University Dean for Health and Human Services
Dr. William Ebenstein received his B.A. in Psychology from Brandeis University and his M.A. and Ph.D. in Psychology and Literature from the University of Dallas. He joined CUNY's Central Office of Academic Affairs in 1989 as the Director of Workforce Development. In this role he developed a university-labor-management model of workforce development. He worked with public and private employers, organized labor, community organizations and government agencies to implement collaborative programs that support the higher education and career advancement of frontline workers in health and human services occupations. In 2000 he was appointed the founding Director of the John F. Kennedy, Jr. Institute for Worker Education at CUNY. The Institute was established to carry on the work started by John F. Kennedy, Jr. with a mission to advocate for career ladders, health and educational benefits, and a living wage for frontline workers. In 2007 Dr. Ebenstein was appointed the University Dean for Health and Human Services with responsibility for CUNY's degree programs that prepare individuals for the health professions. The JFK, Jr. Institute was incorporated into the Office of the Dean.
Dr. Ebenstein is an internationally known expert and advocate in the field of disability studies. He has a faculty appointment as a Distinguished Lecturer in Disability Studies at CUNY's School of Professional Studies and played a prominent role in establishing its new M.A. in Disability Studies. He has presented at national and international conferences and published on a range of topics in this emerging multidisciplinary field. In 2006 Dr. Ebenstein received the Mayor's Disability Advocacy Award, and in 2007 he received the Chancellor's Disability Scholarship Award. Currently he serves as Executive Officer of the Society for Disability Studies.
During his twenty year tenure in CUNY's Central Office of Academic Affairs, Dr. Ebenstein has served as the Principal Investigator on major research, training and community service grants funded through federal, State and City agencies and private foundations. Currently he is P.I. on a large random assignment research project funded by the Social Security Administration and Mathematica Policy Research Inc. that focuses on employment outcomes of youth with disabilities.
To address the nursing shortage Dr. Ebenstein has focused on increasing the capacity and improving the quality of the nursing programs that are offered at thirteen CUNY campuses. Working in collaboration with the healthcare industry and its unions, the Office of the Dean supports career ladder programs for incumbent healthcare workers. Enhancing the use of technology in nurse education and strengthening the research skills of CUNY's doctoral nursing students and nurse faculty are also priority areas.
