Darcy Adams Maelzer has been named interim director of OU’s Accessibility and Disability Resource Center, following the retirement of Chelle' Guttery, who had been in the position since 2012.
In partnership with ADRC staff, Adams Maelzer will support the day-to-day operations of the center, which serves students and supports students, faculty and staff in providing accessible spaces and programs on all three OU campuses.
“Dr. Guttery’s service and leadership to OU will leave its mark on OU and the state for years to come, and while we are sorry to see her go, we are excited for her to enter this next chapter in her life,” said Belinda Higgs Hyppolite, vice president for diversity, equity, and inclusion and chief diversity officer. “While she has big shoes to fill, we couldn’t be more pleased to have Darcy join the team. Her past experience with the ADRC and skills she has acquired over the years ensure a smooth transition while we continue to serve our students and campus community.”
Adams Maelzer has been serving as e-business manager for the Center for Public Management at OU and has extensive experience in access and compliance. Her CPM role includes policy and procedure development and implementation, strategic planning, project management and managing a department of 10 staff. She also consults with CPM departments on accessibility of products, collaborates with CPM staff to accessibly meet client needs and builds relationships to improve and expand the services available through CPM’s e-business.
Previously, Adams Maelzer worked in OU’s ADRC for over eight years. She began as an academic resource specialist and later became the associate director. She has also held positions at OU as a center coordinator in Sooner Housing and a graduate assistant in Fitness and Recreation.
Beginning this month, she will split her time between the ADRC and CPM.
“I’m very excited to be back at the ADRC,” Adams Maelzer said. “I’ve spent the last couple of days getting up to speed on where the department is and getting to know the staff, including graduate assistants and several of the student staff. I’m energized by everyone’s desire to move forward together and to continue serving our students and the university community.”
Adams Maelzer earned both her bachelor’s degree in health and exercise science and her M.Ed. in Adult and Higher Education at OU.
The national search for a permanent ADRC director will begin later this month.
The ADRC has also announced that Christine Taylor, OU’s institutional equity officer, will assume the role of ADA 504 coordinator. Taylor will work with OU’s compliance team to monitor the university’s compliance with all federal and state laws related to accommodation and accessibility. She will also review complaints and work to remove barriers to accessing education for students and employees.
About the ADRC
The ADRC is dedicated to inclusivity and helping to foster a sense of belonging by increasing accessibility for all students with disabilities, cultivating an environment of connectedness and belonging, and providing advocacy, resources, and support at all levels of education on all OU campuses. For more information on ADRC services, visit ou.edu/adrc.
Faculty and Staff Accommodations
OU Human Resources assists with accommodations for faculty and staff. For more information, contact Vanessa Llach at VanessaLlach@ou.edu or (405) 325-5397 or visit hr.ou.edu/Policies-Handbooks/ADA-Services-for-Faculty-Staff.
