The Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) awarded Robert Bacon, director of Iowa’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) with the Center for Disabilities and Development at University of Iowa Health Care, the 2016 George S. Jesien Distinguished Achievement Award at the association’s annual conference Dec. 6, 2016.

Bacon previously served as the AUCD Board President in 2002 and currently serves as co-chair for the Public Policy Committee, a position he has held since 2005. In addition, he has served on the faculty of the National Leadership Institute on Developmental Disabilities since 2012. He was named director of the Iowa UCEDD in 1998 and continues in this role today.

This award recognizes an executive, faculty, or staff member within the national AUCD network who has demonstrated a distinguished career of excellence and leadership in support of the AUCD’s mission to advance policy and practice for and with people living with developmental and other disabilities, their families and communities.