Daniel Long has been appointed the director off the Office of Accessibility Services at West Virginia University effective Jan. 7.
Long is the founding director of the MindFit Clinic within the Carruth Center for Counseling and Psychological Services. MindFit is a comprehensive, multidisciplinary program that facilitates academic & cognitive improvements for students, offering best practice tools for strengthening academic skills, content knowledge, memory, attention span and cognitive function. In establishing MindFit in 2009, Long positioned WVU as one of the first universities in the nation to offer a comprehensive program for students with learning and attention concerns.
“The Office of Accessibility Services offers critical services to so many of our students at all levels and across all disciplines,” said Vice Provost Paul Kreider. “We are excited to see Dan lead this unit. He brings tremendous experience, compassion and expertise to the role and will be a tireless advocate for our students.”
Over the course of his career, Long has also provided cognitive enhancement training to professional and collegiate athletes, including Olympic medalists and NCAA champions, and served as a consulting psychologist with the Nike Oregon Project and held a secondary appointment with WVU Athletics. A clinical psychologist by training, Long has served as a staff psychologist at the Carruth Center for the past 15 years.
In addition to his work as a psychologist, Long is active in conducting research on ADHD assessment and non-pharmacological treatment of the disorder. He also actively provides consultation for research examining multisensory deficits in Autism Spectrum Disorder.
The Office of Accessibility Services at WVU is dedicated to enhancing the educational opportunities for students with temporary or permanent disabilities at West Virginia University and all its campuses. To ensure access to University programs, specialists work individually with students to help them achieve academic success through academic, housing, transportation, and other accommodations.
Jason Kapcala, Coordinator of Auxiliary Aids, has been serving as Interim Director and will return to his permanent role when Long steps into his position. “Jason Kapcala is a tremendously thoughtful advocate for our students and a valuable leader in the OAS,” Kreider said. “We are grateful to him for serving in the interim role this fall.”