University of Indianapolis has named Dr. Mary Blake Huer the new dean of health sciences.

Inside INdiana Business reports that Mary Blake Huer, Ph.D., who is active in the ongoing United Nations effort to develop international human rights standards for the disabled, will oversee the university’s nationally ranked School of Occupational Therapy and Krannert School of Physical Therapy, effective Jan. 1.

“We are delighted that Dr. Huer has accepted our offer to direct UIndy’s flagship programs in the health sciences,” said Deborah Ware Balogh, provost and vice president for academic affairs. “With her impressive scholarship and leadership credentials, she is ideally suited to build upon the national and international reputations of our physical and occupational therapy schools.”

An Indiana native, Huer comes to UIndy from California State University-Fullerton, where she is professor of human communication studies and director of its laboratories in augmentative and alternative communication. This relatively new field explores the use of electronic devices and other technology to assist patients with severe disabilities in speaking and communicating.

Dr.Huer is a graduate of Rising Sun High School in southern Indiana, she holds a bachelor’s degree in speech pathology, a master’s in speech-language pathology and a Ph.D. in speech science, all from Indiana University. She is the author of numerous journal articles, book chapters and commercially published products including therapy books, assessment tools, videotape series and software.