Susann Ji Sears

Susann Ji Sears holds multiple key positions at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign:

• Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Community Health
• Director of Beckwith Residential Support Services
• Assistant Director of Disability Resources and Educational Services (DRES)
• Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology Affiliate

Her research portfolio emphasizes:

• Disability inclusion frameworks
• Career readiness metrics for students with disabilities
• Empathic design methodologies
• Type D personality impacts on academic outcomes
• Veteran transition support systems

She investigates how personality traits influence career development in disabled college students while pioneering design approaches that center lived disability experiences. Her work bridges rehabilitation counseling, educational psychology, and inclusive design theory.

Publication analysis reveals consistent focus on intersectional barriers faced by students with disabilities and veterans. Key trends include measuring personality-disability interactions, developing veteran-specific transition models, and establishing ethical co-design protocols with disabled communities.

As Director of Beckwith Residential Support Services, she oversees comprehensive housing and academic accommodations for students with disabilities, creating structured pathways for campus integration and academic success.