Directory

Susann Sears's directory photo.

Susann Sears

Research Assistant Professor

Primary Affiliation

Cognition, Lifespan Engagement, Aging, and Resilience

Affiliations

Status Affiliate Faculty

Home Disability Resources and Educational Services

Phone

Email sheft@illinois.edu

Address

  • Biography

    Susann Sears is the Director of Beckwith Residential Support Services (BRSS) and the Assistant Director of Academic Services with the Division of Disability Resources and Educational Services (DRES).  She has over two decades of educational and professional experience serving college students with disabilities.   She holds a PhD in Community Health with a Rehabilitation Emphasis from the University of Illinois. 

  • Honors

    • Research Assistant Professor (0%), Department of Health & Kinesiology

    • 2022-2023: University of Illinois Emerging Women Leaders - Nominee

    • 2018: Outstanding BSW Field Education Instructor Award for the 2017-2018 academic year -  School of Social Work, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign,

    • 2013: Recipient of the Robert Greenberg for Innovation Award - 4th Annual Career Opportunities for Students with Disabilities (COSD) conference, Northbrook, IL

    • 2012: Recipient of the Chancellor’s Academic Professional Excellence (CAPE) Award, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign

    • Association of Higher Education & Disability (AHEAD)

  • Research

    Research Interests:

    • Factors impacting the career readiness of college students with disabilities

    • Empathic design methodology and its impacts on overall quality of life (QOL) outcomes for everyday living

    • Emerging adulthood and disability identity

    As the Director of Enriching Life Experiences within the (dis)Ability Design Studio at the Beckman, Ms. Sears is looking forward to connecting with other innovative minds along with Dr. McDonagh.  The goal is to cultivate an engaging learning/work environment both students with and without disabilities for them to work collaborative together to solve the design challenges proposed through the everyday experiences of physical landscape and disability.  The goal of this proposed research will contribute to a wide variety of areas such as student engagement outcomes, qualify of life (QOL), and empathic modeling in the product design process. 

  • 2017

    • Reid Yates, J. A., Wong, A. K., Strauser, D. R., & Heft Sears, S. J. (2017). The impact of type D personality traits on the career readiness of college students with and without disabilities. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, 60(2), 67-76.

    2016

    • Lange, D.D., Heft Sears, S.J., & Osborne, N. J. (2016). Comprehensive services tailored for the transitional success of veterans in higher education. Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability (JPED), 29(3), 277-283.

    2015

    • Reid, J.A., Wong, W.K., Strauser, D.R., & Heft Sears, S.J. (2015). The impact of type D personality traits on college students with and without disabilities’ career readiness. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, 60(2), 67-76.

    2014

    • Heft Sears, S.J., Wong, A.K., & Strauser, D.R. (2014). Examining career readiness and positive affect in a group of college students with disabilities: A pilot study. Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability (JPED), 27(3), 307-319.

    2013

    • Heft Sears, S.J., Jones, A.E., & Strauser, D.R. (2013). Career counseling and people with disabilities. In D. R. Strauser (Ed.), Career development, employment, and disability in rehabilitation from theory to practice (p. 279-297). New York: Springer Publishing.