Nomination of Robert Davila To Be Assistant Secretary of Education and Nell Carney To Be Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration

The President today announced his intention to nominate Robert Davila to be Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services and Nell Carney to be Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration. Both positions are in the Department of Education. Dr. Davila would succeed Madeleine Will, and Dr. Carney would succeed Susan Suter.

Concurrently, the Department of Education announced today the appointment of Michael Vader as Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services and Judy Schrag as Director of the Office of Special Education Services.

Robert Davila has served in several capacities at Gallaudet University, including vice president for precollege programs, 1978 to present; professor, department of education, 1980 to present; acting dean, Model Secondary School for the Deaf, 1979 - 1980; and director, Kendall Demonstration Elementary School, 1974 - 1978. Dr. Davila graduated from Gallaudet University (B.A., 1953), Hunter College (M.S., 1963), and Syracuse University (Ph.D., 1972). He is married, has two children, and resides in Washington, DC.

Since 1987 Dr. Carney has served as assistant director at the Virginia Department for the Visually Handicapped and as assistant regional manager, 1985 - 1987. She has also served in several other capacities in the education field, including instructor, Washington, DC, public schools, 1984 - 1985; vocational rehabilitation administrator, Washington State Department for the Blind, 1979 - 1984; rehabilitation counselor, 1978 - 1979; and instructor, Nashville public schools, 1975 - 1978. She graduated from Peabody College for Teachers (B.S., 1974; M.A., 1975). She is married and resides in Richmond, VA.