The Rural Institute of The University of Montana Names New UCEDD Director: Marty Blair, PhD

January 18, 2013

From Perry J. Brown
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
University of Montana

Dear UM Faculty, Staff and Administrators:

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Martin Blair as Director of The Rural Institute of The University of Montana. Dr. Blair was selected following a nationwide search, and received the support of a wide variety of groups across campus and throughout the state of Montana, since the Rural Institute serves as the University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, & Service for our state. Dr. Blair comes to us from Utah State University where he was Associate Director of the Center for Technical Assistance for Excellence in Special Education and Steering Council Chair of the Utah Interagency Outreach Training Initiative, both within the Center for Persons with Disabilities, College of Education and Human Services, Utah State University. In addition, he was the Associate Director of the Mountain Plains Regional Resource Center, and an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Special Education and Rehabilitation.

Given Dr. Blair's expertise in the field of disability education, I am confident that he will successfully lead The Rural Institute into the future.

Dr. Blair will join us on June 1, 2013. Please join me in welcoming him to this position.