Director of Disability Services - University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA

University of Massachusetts Amherst
Amherst, MA
Director of Disability Services

The University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass Amherst) is a public research and land-grant university in Amherst, Massachusetts, and the flagship of the University of Massachusetts system. With 1,300 faculty members and more than 30,000 students, UMass Amherst is the largest public university in New England and is ranked among the top 30 public universities in the nation. UMass Amherst is a highly residential campus, with over 13,000 students living in university housing.

The Position

Reporting to the assistant vice chancellor for advocacy, inclusion and support programs in Student Affairs and Campus Life (SACL), the director of disability services will provide strategic direction and lead the day to day operations and activities of the Office of Disability Services by providing support services and accommodations. The director will provide advocacy, inclusion, and support for students with disabilities; expertise in the application of and adherence to related compliance requirements and relevant law; assessment of provided services on student learning and overall student success; training, technical assistance, outreach, and consulting services to faculty, staff, administration, and students including universal design, reasonable accommodations, and information regarding local, state, and federal legislation; and lead data-informed strategic planning.  The successful candidate will work collaboratively with other campus stakeholders to expand inclusionary best disability practices, including intersections of identities (race, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, etc.), and promote an inclusionary vision to raise campus awareness by reducing systemic barriers to improve disability inclusion and the adoption of universal design as a framework. The director provides guidance and expertise to campus leadership around disability-related issues, oversees comprehensive accommodation support for about 3,000 students annually, manages a dynamic professional team of 17, including three direct reports, and oversees a budget of almost $1.3 million.

Qualifications

The successful candidate will possess a master’s degree in special education, educational psychology, higher education administration, or a related field, along with progressively responsible leadership within a college or university disability services office. Candidates possessing a terminal degree, seven or more years with demonstrated progressive responsibility for serving college students with documented disabilities on a residential campus are highly preferred.

Application and Nomination

Review of applications will begin February 4, 2022, and continue until the position is filled. A resume with an accompanying cover letter may be submitted via the Spelman Johnson website at www.spelmanjohnson.com/open-positions. Nominations for this position may be emailed to Anne-Marie Kenney at [email protected].  Applicants needing reasonable accommodation to participate in the application process should contact Spelman Johnson at 413-529-2895.

Visit the UMass Amherst website at www.umass.edu.

The University of Massachusetts Amherst is an Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer of women, minorities, protected veterans, individuals with disabilities, and other protected group members.