Dr. Kelly Nye-Lengerman Joins ICI as New Director

Smiling white woman with long brown hair. She is wearing a blue jacket and black top on a grey background.

We are excited to announce that Dr. Kelly Nye-Lengerman will be the new director of the ICI at the University of Massachusetts Boston and associate professor in the UMass Boston College of Education and Human Development, effective November 1, 2026.

Nye-Lengerman brings a wealth of experience and expertise to these roles, with over 25 years of advancing services, employment, community living, and economic opportunity for people with disabilities and their families.

Nye-Lengerman is a fellow and current member of the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD). Most recently, she served as a research professor at the University of Maryland Center for Transition & Career Innovation. She previously held leadership positions at several University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDDs) and Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) programs, including director of the Institute on Disability at the University of New Hampshire and director of community living and employment at the University of Minnesota Institute on Community Integration. With an early career background in direct support and social work, Nye-Lengerman’s scholarship and leadership approaches are grounded in the everyday realities of people with disabilities, their families, and the professionals who support them.

"Dr. Nye-Lengerman shares ICI's commitment to expanding opportunities, strengthening communities, and supporting people with disabilities and their families," said Interim Director Julisa Cully. "She brings a thoughtful, strategic perspective, and I believe she is the right person to lead ICI into its next chapter."

During her prolific career as a nationally recognized disability policy scholar, academic leader, and systems-change expert, Nye-Lengerman has demonstrated her commitment to expanding employment opportunities, community participation, and economic well-being for people with disabilities and their families. She has contributed to numerous peer-reviewed publications, reports, curricula, and practical tools for policymakers, providers, educators, employers, and families. Since 2011, Nye-Lengerman has delivered 89 keynotes and professional presentations on various topics, including employment support practices for youth and adults with disabilities, community living, postsecondary education, organizational transformation, leadership, and many more. She has led and collaborated on 34 federally and state-funded grants, including multi-year initiatives supported by the US Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, and Labor; the Social Security Administration; and other public and philanthropic partners.

In addition to her remarkable publication and grant record, Nye-Lengerman is an associate editor for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and has served on multiple boards, including as an active and elected national board member with the Association of People Supporting Employment First (APSE) and as president of the Minnesota APSE state chapter. She is also a current member the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management (APPAM), the Council for Exceptional Children’s Division on Career Development and Transition (DCDT), and ABLE NH.

At the ICI, we support the rights of children and adults with disabilities to participate in all aspects of society. As practitioners, researchers, teachers, and advocates, we promote systems change and partner with children and adults with disabilities, their families, and communities to advocate for personal choice and self-determination. As ICI’s new director, Nye-Lengerman will be responsible for implementing this mission and upholding our values. She is dedicated to contributing to ICI’s future by strengthening collaboration across research, training, technical assistance, education, and public engagement; supporting the growth and well-being of ICI colleagues; facilitating connections for students; and ensuring that our work remains accessible, relevant, and responsive to people with disabilities, their families, and communities. Her guiding principle is simple: meaningful systems change is built with people, not for them.

"As I begin this work, my first priority is to listen, learn, and build strong relationships," said Nye-Lengerman. "We are in an evolving landscape, and our best path forward is grounded in shared purpose: partnering with disabled people, families, students, and communities to drive systems change and support self-directed lives. Full participation goes beyond presence or access; it is about having a voice and leading the way."

Nye-Lengerman’s leadership style is collaborative, strengths-based, and grounded in accountability to the communities we serve at the ICI. With her stewardship, we will continue working to foster environments where people with disabilities and their families are included as essential partners and leaders in this work.

Welcome, Dr. Kelly Nye-Lengerman!

Learn more about Dr. Nye-Lengerman’s leadership and research experiences.