Rachel Jacob (she/her) is a resident of the Hudson Valley, New York.  She brings to the table an extensive career spanning over a decade in the field of Human Services. Her journey commenced as a Direct Support Professional, a role she worked her way from to become a Day Habilitation manager. Over time, Rachel’s dedication and expertise led her to assume the position of a staff development trainer, where she championed the establishment and facilitation of a local cohort for the NADSP credentialing program, formerly structured as a portfolio model.

Rachel has also worked as a Director for an inclusive creative arts center, as well as a Director of Wellness within a Mental Health organization. Currently, she also lends her talents and skills to the Communications and Marketing team at the Regional Centers for Workforce Development in New York. Having joined NADSP part-time in the recent spring, Rachel enthusiastically embraces the opportunity to dedicate herself fully to the organization’s mission and objectives. Her academic credentials include a Bachelor of Science in Visual Arts Education from SUNY New Paltz and a Master of Public Administration from Marist College.

Rachel’s unique blend of experience, spanning supervisory roles and direct engagement with individuals living with disabilities and mental health conditions, profoundly informs her approach to empowering Direct Support Professionals.  Her workforce philosophy can be encapsulated as, “Make it passionate, make it purposeful, make it personal.”

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