming and research. The successful candidate should have a record of successful grant writing and be eligible for appointment at the Associate or Full Professor level.

DUTIES: The director is responsible for statewide leadership in the services and supports for people with disabilities throughout the lifespan. She/he is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Center for Disabilities Studies and its 60+ employees; responsible for helping to create and promote model programs and projects, research and training that can be supported from both public and private funding sources. The position requires proven ability to work effectively with people with disabilities, their families and caregivers, agencies of state government, advocacy group, professional service organizations, and university units and faculty across academic departments. The director will also be required to teach in the area of development, programming, research methods, and/or families. Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications. Position will be available September 1, 2008.

CONTACT: Interested candidates should submit a letter of interest, current curriculum vita, copies of representative or recent publications, brief description of related field experiences, and the names of three references to Professor Steven Eidelman, Chair, Search Committee, 111 Alison Hall West, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716. Phone: (302) 831-6500; Fax: (302) 831-8776; or email: sme@udel.edu.

CLOSING DATE: April 25, 2008.

The University of Delaware is committed to assuring equal opportunity to all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, gender, age, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, or sexual orientation in its educational programs, activities, admissions or employment practices as required by Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and other applicable statutes.