Donna Shalala announced Sue Swenson’s appointment Thursday as commissioner of the Administration on Developmental Disabilities.
Shalala, the Secretary of Health and Human Services said in a press release that Swenson, who left her post as an education specialist for the University’s Institute on Community Integration on May 4, brings teaching and training experience to the position.
Swenson will oversee the agency, which is concerned with developmental disabilities — severe, chronic conditions that develop before the age of 22.
David R. Johnson, the institute’s director, said Swenson’s experience brings a powerful and informed advocate to the federal agency. Her appointment will benefit disability policy groups across the nation, he said.
Swenson, a University graduate, also served on the Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities and worked as a public policy fellow in the U.S. Senate Labor Subcommittee on Disability Policy.
Swenson’s selection concluded a 10-month search. She replaces Robert Williams, who left the agency to become the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Long Term Care and Disability Policy.
— Melanie Evans