Leadership of COSD
Alan Muir
Executive Director
After joining the University of Tennessee (UT) in 1998, Alan Muir
recognized a disconnection between post-secondary offices of disability
services, and career services at most universities across the country.
With Dr. Bob Greenberg, Director of Career Services at UT, he conducted
preliminary research to document this anecdotal gap for the very
first time. Subsequently, Mr. Muir co-founded Career Opportunities
for Students with Disabilities (COSD), and with the support of U.S.
Department of Labor funding in 2001, became COSD’s first Executive
Director. Under his leadership, COSD experienced significant growth,
and currently has brought together member entities including universities,
employers, and U.S. Government agencies focused on career employment
of college graduates with disabilities. Mr. Muir has presented at
universities, employers and many conferences across the country.
Mr. Muir’s previous employment experience was as Vice-President
with Chase Manhattan Bank on Long Island in New York.
Alan’s
other involvement in disability and employment issues include current
memberships in the Association of Higher Education and Disabilities
(AHEAD), Tennessee AHEAD, National Association of Colleges and Employers
(NACE) and the Southeastern Association of Colleges and Employers
(SACE). Community service participation includes the Tennessee Council
on Developmental Disabilities in Nashville and Treasurer of the
Disability Resource Center in Knoxville. Mr. Muir was named as a
recipient of the 2004 AAPD / Paul G. Hearne Leadership Award, a
distinguished and highly competitive national honor.