Russ Thelin, M.S., LVRC,
CRC Senior Policy and Program Specialist
russell.thelin@umb.edu
LinkedIn
Russ is a senior policy fellow at the Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI). He brings over 30 years of experience in Vocational Rehabilitation, Special Education, and working on the inclusion of individuals with disabilities. Russ spent the majority of his career working for the Utah State Office of Rehabilitation (USOR), serving as the agency Executive as well as Divisional Director for his last 12 years there. At USOR, he was instrumental in developing innovative business relations, interagency employment, and workforce systems improvement programs. He was also integral in establishing a state of Utah licensure for Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors. He served as a member of Utah’s Workforce Investment Board and Governor’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities. Russ was active in the Counsel of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation (CSAVR) and co-chaired the employment and management committees of the counsel. Russ is also a past president of the National Rehabilitation Association of Rehabilitation Leadership (NARL). In his current position with the ICI, Russ provides training, coaching and technical assistance, and contributes to research
Expertise: Vocational Rehabilitation, Organizational Leadership, Policy Development, Transition for Students and Youth with Disability, Special Education, Business Engagement/Relations, and Inclusive Postsecondary Education for Students with Intellectual Disability.