New Commissioner on Disabilities at ACL
Rebecca Hines, Ph.D., has been named the new Commissioner on Disabilities at the Administration for Community Living (ACL). As Commissioner of the Administration on Disabilities (AoD), Rebecca provides overall leadership for AoD’s programs and initiatives focused on direct services, capacity building, and systems change that improve the quality of community living for people with disabilities. In this role, she oversees disability programs designed to create lasting change and improve the lives of people with disabilities in the United States by advancing access and participation in community life, employment and financial well-being, independence, and self-determination.
Rebecca brings extensive experience in disability research, program administration, and workforce development, with a career focused on strengthening systems that support individuals with disabilities and their families. Prior to joining ACL, she served as a tenured Associate Professor at the University of Central Florida, where she provided leadership for undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs in special education. Her work included program and curriculum development, doctoral supervision, and partnerships with state and local education agencies and community-based organizations.
Rebecca has served as a principal investigator and co-principal investigator on multiple federally funded projects supported by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs, including initiatives focused on personnel preparation, inclusive practices, and the use of technology and artificial intelligence to improve outcomes for individuals with disabilities. Her work reflects a strong commitment to evidence-based practice, research-to-practice translation, and cross-sector collaboration.
Rebecca holds a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction with a specialization in teacher education and special education from the University of South Florida. Rebecca is supported by Diana Diaz-Harrison who serves as the Principal Deputy Commissioner and by Jennifer Johnson, who served as the Acting Commissioner this past year.
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