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FALL/WINTER 2020

ORMATIVE

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GALLAUDET CONTINUITY

BIOETHICS PROFESSOR CHALLENGES STUDENTS

REFRAMING HUME LEPRINCE BATTISTE’S IMPACT

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GALLAUDET

What we do here changes the world Gallaudet is where we make lasting memories and grow and contribute in ways we never thought possible. Thank you for being a part of a diverse signing community, focused on changing the world.

EDITORIAL AND DISTRIBUTION

Gallaudet Today Magazine contains news and information for the signing community, including alumni and friends of Gallaudet University.

Editor in Chief Bryce H. Chapman

PRESIDENT Roberta J. Cordano OFFICE OF DEVELOPMENT AND ALUMNI RELATIONS Executive Director of Development & Alumni Relations Nicholas Gould, ’09 Director of Alumni Relations Samuel M Sonnenstrahl, ’79 & G-’84 OFFICE OF UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS Chief Marketing and Undergraduate Admissions Officer Brandi Rarus Director of Marketing Bryce H. Chapman, E-’04

Staff Writers Brandi Rarus Bryce H. Chapman, E-’04 Robert B. Weinstock, ’77 & G-’83 Contributing Writers Samuel M Sonnenstrahl, ’79 & G-’84 Abigail Strauss Drake, ’97 & G-’99 Allison Polk, ’06 Trudy Suggs, ’95 Shane Dundas, G-’11 and G-’16 Meredith Peruzzi, ‘11 Alexander Leffers Trevor De Rosch, ’13 Jenna Beacom Shane Feldman Jean Bergery Artists and Designers Bilal Chinoy, ’07 Meeya Tjiang Matt Daigle, G-’19

Interim of Public & Media Relations Robert B. Weinstock, ’77 & G-’83 Multimedia Designers Bilal Chinoy, ’07 Meeya Tjiang Project Manager Shara Winesburg, E-’11

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IN THIS ISSUE

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Gallaudet Continuity COVID-19 will leave us with many lessons — some of which we have yet to fully understand. The transformative impact of Gallaudet University and the Laurent Clerc National Education Deaf Center of moving learning online during the pandemic demonstrates for us that we will, in the end, be better for it.

Bilingualism and a Strong Sense of Identity “Language is tied to self-identity, and it’s my job to make sure every student graduates with a strong sense of identity through fluency in ASL and English.” — Dr. Laurene E. Simms, Interim Chief Bilingual Officer

Bioethics Professor Challenges Students With a rise of gene therapy research, one day our children may not be able to experience their true genetic identity . If genomes are edited to produce a hearing child instead of a deaf one, it fundamentally changes their potential life experiences. Dr. Teresa Blankmeyer Burke and her students consider the problematic nature of gene therapy research aimed at eliminating hereditary deafness.

Stomping Grounds The newest regular section in Gallaudet Today magazine is making its debut in this edition with comic illustrator, Matt Daigle, G-’19, sketching Gally the Bison! You wouldn’t believe what the Gally the Bison orders at Starbucks.

University Unveils Five Academic Schools The university’s 16 academic departments are being grouped into five schools. These distinct, robust, sustainable, multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary groupings will enhance students’ success and address the rapidly changing 21st century landscape of academic and career pathways.

First Female Graduates Blazed a Trail Women were initially admitted to Gallaudet University in 1864, the year of its founding. However, in 1868, as a result of sexism, women were barred from attending the college. They would not be admitted for another 22 years; Black women, however, were not admitted until the 1950s.

Reframing Hume LePrince Battiste’s Impact The story of Hume LePrince Battiste, Class of 1913, is an example of a historical revelation that prompts us to reexamine how we have seen ourselves and our university for the past 100 years. As one of many thousands of students who have attended Gallaudet, Battiste’s experience at at the university seemed unremarkable, until his cousin, Major Andre Battiste Sr., provided clear evidence that all was not as it seemed.

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GALLA

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AUDET CONTINUITY Welcome to the Fall/Winter 2020 issue of Gallaudet Today Magazine. I started to write this letter in April 2020, just as we began the second month of online learning for our students and remote work for the vast majority of our employees. The District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia were all under stay-at-home orders. The coronavirus pandemic had yet to hit its peak; the Baltimore-Washington corridor had just been identified as the next “hot spot” for the disease. Nevertheless, it was my hope that by the time you received this issue of Gallaudet Today, the outlook for the pandemic would have improved. Whatever the case, I knew that our lives had been altered, perhaps forever. Then came the horrific killing of George Floyd. As many of you know, I am from the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area and still have a home there. I personally witnessed much of the civil unrest that followed Mr. Floyd’s death, and was profoundly affected by both the events at home and those on campus and in Washington, D.C. as our community embraced the Black Lives Matter movement. Today, as we manage our response to the pandemic, so, too, are we addressing racism on our campus. The two issues intersect; the pandemic disproportionately affects people of color. This sober reality is front and center in our pandemic and anti-racism planning. We began our fall semester online. We made this decision early in the summer. As hard as it was to fathom a fall without our students on campus and the ASL vibrancy that makes us unique, we knew that it was the right decision. We have watched other universities try to open, only to change course and send their students home. Nearly all of our faculty spent the summer in online training, defining what an ASLvibrant virtual experience would look like. Our hard work has paid off; our enrollment numbers are steady, and we actually have an increase in graduate enrollment. Our faculty and staff are ready to do what they do best, which is to offer an exceptional education for our deaf, hard of hearing, and DeafBlind students. 5

GALLAUDET CONTINUITY

In this issue, Trevor De Rosch, ’13 and Shane Dundas, G-’11 and G-’16, write about how we responded to a similar crisis 102 years ago. In 1918, the H1N1 strain of influenza, commonly known as the Spanish flu, infected an estimated 500 million people and caused millions of deaths worldwide, including 675,000 in the United States. Sadly, two of our students succumbed. Although this was during an entirely different era, with different resources than we have available to us now, there are striking similarities in the global impact of that pandemic and the one before us today. In our community, we seek to modify the phrase “being socially distant” to “being physically distant and socially connected.” As a visual-centric community, we have the opportunity to demonstrate the importance of social connection. For example, the use of ASL with signing people and of gesture with non-signers, transforms distance and lessens the impact of covering our faces with masks. The article “Apart + Connected” in this issue addresses mask wearing. Tactile communication, used by DeafBlind students, their interpreters, and their special support providers, requires a reexamination of when and how we can safely be in close proximity. This is essential to meet the communication and human support needs of people who are deafblind. New protocols, developed by and with DeafBlind individuals, must guide us so that we can continue to communicate with each other. Our DeafBlind students have shown extraordinary communications creativity, both before and during the pandemic, and I have no doubt that this will continue.

Our Eight Guiding Principles Cherish each member of our community. Focus on your health, safety and well-being. Equitably meet each person’s needs. Commit to open communication for all. Promote language vibrancy and valuing our bilingual community. Value innovation, creativity and adaptability. Commit to academic continuity and accessibility. We are all in this together. 6

I give credit to our entire community for coming together. Our COVID-19 Leadership Team, our Crisis Leadership Team, our faculty and teachers, and teams of staff. including technology services, facilities, residence life, student support, communications, and interpreting, all worked tirelessly to assure academic and work continuity. Our leadership teams processed a steady stream of rapidly changing information. We made decisions, revisited those decisions, and adapted our responses on an almost daily basis. We looked at multiple scenarios, and we made decisions -- sometimes tough ones, but always with the best interest of our community firmly in mind. There was no pandemic playbook for institutions of higher education, so we created our own. First and foremost, we developed a set of guiding principles. You can read them in the box on the facing page, or view them in ASL at https://gu.live/HMeHK.

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Each of these principles has two underpinnings: the health and safety of our community, and “do no harm.” Every discussion we have had, and every decision we have made, has been informed by our guiding principles. I am incredibly proud of everyone and the work they put in to streamline our operations and create a virtual learning and working community literally overnight. Our emotional connection to our community was just as important as our decision-making. I spent several nights in mid-March talking with our students. I watched them as they were in shock and, with tears, they packed their belongings and made their way home. We tried to answer their questions of “why,” and we also tried to remind them of the good that would come from this — all while recognizing their profound sense of loss. For so many of our students, just as with so many of our alumni, Gallaudet is home. In particular, our senior class, our graduate students, and our MSSD seniors were not ready to say goodbye to each other and to Kendall Green. The coronavirus pandemic will leave us with many lessons, some of which we have yet to fully understand. The transformative impact of Gallaudet University and Clerc Center of moving learning online demonstrates for us that we will, in the end, be better for it. As we maintain physical distance but remain socially connected, now is the time to find and share stories that connect and inspire us. This issue of Gallaudet Today Magazine does just that. I send each and every one of you my very best wishes for continued health and safety. It is my fervent hope that you are taking all steps to protect yourself, your loved ones, neighbors, and friends. Enjoy reading! #GallaudetStrong

President Roberta “Bobbi” Cordano 7

AMONG OURSELVES

ourselv AMONG We are thankful to our contributors to the signing ecosystem. Join us in celebrating their successes.

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AMONG OURSELVES

AMONG Ourselves LEADERSHIP

Jeffrey W. Lewis, ’76 Jeffrey Lewis assumed the role of Interim Provost on July 1, after Carol Erting, Ph.D., stepped down as Provost. Lewis agreed to serve for up to two years in this capacity. At the time of the announcement of his new role, he was serving as professor and acting chair the Department of Counseling.

Khadijat K. Rashid, ’90 Khadijat Rashid, Ph.D., is Gallaudet’s Interim Dean of Faculty and has served as Dean for the School of Education, Business and Human Services since 2017. A member of the Gallaudet faculty since 1994, Rashid has taught a broad spectrum of undergraduate and graduate courses on political economy, international development and economic policy issues, development economics and macroeconomics. She is a published author on subjects relating to deaf communities and relationships in Africa. She has presented across the world, including at the World Bank, the United Nations and the White House. In 2011, President Barack Obama appointed her a White House Fellow. In that position, she worked with senior government officials and obtained a view into the workings of the US government. She served on the board of the Maryland School for the Deaf from 10

2008-2014. She is on the board of Communication Service for the Deaf.

Laurene E. Simms Laurene Simms, Ph.D., is Chief of Bilingual Officer and a professor at Gallaudet. Simms, who directs the university’s deaf education program, is a nationally recognized authority on bilingual ASL/English education for deaf children. Her lifelong dedication to education, culture and language has made her well-known and respected within the academic community. She has written over 10 scholarly pieces on deaf education. She also is a popular presenter who has an energetic approach to teaching. She is the president of the National American Sign Language and English Consortium for Early Childhood Education and is a member of multiple organizations that advocate for deaf education. She is a board member of Deaf Women of Color, Inc., and the District of Columbia Area Black Deaf Advocates. The Indiana School for the Deaf (ISD) renamed its elementary school building after Simms in 2018 in honor of her contributions to early childhood development and deaf education.

Brandi Rarus Brandi Rarus oversees Gallaudet’s marketing, communications, public relations and social media. She is Executive Director of University Communications. She is on the board of directors of Communication Service for the Deaf; she previously served the organization as Vice President of Public Relations, Engagement and

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Policy. She has traveled the country for speaking engagements to generate awareness for what it means to be deaf and to speak up for deaf children. Rarus became deaf when she was 6 years old due to spinal meningitis. She is the author of the widely acclaimed memoir, Finding Zoe: A Deaf Woman’s Story of Identity, Love, and Adoption. The book is about acceptance and finding her adopted daughter, Zoe. Rarus and her husband, Tim, who graduated from Gallaudet in 1988, have paved the way for new technology to promote equal access in communications for deaf individuals.

Genie Gertz, ’92 Genie Gertz, Ph.D., a 1992 Gallaudet graduate, is Dean of Undergraduate Admissions and Outreach for the university and has been on staff since 2013. She is a recognized leader in deaf education, and a sought-after international speaker. Gertz also is an advocate for the deaf community through her involvement in organizations such as the National Association of the Deaf and Deaf Women United. Her scholarly interests range from exploring the social, cultural, linguistic and educational features that weaken deaf individuals’ development of deaf consciousness, which affect the formation of solid identities. Gertz, who was born deaf, emigrated with her family to the US from Russia at 8 years old. She is fluent not only in American Sign Language and English, but also Russian Sign Language and Russian. Her life experiences have aided her in her current role and in shaping the minds of individuals, with the goal of cultural competence.

LEADERSHIP

Dominic Lacy Dominic Lacy joined Gallaudet as Chief Operating Officer in January 2020. He previously served as Chief Innovation Officer at Communication Services for the Deaf, where he led its social venture fund. The latter provided funding and executive support to various deafowned companies. Prior to that, he was at Accenture for 14 years as a Senior Manager. He held multiple roles in finance, management consulting, global operations and strategy consulting. In his role at Gallaudet, he ensures high-functioning administrative and operational support. He also provides strategic leadership to ensure responsive infrastructure and personnel to fulfill Gallaudet’s mission. Lacy’s professional work has centered around streamlining operational efficiencies and developing new ways to incorporate new technology in business. He has a bachelor’s of business administration in finance from Southern Methodist University. 11

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Natalie Sinicrope Natalie Sinicrope, who joined Gallaudet University in August 2019 as General Counsel, has always viewed success as the ability to build lasting and authentic relationships with others of different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. “I have worked hard over the last year to begin to build such relationships, and am grateful for the working relationships that I have formed with my colleagues,” she says. Her biggest accomplishment thus far has been hiring Senior Associate Counsel Faye Kuo, who Sinicrope says has brought an unparalleled breadth and depth of experience to the university. The Office of the General Counsel’s mission is to anticipate and provide high quality, timely and practical counsel to Gallaudet, to serve as trusted strategic counselors to university clients and create synergy and unity among its divisions. “My hope is to show the community the value of having embedded and vested legal expertise,” Sinicrope says.

Nicholas T. Gould, ’09 Nicholas Gould was promoted to Executive Director for Institutional Advancement at Gallaudet in December 2019. In this position, he oversees university development and alumni relations. He previously worked as Director of Communications for the Laurent Clerc Deaf Education Center. He was the Clerc Center Chair for the Model Secondary School for the Deaf (MSSD)’s 50th anniversary celebration, which welcomed over 1,000 MSSD alumni and community members. He 12

was also Gallaudet’s Associate Director of Alumni and Planned Giving in the Office of Development. He has also served as Associate Direct of Special Gifts. He was tasked with rebuilding Gallaudet’s planned giving program, launching the Macfadden Legacy Challenge. The challenge raised over $6 million in new planned gifts from alumni. He also raised over $12 million for the university during his time in the development office. Gould earned his bachelor’s degree from Gallaudet in 2009.

RETIREMENTS

Beth S. Benedict, ’80 & PhD ’03 Beth Benedict, Ph.D., retired in June after serving as Gallaudet’s Executive Director of the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and Outreach since 2015. During her tenure, she enhanced the profile of the university through her strong leadership. She was innovative, a creative problem-solver and engaged with people to inspire them to achieve high standards. Benedict has been extremely involved with organizations, serving as a board member for the American Society for Deaf Children. She also won a multitude of awards for her work and contributions. Throughout her career, Benedict authored multiple articles and books while producing over 100 invited presentations worldwide. Besides her administrative role, she was a tenured faculty member since 2004 in the communication studies program in the Department of Art, Communication and Theatre. She taught theory and practice. She graduated from Gallaudet with a bachelor’s degree in 1980 and a doctorate in 2003.

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Michael J. Olson, ’79

Linda Raye

Mike Olson spent his career at Gallaudet, retiring this year as interim director/senior archivist of the university library’s deaf collections and archives. Prior to this, he served the following roles in the archives: preservation specialist, technician and library associate I. He received a bachelor’s degree from Gallaudet and took coursework toward a master’s degree in library and information services from the University of Maryland. He serves on Gallaudet’s recognition committee and was treasurer of the Gallaudet University Alumni Association (GUAA) for six years, chairing its 34th Triennial Reunion. He was a committee researcher/curatorial advisor for the traveling social history exhibition, History Through Deaf Eyes. He was also on the committee for the National Preservation of Deaf Culture Society of the National Association of the Deaf from 1994-1996. In 2019, he received the Gallaudet University Lifetime Achievement Staff Award. The GUAA also recognized him with its President’s Award and Resolution Award.

More than 41 years after Linda Raye became a driver in the University’s transportation department, she was honored with the Gallaudet Lifetime Achievement Staff Award. Raye retires as a manager of the department, having watched the children she helped transport grow up, attend the University, get married and have children. She says it’s something that will forever be in her heart. Her experience at Gallaudet taught her hard work pays off. “ … I accepted and tackled whatever challenge I faced,” Raye says. And, others saw her dedication, nominating her for this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award. “When I received the email informing me that I had been selected, I read it three times! I was so shocked,” Raye says. “I couldn’t believe it. I began to thank God, realizing that there were people that knew me, appreciated me and noticed my contributions to the University.”

Andrew Wright After 36 years at Gallaudet, Department of Public Safety Sgt. Andrew Wright retired with fond memories and an important lesson he learned at the University: “As a minister of the Gospel, I’ve learned that people are going to be people … we all have something in common, regardless of our differences,” he says. Wright was hired as a patrol officer in the 1980s and soon began sign language lessons. “I never thought as a hearing person I could do a job as a police officer in a deaf/hard of hearing environment,” he says. “It was a challenge for a little while.” But, with the help of his sign language instructor, he learned needed 13

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skills. And, over the years, Gallaudet continued to impact him. “It further inspired me that people can’t be limited by their disabilities or shouldn’t be stigmatized, especially when others don’t know anything about you or your culture,” he says.

Samuel M Sonnenstrahl, ’79 & G-’84 Samuel Sonnenstrahl, who has been the Director of Alumni Relations since 2002, will retire this year. He is only the third person to hold that role for Gallaudet. He took the position one week before one of the world’s largest conventions of deaf people, Deaf Way II, in Washington, DC. He says it was like “being baptized by fire.” Sonnenstrahl is also Executive Director of the Gallaudet University Alumni Association (GUAA). As part of his many responsibilities, he oversaw the 2005 to 2007 renovation and preservation of Peikoff Alumni House, known as “Ole Jim.” He was heavily involved with Gallaudet’s 150th and the GUAA’s 125th anniversary celebrations in 2014. He and his team coordinate and support annual homecoming reunions, and have expanded the university’s Homecoming celebrations to include reunions for alumni of color, as well as classes celebrating their 55th, 60th and 65th anniversaries. Most recently, he has been updating the Gallaudet Almanac.

RESEARCH

Lorna Quandt As Assistant Professor of Educational Neuroscience, Director of the Action & Brain Lab and Science Director of the Motion Light Lab, Lorna Quandt, Ph.D., is constantly investigating how learning sign language impacts the brain. She and a team of researchers also work on educational technology development. “We have recently discovered multiple new ways in which knowing sign language is associated with enhanced visual perception, as seen from neuroscientific data collected in our lab,” she says. The labs are also designing and testing the world’s first immersive virtual reality (VR) ASL learning environment. They are doing this as part of the Signing Avatars and Immersive Learning (SAIL) project, which is supported by a National Signing Foundation grant. “We hope this work will lead to an entirely new way that people can learn ASL from anywhere in the home, by interacting with our extremely realistic signing avatars,” Quandt says.

Christian Vogler Christian Vogler, Ph.D., is principal investigator of a $4.6 million grant he helped secure for the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Technology for People who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. The grant, from the US Department of Health and Human Service, will support the efforts to improve the accessibility, usability and performance of 21st century technologies for those who are deaf or hard of hearing. “There are so many amazing opportunities

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for deaf and hard-of -hearing consumers to completely change the way they communicate, use technology and access services,” says Vogler, who has spent more than nine years as Gallaudet’s Director of the Technology Access Program. He is also a professor in the communication studies program, and leads multiple research grants that focus on accessibility, also bringing policymakers to the table to advocate for the deaf community. He’s detailed the need for improved technology in dozens of scholarly articles.

Melissa A. Malzkuhn, ’04 & G-’08 Melissa Malzkuhn Digital Innovation and Media Strategies Manager at the Gallaudet Visual Language and Visual of Learning Science Center. She leads the process of translating research findings into educational resources for deaf children. She earned an undergraduate degree in 2004 and a master’s degree in 2008 from Gallaudet. Her master’s thesis was on the advocacy and community organizing of deaf youth in America, which led to the establishment of a national organization in 2008, Deaf Youth USA. She leads creative development at Motion Light Lab at Gallaudet, which she founded in 2014. Motion Light Lab uses literature and digital technology techniques to create immersive learning experiences. Malzkuhn is an Obama Fellow, an Executive Editor of the Deaf Studies Digital Journal and has organized deaf youth programs. She also works with different countries to support literacy development for deaf children through sign language resources. Her work is recognized worldwide.

Poorna Kushalnagar, ’93 Poorna Kushalnagar, Center Director for Deaf Health Equity and Associate Professor, is well aware of health disparities within minority groups. The deaf community is no different, unfortunately. After the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) posted its first series of COVID-19 ASL videos in March, Gallaudet University began to survey deaf Americans about the coronavirus and risk perception. With those results and data from the Deaf Health Communication and Quality of Life Center, Kushalnagar analyzed subgroups within the community that were most at risk for health disparities and inequities in health care. The research examined education levels and how individuals received information on COVID-19, as well as how worried they were about getting it. “Simply comparing a minority group (e.g. deaf) with the general population (hearing) can obscure real differences within the minority population,” she says, noting that further analyses can reveal health disparities, allowing services or programs to be implemented to reduce them. 15

AMONG OURSELVES

FACULTY AND STAFF

Carol Erting The five-year tenure of Carol Erting, Ph.D., as Gallaudet’s Provost ended in July after she stepped down from her position to return to her scholarly and academic pursuits. She had been at the university for 39 years before she took on the role of Provost, principally in research, faculty and administrative roles. She was Dean of the Graduate School and Professional Programs for six years, and Associate Provost for Research and Dean of the Graduate School, Continuing Studies, and International Affairs for one year before becoming Provost in 2014. During her leadership, the university earned distinction in 2019 as an “R2 doctoral university – high research activity” via The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Erting also oversaw the growth of new academic programs, including ASL Connect, Risk Management and Insurance and Public Health. During her 45 years at Gallaudet, Erting displayed a commitment to student learning and academic growth.

John-Samuel Atkinson In June, the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) named Sam Atkinson the 66th president of the organization. Atkinson is the third-ever president from the Division III level to serve in this role in the organization’s 60-plusyear history. He is the fourth representative from CoSIDA’s College Division, which is comprised of NCAA Divisions II and III, as well as the NAIA, Canadian and two-year schools, 16

to become president. “The historical moment of a NCAA Division III member becoming CoSIDA’s president is not lost on me,” he said in a CoSIDA news story. “I am hopeful this inspires others to strive to be leaders within our organization, as leadership knows no boundaries.” Atkinson will begin his 12th year as a member of the Gallaudet athletic department this fall; he has served as Associate Athletic Director for Communications since 2017. Atkinson is the key voice in generating publicity for Gallaudet athletics.

Curtis Pride Curtis Pride, who became Gallaudet’s head baseball coach in 2008, is also Ambassador for Inclusion for Major League Baseball. As a former MLB player, Pride helps clubs become more accessible for those with disabilities and more diverse in their workforce. He is working with clubs to provide quality captioning for their parks. He has created an accessibility guide template for all clubs’ websites so they can show the ballpark accommodations and services they provide for people with disabilities. He also recommended that clubs create the role of ADA coordinator, and says some are in the process of getting an employee certified to hold the role.”MLB can be more inclusive if they continue to show their support consistently for all races, genders, religions and persons with disabilities, not only through various programs or celebrations, but by also taking firm affirmative action to make baseball fully inclusive in all aspects,” he says.

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Alicia Wooten The 2019-2020 academic year was Dr. Alicia Wooten’s first at Gallaudet. She is an Assistant Professor of Biology, and says she wants to expand the biology research program and provide more opportunities for students. She says she will be doing biomedical and immunology-based work, as well as science communication for the deaf community. “I knew I wanted to teach the next generation of deaf scientists and what better place to do it than Gallaudet University?,” she says. “I knew how much I struggled with building my scientific foundation during undergrad due to a lack of deaf professors and conceptually correct ASL and I don’t want other students to have to go through that.” Wooten co-founded Atomic Hands while completing her Ph.D. in molecular and translational medicine from Boston University. Atomic Hands increases accessibility to science, technology, engineering and mathematics through American Sign Language. It fosters collaboration and networking opportunities for deaf students in those subjects.

Nikki E. Surber, ’98 & G-’01 Nikki Surber, Program Manager for the Residence Life and Housing office in Student Affairs, was elected Chair of the Gallaudet Staff Council in June. She has also served as Secretary of the council, which aims to make the university a better place to work. notable career as an undergraduate student-athlete and staff member at Gallaudet. She worked in multiple

positions at Gallaudet before moving to her current role. After graduating with her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Gallaudet, she was a Coordinator of Residence Education. She then was Housing Operations Manager from 2010-2017, before she assumed her current role as Program Manager. Her passion for Gallaudet dates back to her undergraduate days. As she was earning her bachelor’s degree, Surber was a middle blocker on the volleyball team from 1993-1997. She also represented the US in the Deaflympics as a member of the volleyball team in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1997. 17

AMONG OURSELVES

STUDENT AND ALUMNI

Shane Carrizales

David T. Bruno, ’18 and Yunhe Bai, ’19

As the COVID-19 pandemic hit and students began to suffer financial distress, the university launched the COVID-19 Bison Aid Fund and the COVID-19 Clerc Center Aid Fund. Both aimed to alleviate burdens for students who would need to travel home to their families, as they could not stay on campus. The Bison Aid Fund also raised money to alleviate food insecurity and storage costs for students’ belongings as they left campus. In the midst of this, Gallaudet student Shane Carrizales became the public face of the university’s efforts. He made video pleas to potential donors, telling them of the need to help. Carrizales, a public health major, has worked as an undergraduate research assistant for Deaf Health Communications and Quality of Life in the District of Columbia. He has also participated in cheerleading and has been a volunteer committee member for the National Academic Bowl and the National Battle of the Books competitions.

DT Bruno and Yunhe Bai, who graduated from Gallaudet University in 2018 and 2019, respectively, hope their recent article in Columbia Social Work Review has positive impacts on the deaf community. Bruno graduated from Columbia University with a master’s in social work; Bai is studying there for the same degree. They both had concerns about the lack of access to social work services within the deaf community, due in part to a shortage of social workers with a true understanding of the culture, American Sign Language, and the accommodations they must make for their clients. These shared concerns led to the research article. In it, Bruno and Bai offer recommendations to help alleviate the problem. “I was so exhilarated that the journal published our article because it helps raise awareness about deaf culture and sign language, not just in social work services, but also the entire hearing community,” Bai says.

Athena Willis Athena Willis was awarded the 2020 Ph.D. in Educational Neuroscience Research Based Translation Award. She is in the Ph.D. Program in Educational Neuroscience (PEN) and is a graduate assistant. She has been a key team member of the National Science Foundation-funded project, Signing Avatars and Immersive Learning, or SAIL. The project uses principles of educational neuroscience to develop and test a novel way to learn American Sign Language within a virtual 3D environment. Willishas co-authored three submitted papers related to the SAIL project. She was part of the award-winning 18

video in the “NSF STEM for All Showcase.” The video has been viewed by more than 2,900 people across the world. Willis’s interests are investigating embodied learning, information behaviors and spatial and affective information. Her advisor is Dr. Lorna Quandt, scientific director of the Motion Light Lab and the PEN Action & Brain Lab.

Pablo Gonzalez Pablo Gonzalez, a fifthyear student at Gallaudet, is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, with minors in psychology and education. He is heavily involved on campus, serving as a peer leader in the Student Success Office, an orientation leader for the Family Orientation Program for parents and families of incoming students, and a student assistant for youth programs. He also works with the university’s Summer Youth Camps and has been a peer mentor with the Student Success Office. He has also been an orientation leader for new student orientation. He has been involved with the Latinx Student Union four years, the National Society for Leadership and Success for one year and Student Body Government for three years. Among the roles he has held for Student Body Government is Director of Student Affairs.

Noah T. Valencia, ’20 Basketball is in Noah Valencia’s blood. His dad and uncles played for Gallaudet University’s men’s basketball team, and Valencia followed in their footsteps, recently playing his fourth season on the team. He is fourth

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in all-time points scored for Gallaudet with 1,874. “My proudest individual achievement was finally beating my dad for total points made and making the milestone for the first second-generation player ever to score 1,000 points,” Valencia says. “My dad scored 1,000 points, and I reached that milestone where I eventually beat his career points.” Valencia, a 2020 CoSIDA Academic AllAmerican selection, says his proudest team achievement was breaking a school record for the winningest season in the program’s history, with 20 wins. “Unfortunately, we failed to reach the national tournament, but it was one of the seasons to remember for the books,” he says. Valencia plans to graduate in spring 2021 with a major in physical education and recreation.

Sabina A. Shysh, ’19 As one of two student athletes who played three or more sports during their four years at Gallaudet University, Sabina Shysh continues to pay it forward. As a graduate assistant for the university’s women’s basketball and soccer teams, she is also studying at Gallaudet for her master’s in public administration. She would like to one day become a coach. She uses lessons that sports have taught her along the way. They have taught her how to pick herself up from losses, how to be humble and how to rely upon others. She also understands how her former coaches shaped her. “[They] are the reason why I want to become a coach who wants to make a lasting and positive impact on student athletes and the younger generation,” she says. “I feel it is important to give back to young generation athletes with my knowledge, skills and life lessons.” 19

AMONG OURSELVES

ALUMNI

Sarah A. Sparks, ’18 & AuD ’20 Sarah Sparks, a pediatric audiologist who graduated this year with her Doctorate of Audiology from Gallaudet University, presented a graduation speech via Zoom during a Student Academy of Audiologysponsored ceremony. “My primary message was that as audiologists, we must remember that each of our patients is a unique individual with a story that influences the needs, wants, fears and anxieties that they bring into their audiology appointments,” says Sparks, now a Ph.D. student. She also stressed that the options audiologists give their patients are opportunities, with no forced choice. As a speaker, Sparks ensured that captioning and interpretation was available. “Deaf and hard-ofhearing (DHH) people have all seen an audiologist at one point or another, and I believe that events like this one should be made fully accessible to us. Not only are we the patients of audiologists, but we can also be colleagues. Yes, DHH audiologists do exist,” she says.

Alesia N. Allen, G-’11 & PhD ’20 Alesia Allen began her duties as Director of Diversity and Inclusion for the National Technical Institute for the Deaf, or NTID, on July 1, 2020. She is responsible for all diversity and inclusion affairs at NTID and monitors the school’s progress on university-wide and NTID-specific diversity initiatives and goals. Allen has a master’s degree in clinical psychology from Gallaudet and will 20

soon receive Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the university as well. While at Gallaudet, she was an intergroup diversity dialogue facilitator, helping undergraduates explore divisions among people on the basis of racial and ethnic identity. She also assisted them as they examined racial and ethnic dynamics within and across deaf, hard-of-hearing and hearing communities. Allesn also was project manager for the Commission on Ethnic Minority Recruitment, Retention and Training. Prior to her current role, she was a visiting assistant professor in NTID’s Department of Liberal Studies.

Natalie J. Delgado-Grace, ’13 Natalie Delgado-Grace, Ph.D., began her role as Director of Outreach for the Louisiana School for the Deaf in July, after serving as Outreach Coordinator for one year. Prior to that, she was an instructor at the school for six years. She dreamed of being a teacher when she was younger. At one point in her childhood, she wondered if that was possible, as she was starting to lose her hearing. She was identified as hard-of-hearing at age 5, and became deaf at 18. Once she learned American Sign Language and was introduced to the deaf community, her mindset changed. She studied psychology at Gallaudet and received her master’s degree in deaf education and her doctorate in deaf education and deaf studies from Lamar University.

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Namja Johnson, ’12 & G-’14 Najma Johnson is executive director of DAWN, or the Deaf Abused Women Network. DAWN provides services to survivors of domestic abuse, sexual abuse and stalking within the deaf, hard-of-hearing and DeafBlind communities in Washington, D.C. Those services are counseling, support groups, resiliency education and case management. DAWN also provides alternative services to support community-based healing, such as restorative justice and non-traditional healing services. Johnson, who has a master’s degree in mental health counseling from Gallaudet, co-founded Together All in Solidarity, an umbrella social justice collaboration that functions as a network for those marginalized within the deaf community. Prior to arriving in Washington, D.C., Johnson provided traumainformed therapeutic work with SAFE Alliance in Austin, Texas. Johnson has participated in several organizations that advocate for hard-of-hearing minority women, transgender people and deaf people who are living in poverty and other marginalized communities. 21

BILINGUALIS AND A STRONG SENSE OF INDENTITY

BILINGUALISM AND A STRONG SENSE OF IDENTITY “Language is tied to self-identity, and it’s my job to make sure every student graduates with a strong sense of identity through fluency in ASL and English.” After 20 years in the Department of Education, Simms is now doing what she loves the most: Bringing ASL-English bilingualism to the masses through identity development and strengthening cross-cultural communications. Simms was recently appointed Gallaudet University’s Chief Bilingual Officer. Simms has been at Gallaudet since . She is a nationally-recognized expert in ASLEnglish bilingual education and president of the National American Sign Language and Early Childhood Education’s English Bilingual Consortium. She is a consultant in ASL-English bilingual professional development, as well as a mentor for others and an advocate. Before coming to Gallaudet University, she served as the elementary supervising teacher at the Indiana School for the Deaf for four years, and earned her doctorate in language, 22 22

reading and culture, with minors in teaching and teacher education, from the University of Arizona in Tucson. She was the first Black alumna of the Indiana School for the Deaf to go on to receive a doctorate. There are key areas Simms will focus on in her new role: Developing a solid, bilingual pedagogy for each classroom; and ensuring everyone on campus — deaf or hearing — is bilingual, including new faculty members and people in positions who ordinarily may not have a lot of contact with students on campus. “This is a signing campus, which means everyone on campus could sign,” Simms explains. “But we don’t want to pull the rug out from under non-signers, either. It’s my goal to ensure that we provide them with a productive, feasible plan that helps them achieve the language goals we have.” Simms works closely with the Presidential Executive Team and is developing a selfassessment to determine university officials’ knowledge of and comfort with bilingualism. She will also assess general attitudes about language and the values placed upon ASL and English.

Simms knows firsthand what it’s like to not have a strong identity or understanding of language. She was born the last of seven children into a poor family. Deafened by polio as a baby, Simms first attended an oral school, which left her frustrated, until her mother learned of the Indiana School for the Deaf. Simms transferred to the school and ultimately thrived.

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But it wasn’t always so easy. As a Black deaf girl, she believed she wasn’t smart and wouldn’t have much of a future — until a teacher showed her she could do whatever she wanted. “Jess Smith, a former math teacher, told me one day, ‘You can.’ My life changed with his words, and ever since then, I’ve wanted to share that message with everyone,” Simms says. She graduated as valedictorian of her class, and in 2018, the elementary building at Indiana School for the Deaf was named after her. And, to this day, her childhood experiences drive her passion for culture, literacy and bilingualism in the classroom. “Each student who comes to Gallaudet University brings a different set of identities, languages, skills and experiences,” Simms says. “It is my job to make sure that they have strong identities, fluency in ASL and English, and multiculturalism by the time they graduate. I’m very excited about this opportunity.”

Laurene Simms, Ph.D.

Gallaudet University Chief Bilingual Officer 23

BIOETHICS PROFESSOR CHALLENGES STUDENT

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BIOETHICS PROFESSOR challenges STUDENTS. Associate Professor of Philosophy Dr. Teresa Blankmeyer Burke has always liked the big questions: Who are we? What really matters? What is the right thing to do? By Jenna Beacom and Shane Feldman 25

BIOETHICS PROFESSOR CHALLENGES STUDENT

It was in college that she took a philosophy course, and a textbook opened up her world. It set her on course to becoming the world’s only deaf bioethicist and philosopher. “It was a moment of recognition for me, that all these questions I had been asking were a part of an academic field,” says Blankmeyer Burke, the first signing deaf woman to receive a PhD in Philosophy and a leader in the field of bioethics, which explores ethical questions relating to biological research and medicine. Those questions are especially relevant to the deaf community, for a number of reasons, and she has led her students to ponder them. Soon after she joined faculty, she suggested a course titled, “Bioethics and the Deaf Community,” which is now taught on a regular basis. As an outgrowth of the class she began teaching in January 2017, her students created a resource for teaching the deaf bioethics perspectives on genetic engineering. They did so using a mock case study, housed on a website with complementary questions to guide discussion. “That resource is fully accessible and has been used at universities and medical schools around the world, including Australia, Ireland, and Canada,” says Blankmeyer Burke.

The ethics of gene editing The case study is particularly relevant now, as scientists say they have the ability to use 26

CRISPR-Cas9, a gene editing technology, to alter genes, eliminating a couple’s chances of giving birth to a deaf baby. Russian molecular biologist, Denis Rebrikov, was even quoted last summer as saying he has five Siberian deaf couples who are willing to allow him to use the gene-editing technique so they can have hearing children In this procedure, the genome is edited by inserting a cut or break in the DNA; this tricks a cell’s natural repair mechanisms into creating the desired changes. Multiple ethical questions arise from this, and are seen in the case study, which follows an imaginary couple, Vivian and Colin, who want to conceive a child. They did so because

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BIOETHICS PROFESSOR CHALLENGES STUDENT

Vivian had concerns about her genetic history. Their genetic counselor conducts screening and reports that they are likely to have a baby born deaf, as Colin was. The genetic counselor tells the couple about CRISPR-Cas9, and says it has allowed the medical community to reduce the deaf population birthrate by 65%. The couple is uncomfortable because they realize eliminating deaf people would mean eliminating an important culture; they are also concerned because in the mock case study, the United States is considering enacting a law that means individuals who have health insurance must use CRISPR-Cas9 before they can give birth. If an individual refused to use the technology, their health insurance would be revoked, meaning they would need to 28

pay out-of-pocket for all medical expenses, indefinitely. The case study goes on to explore other potential legal issues. The case study mirrors the potential real-life situation involving Rebrikov, who says he has a detailed research plan to assess the risk of altering embryos before he tries to implants them. He also reportedly plans to seek rigorous ethical and regulatory review. Should such genetic editing be done? What are the implications of it? These are the questions Blankmeyer Burke would say bioethicists should consider. “Bioethics is a way of thinking about biological science and medicine that goes beyond ‘Can

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we do this?’ to ‘Should we do this?’,” she explains. “Broadly speaking, the incentives for scientists and physicians are to generate knowledge and to cure. The incentive for bioethicists is asking questions about the potential for harm in a number of ways, whether it is harm to an individual, harm to a community, or harm to an ecosystem.” One of the considerations for genetic technology is whether it is being tried in situations where the condition is “serious” and “there is no available alternative.” Therefore, one thing bioethicists are addressing is whether being deaf is reasonably considered a “serious” condition, which must be fixed. In an article Blankmeyer Burke co-wrote with Jackie Leach Scully, she states: While the Siberian couples in this case may want to have hearing children rather than deaf children, that alone doesn’t prove that deafness per se is “serious;” there might be many other factors, including cultural attitudes towards deafness and disability, that are influencing their judgements. Additionally, the experience of these individuals is specific to their particular community, context and time, which are not necessarily those of their future offspring.

Blankmeyer Burke recently had the opportunity to offer public comment on the international gene editing policy discussions

BIOETHICS PROFESSOR CHALLENGES STUDENT

that are currently taking place around the world; policy-making and policy-guiding institutions from around the world seek her as a resource. These include the United Nations, the World Federation of the Deaf, the National Association of the Deaf and the National Council on Disability. As the genetic editing continues to be discussed, one thing is certain: Blankmeyer Burke and her students are ready to either be a part of or spark the conversations.

Expanding the reach of deaf bioethics Another topic Blankmeyer Burke has explored is the importance of ASL-English interpreters in health care settings. “This is of course also a legal issue,” says Blankmeyer Burke. “Since I am a philosopher, and not a lawyer, the questions I focus on in my writing and presentations on this subject are ethical questions about the harm to deaf people when communication access is limited or missing.” Communication can also be tricky when a deaf person is communicating philosophical concepts. As Blankmeyer Burke explains in a blog post, there is not much of a philosophical lexicon in ASL, so she could spend much time trying to figure out how to sign concepts, She also says using fingerspelling with interpreters as a workaround is not always effective.

“Bioethics is a part of philosophy, and one of the frustrating things for me as a philosophy professor who signs is getting inquiries from hearing non-signing professors and interpreters working with them who ask how to sign and explain complicated philosophical concepts, including philosophy concepts,” says Blankmeyer Burke. She worked with an all-deaf team of ASL masters at RIT/NTID to generate conceptually accurate technical philosophy vocabulary for ASLCORE, which aims to do the same for various subject areas. “One of the most rewarding aspects of this is learning how much this site helps deaf undergraduate philosophy students and interpreters around the country, especially those in areas where there is not a large deaf community.” As a philosopher, Blankmeyer Burke looks forward to expanding the reach and impact of deaf bioethics. “The thing I am most proud of is watching students take what they have learned about deaf bioethics and apply it,” says Burke. “My dream is to grow the field of deaf bioethics, and to someday have a group of knowledgeable deaf people working on many bioethical issues affecting deaf people.”

Apart + Connected

DEAF

LIFE DURING THE PANDEMIC By Jean Bergery

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In March and April 2020, as the novel coronavirus began changing life for citizens across the globe, New York City was hit especially hard. Hospital beds filled. Restaurants and businesses closed. A vibrant city paused. Wondering how the local New York City Deaf community was responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, the team at the Drs. John S. & Betty J. Schuchman Deaf Documentary Center planned a May 12 virtual panel to find out. How had life changed? How was communication affected when everyone was wearing face masks? What new signs emerged? During a pandemic that reveals inequities, how have deaf people responded? Five individuals, each from a different NYC borough, shared stories of life during the pandemic.

APART & CONNECTED: DEAF NYC LIFE DURING THE PANDEMIC

History major Brianna DiGiovanni, a member of Gallaudet’s class of 2020, hosted the “Apart + Connected” discussion. DiGiovanni interned in the Schuchman Center for 18 months, working on documenting NYC Deaf life. After conducting interviews and research in both archival and individual collections, she built a timeline and “StoryMap.” DiGiovanni gained an in-depth understanding of NYC Deaf history, but the pandemic was a completely new topic. There was much to learn. Panelists spoke of how the pandemic uncovered inequities, highlighting the need to fight for equal access. COVID-19 has disproportionately affected people of color, those with language barriers, older individuals, health care and other essential workers, and those with preexisting conditions. But, it has also shone a light on the resiliency and ingenuity of the Deaf community, as seen in the panel discussion. EXPOSING INEQUALITIES For Roxanna Aguilo of the Bronx, the onset of the pandemic brought an unsettling worry. In March, as NYC became the epicenter of the pandemic, bars, restaurants and schools were ordered to close. People began to shelter-in-

place, and anxieties were high. Life in the city seemed to come to a screeching halt. “... I took the train to work where I teach ASL. When I went back to the train in the afternoon, it was a different scene,” Aguilo says. “I was confused because I imagined people were speaking and understanding one another and maybe there were even announcements. I was so uncomfortable. I did not know what was going on. It was extremely crowded. Everybody was acting very odd. At home I finally learned that the coronavirus was basically here. It was just so upsetting.” For Aguilo and others, the onset of the pandemic meant access to the necessary information was a challenge. It highlighted the need for accessibility advocacy. “The NYC mayor held COVID-19 news conferences with an ASL interpreter by his side and on screen,” says Alexandria Pucciarelli-Miller from Staten Island, speaking of Mayor Bill de Blasio. “New York’s Governor (Andrew Cuomo), at first, held news briefings with captions, but interpreters could only be seen on a computer, not on the TV.” That changed, but not without concerted advocacy. For sighted deaf people, captions help

communicate critical information during news conferences but do not necessarily ensure accessibility. English may not be the first, or even second language for many deaf people. Visual access and language fluency impact the ways a message is received. “I would say I'm privileged in that I have the ability to read English text,” explains Carlos Aponte-Salcedo, Jr. from Queens. “I noticed that initially, my father would ask me what is being said [during a news conference] and I realized my dad, who is deaf, relies on ASL for communication. When the mayor had his press conference, I could see my dad was able to access the message through the interpreter. So even though I have access, having a signing person on screen is incredibly important.” In addition to advocating for interpreters at every news conference, Deaf people took action to make text news messages available in American Sign Language. “New York City has a multilingual city-wide text message system,” Pucciarelli-Miller explains. “The Vice President of the Staten Island Club of the Deaf, Andres Piedrahita G-’07, and CDIs (certified deaf interpreters) are

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interpreting these emergency text messages during the pandemic. We really do rally together.” However, some of those on DiGiovanni’s panel expressed concern about the comfort level of DeafBlind individuals using text messages. Some use text messages, but many do not. Panelists expressed worry about finding ways to reach DeafBlind clients, club members and friends. For those who use videophones, the pandemic highlights the ways deaf people are leading in technological access. “We have all the technology,” says Aguilo. “We can call one another via videophone. Hearing people are in a steep learning curve.” COMMUNICATION CHALLENGES Marina Fanshteyn from Brooklyn further illustrates the challenges and the ingenuity that have arisen during the pandemic. She directs the Deaf Wellness & Recreation Center, an adult social day care program, and oversees Big Apple Homecare Services for Deaf & DeafBlind in New York City. Five weeks into the pandemic she had a client staying at a recovery center who initially had issues communicating with the staff.

Panelists (Clockwise from top left): Marina Fanshteyn, Brianna DiGiovanni (moderator), ‘20, Patrice Creamer, Roxanna Aguilo, Carlos Aponte-Salcedo, Jr., G-’08, and Alexandria Pucciarelli-Miller, ‘10. 33

APART & CONNECTED: DEAF NYC LIFE DURING THE PANDEMIC

“It has been difficult because the nurses and staff at the rehab center do not sign,” Fanshetyn expressed. “They are wearing personal protective equipment, PPE, at all times. This client does not know what people are saying because of the masks.” The Deaf Wellness and Recreation Center set up a tablet and trained a rehab staff member on how to use it. “That made a huge difference,” Fanshteyn said. “The family learned how to reach out to their loved one in the rehab center.” Fansheyn continues, “People are getting more creative on ways to address communication challenges. There’s a lot of trial and error.” Aponte-Salcedo, Jr., who is an administrator/ counselor at the Lexington School for the Deaf, says researching what works is an ongoing process for educators. “Our student population ranges from infants to 21 years of age,” he says. “They come from families that use 21 different signed and spoken languages. We needed to figure out how to provide equitable access for all students — that includes students who are Deaf, DeafBlind, and DeafDisabled. We had to look at all the options at our disposal and determine what works to ensure communication. As educators we screen programs to ensure they are effective and accessible.” While the right technology, when discovered, has proven to be a benefit during the pandemic, there are times when deaf people cannot rely upon it. And, that’s when communication with hearing people who don’t know ASL can be especially challenging. Take going to the store, for example. People there will be wearing face masks to prevent the spread of the virus. While this is a protective measure, the masks cover one’s mouth, 34

Roxanna Aguilo with mask and gloves

nose and cheeks, obscuring many facial expressions. “When I shop, facemasks make it odd,” Aguilo lamented. “People keep their distance. They might be talking to one another. I have no idea. When I ask a question, I may show people my phone and it is hard to understand their response. These are strange times!” Pucciarelli-Miller added, “We still have to shop for groceries and get essential items. In a store, I often do not realize people are speaking to me and I have to identify as deaf. It will remain a challenge because we will be likely wearing masks going forward for years.” For those who are good lip readers, masks, although necessary to protect against the coronavirus, remove an element that once made communication easier. “I think I am a pretty good lip reader,” remarks Patrice

Creamer from Manhattan, “but you know, when I'm not able to see one's lips, that's a vastly different story. It is hard to discern if they are angry or sad. It is unnerving. Also, there are certain signs [with which] physically, you end up touching your face.” Fanshteyn says she finds herself gesturing a lot more now to hearing people. “For example, I point just to prepare people to understand that I am deaf,” she says. “Or I use my finger to signal that someone should pause for a minute.” Signs specific to the pandemic include “corona virus” and variations on the sign for face mask. Panelists also showed a few signs for “quarantine.” Aponte-Salcedo, Jr. says he learned that some Deaf community members are triggered by quarantine signs that look like “trapped” or “caged.” He has taken to using a two-handed sign using “Y” handshapes coming together in a downward motion to imply “stay put.” STAYING SAFE While the pandemic has meant finding creative solutions to communicate with one another, it has also forced recognition of the loss of physical interactions. Life has changed. “My parents live two blocks from my home,” Fanshteyn says. “They visit me. I visit them. Now, we are meeting outside and exchanging goods. My daughter is recently married and starting a new life with a new home and she can't get out and travel and see the world.” Creamer noted the anguish at not being able to hug her family. “My children are grown now,” she says. “I had not seen

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them in eight weeks. When my son came to give me something, I was excited. He did not come into my home. I had to meet him outside and it felt disheartening, because, as they say, ‘Home is where the heart is.’” While Creamer expressed sadness at not having seen her children, she noted her vigilance in keeping herself safe, particularly with handwashing. Protecting oneself and others from the coronavirus was of course topof-mind. She was also concerned about her safety on-the-job. “As a deaf interpreter, when it comes to service provision, I have to kind of think about how to do that,” she says. “I feel like the hospitals aren't necessarily going to give me the best protection.” Fanshteyn explains how staff at the Deaf Wellness & Recreation Center take measures to keep people safe. However, clients can still become concerned. “We are bringing food or medicine to deaf people in their homes, wearing masks and gloves,” she says. “Sometimes they fear catching the virus and do not want anyone to enter their space.” She adds, “Everyone misses getting together.” The concern for safety has also led Aguilo to ensure her 14-year-old son stayed home from March until May 12, the day of the panel discussion. He used to go out shopping with her. “I feel like it is not safe for my son to be out there getting exposed,” she says. “Boy, it has not been easy!” With isolation can come loneliness and mental health concerns. “Staying at home, I think, can certainly have an impact on one's mental health,” observes Aponte-Salcedo, Jr. “There are concerns about going to a hospital during

APART & CONNECTED: DEAF NYC LIFE DURING THE PANDEMIC

a pandemic, accessibility with remote apps for psychological evaluations, and a limited number of mental health professionals who are fluent in American Sign Language.” INGENUITY AND RESOLVE In-person workshops and events have been replaced with Zoom video conferencing and a lack of physical interaction. “The Deaf community [in the Bronx] would have at least one social event each month,” describes Aguilo, “and now we socialize through Zoom. It’s quite different.” Pucciarelli-Miller, President of the Staten Island Club of the Deaf, shares that members yearn to be in the clubroom together, however, there is a need to prioritize safety. “We’re hosting virtual events four times a month for now,” she explains with an expression of unfortunate acceptance. “Without those events,” she adds, “people feel disconnected.” While nothing can replace in-person events, Zoom has helped many stay in touch. Technology has made the pandemic more bearable. Panel members expressed gratitude for apps that make it possible for users to communicate via sign. A unique advantage of ASL is the layer of safety it can offer under the right conditions. “The last time I spoke to my daughter,” Fanshteyn recalls, “she was going to stop by my house. She pulled up and stayed in her car. We had a full conversation with the window up!” For all of the challenges COVID-19 has brought, it has also shone a light on the mutual support and creativity within the Deaf community. Panelists reminded viewers that everyone knows someone who has been hit by this devastating pandemic. While there has 36

been grief, there has also been resiliency. Deaf people have found ways to stay connected and informed. Going forward, panelists noted constant advocacy will be required to ensure accessibility to information in the media. They cautioned community members to not be complacent and think others will advocate on their behalf. “I think what is happening today has forced us to look at what people with privilege have, and what marginalized people don't have,” says Aponte-Salcedo, Jr. “Racism happens. Ableism happens. Audism happens. Marginalized communities get inequitable services. My hope is that we can try to figure out how to move forward. “We can see what our community needs and how we can better work together. That is what I would like to remember from this time. I’d like to think that we can look at what’s broken, see what needs to be fixed, and roll up our sleeves for the betterment of our community.”

“Racism happens. Ableism happens. Audism happens. Marginalized communities get inequitable services. My hope is that we can try to figure out how to move forward. We can see what our community needs and how we can better work together. That is what I would like to remember from this time.” -Carlos Aponte-Salcedo, Jr.

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This NYC subway stop feels eerily empty during the early days of the pandemic. Photo Credit: Roxanna Agulio

Drs. John S. and Betty J. Schuchman Deaf Documentary Center

The Deaf NYC project received major support from:

NEH GRANT #ZH-252962-17

The panel discussion was part of the Schuchman Center's NYC-focused project that received major funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities (grant ZH252962-17) and ZVRS/Purple. Additional support came from the Gary S. & Margaret D. Anderson Family Foundation, Kantor Foundation, Hebrew Association of the Deaf, Union League of the Deaf, and numerous individuals. The full panel discussion is available on the Center’s website. https://www.gallaudet.edu/drsjohn-s-and-betty-j-schuchmandeaf-documentary-center 37

STOMPING GROUNDS

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STOMPING GROUNDS

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STOMPING GROUNDS

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Khadijat K. Rashid, Ph.D. Interim Dean of the Faculty

UNIVERSITY unveils FIVE ACADEMIC SCHOOLS In an effort to better serve students, Gallaudet University has restructured the Division of Academic Affairs, grouping the existing 16 academic departments into five schools. The leaders of those divisions, who were nominated by their peers and placed in their roles by Interim Dean of Faculty Khadijat K. Rashid, Ph.D., began their work June 11. 43

UNIVERSITY UNVEILS FIVE ACADEMICS SCHOOLS

Faculty in each of the new schools voted for whom they believed would best lead their respective school, then Rashid met with the candidates and arrived at her final decision. “They are a diverse group who bring a variety of leadership experiences, from being department chairs or program directors and serving on various Faculty Governance committees,” Rashid says. “Collectively, they have more than 100 years of experience at Gallaudet. All share the same love and passion for Gallaudet and for our students.”

THE SCHOOLS AND THEIR LEADERS ARE:

School of Human Services and Sciences (SHSS)

School of Language, Education, and Culture (SLEC)

School of Arts and Humanities (SAH)

Dr. Daniel S. Koo

Dr. Helen R. Thumann

This school includes the following programs: counseling; hearing, speech and language services; infants, toddlers and families; physical education and recreation; and psychology.

This school includes these programs: American Sign Language; Education; English; international development; interpretation and translation; linguistics; and world languages.

This school includes: art and digital media; deaf studies; history; international studies; philosophy; religion; and theater.

Dr. Arlene B. Kelley

School of Science, Technology, Accessibility, Mathematics, and Public Health (STAMP) Dr. Caroline Solomon This school includes biology; chemistry and physics; information technology; mathematics; and public health.

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Rashid says the interdisciplinary approach is intended to offer students a broader understanding of the fields they would like to pursue. It also incorporates earlier and increased interaction with faculty and encourages students to select majors earlier in the academic careers. The earlier selection increases student retention, Rashid says.

Dr. Caroline Solomon

Leader of Science, Technology, Accessibility, Mathematics and Public Health

School of Civic Leadership, Business, and Social Change (SCLBSC) Professor Emilia A. Chukwuma This school includes Business; Communication Studies; Government; Public Administration; Social Work; and Sociology.

As part of the restructuring, Solomon will coordinate support and training for the new division leaders as they learn their new responsibilities. She previously was chair of the department of science, technology and mathematics, which “will serve as the blueprint for the transformation we would like to foster in the four other schools,” Rashid says.

The reorganization and selection of school leaders began in 2018 and culminated in April 2020. It was an extensive process that involved the leadership of President Roberta Cordano and Provost Carol Erting, as well as the University Faculty Senate Executive Committee, Academic Affairs Senior Administrators and the Board of Trustees. “As we begin the work of implementing this new school structure, I look forward to continuing that work and that ethic of shared responsibility with our faculty, students, and staff,” Rashid says.

LONG-TIME FRIENDS HONOR DR. SHIRLEY CHILDRESS JOHNSON WITH A MEMORIAL ENDOWMENT

Long-time friends honor Dr. Shirley Childress Johnson with a memorial endowment Candas Barnes, G-’08, Pamela Collins, ’07, G-’11, & PhD ’20, Folami Ford, G-’05, and Kafi Lemons have been friends for over 20 years, working as professional interpreters, educators, and researchers. They are powerhouse activists who are influential at the intersection of multiple communities, especially the African American/Black communities. In 2017, after the untimely passing of their respected colleague, mentor, and friend, Dr. Shirley Childress Johnson, a proud CODA, and the first African American interpreter to receive national certification from the Registry

Candas Barnes, G-’07

of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID), the four friends sought to honor her by increasing opportunities for African American/Black interpreters. Currently, African American/Black interpreters are underrepresented at less than 5% of certified ASL interpreters. The Dr. Shirley Childress Memorial Fund was established to support Gallaudet students who are Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) seeking to become interpreters. Ultimately, the fund was established to increase the number of trained and qualified BIPOC interpreters available to support the community of BIPOC Deaf people who have

Pamela Collins, G-’07

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been instrumental in shaping the careers of each of the four friends. To become an endowed fund to be able to provide scholarships in perpetuity, the friends had to raise $25,000 or more. This year, by Dr. Childress Johnson’s birthday on June 28, through the tireless efforts of the four friends and many other community members who pitched in, the fundraising campaign successfully endowed the memorial fund. It is a remarkable feat and a testimony to the community’s commitment that the fund was fully endowed in three short years. Although the fund is now endowed, the fundraising effort and increasing the impact of the fund in addressing the needs of our interpreting community is far from over. It is never too late to continue contributing! To learn more about Dr. Childress Johnson’s story or to contribute to the fund, visit this website: https://gu.live/e5q98

Folami Ford, G-’05

Kafi Lemons

FIRST FEMALE GRADUATES BLAZED A TRAIL

First Female Graduates Blazed a Trail Alto Lowman and Ida Wynette Gray Hampton each blazed a path for future generations when they graduated from Gallaudet University. Lowman became the first woman to graduate from the university in 1892 when she received her bachelor’s degree in philosophy. Hampton became the first Black woman to graduate in 1957. While Lowman entered Gallaudet in 1887, Black women were not admitted to the university until the 1950s. Women had initially been admitted to the university in 1864, the year of its founding. However, in 1868, as a result of sexism, they were barred from attending it for 22 years. Then, in 1887, women were once again allowed to attend, but only on an experimental two-year basis that eventually became permanent. That year, Lowman enrolled in classes at Gallaudet, along with Ella F. Black, Georgianna Elliott, Anna L. Kurtz, Hattie A. Leffler, and Margaret Ellen Rudd.

Lowman, a Maryland School for the Deaf graduate, became deaf at the age of 11. She was active with many organizations on campus and co-founded the Phi Kappa Zeta Sorority. After she completed her studies at Gallaudet, she taught at the North Dakota School for the Deaf for one year and then returned to her alma mater, Maryland School for the Deaf. In 1900, Lowman married John Kavanaugh Jr. They had two children. She passed away in 1912. Lowman Street on the Gallaudet campus is named in her honor. Black women unfortunately were not allowed to attend Gallaudet until the 1950s, and that is when Hampton, a Pennsylvania native, enrolled in classes. She joined the Delta Epsilon Sorority and was its first Black member.

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After graduation, she went on to teach at the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind, and earned a master’s degree from the University of North Florida. She retired in 1989 after 32 years of teaching and lives in Florida. She took part in the National Black Deaf Advocates’ “A Conversation with Ida Hampton,” which was held during the NBDA Senior Citizens Reunion in 2011. She spoke of the barriers she overcame as a Black deaf woman at Gallaudet and her accomplishments, says NBDA Senior Citizens Program Director Thomas Samuels. “Ida Hampton is a remarkable woman and a true pioneer,” he wrote in an NBDA blog. Though the experiences of Hampton and Lowman were unique, they each set an example for others to follow. Their determination to enroll in Gallaudet illustrates their courage and perseverance.

Ida Wynette Gray Hampton, ’57 & H-’18 First Black Female Graduate

SPANISH INFLUENZA

Spanish Influenza By Trevor De Rosch, ’13

As we navigate the Covid-19 pandemic, we look to past public health crises for lessons and guidance. Many of us know of the Black Death, or bubonic plague, of the 1300s, the polio epidemic of 1952, the HIV/AIDS epidemic and pandemic of the 1980s that continues today, and more recently, the H1N1 swine flu

pandemic and the Ebola and Zika epidemics. What is less well known is that the so-called Spanish influenza of 1918-1920 was the first public health threat known to have an impact on Gallaudet University (then Gallaudet College). It sickened many students, and took the life of at least two students and two alumni. This is their story. The Fall 1918 semester began on September 25 with the arrival of 108 students from across the country, including James J. Tamisiea, a new preparatory student from Omaha, Nebraska. We know little about him, but we can imagine that he was excited to be starting college. While his path from Omaha, Nebraska to Washington, D.C. is unknown – it is likely that his train went through Chicago – we can be sure that he had the same hopes and dreams as any new college student.

As students began preparing for football tryouts and selecting head seniors, Spanish flu began to appear among the student body. Tamisiea had arrived already showing the early signs of an unknown illness. What appeared to be influenza turned into pneumonia, after which he lost consciousness. James was not alone. By September 28, more than half of the student body was infected. The following day, Sunday, September 29, it was decided to suspend weekly chapel services, recitations (classes), and student activities, including clubs. Healthier students began volunteering for duties on campus, such as tending the school grounds.

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By October 1, it appears that the strict measures to prevent gatherings were having some success, as the impact of the Spanish flu among our student body began to dissipate. However, James Tamisiea died on October 6. He would be the only student to die on campus, though others would pass away after being sent home to recover, including Buff and Blue editor Herbert G. Billigmeier, ’20, who died on November 5 in North Dakota. Shortly after Tamisiea’s death, reports began appearing in the Buff and Blue of alumni who had succumbed to the Spanish flu, including Ernest H. Wadlin, E-’21, on October 14, and Anna West Allen, ’05, on October 23. In all, millions of people died worldwide. There are parallels in our responses to the Spanish influenza pandemic of 1918-1920 and to the COVID-19 pandemic. We benefit today from greater medical and public health resources. We also have the advantage of technology, so that our classes and operations can continue virtually. One thing is certain: James Tamisiea’s legacy lives on in all of us.

REFRAMING HUME LEPRINCE BATTISTE’S IMPACT

Courtesy of the Gallaudet University Archives

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Reframing HUME LEPRINCE BATTISTE’S IMPACT By Meredith Peruzzi, ’11

In the course of academic study, we frequently uncover previously unknown information. Sometimes this is an entirely new discovery, as when a new chemical element is identified. Other times, it is a piece of history whose documentation had slipped our notice previously. Frequently, such developments change our fundamental understanding of the world around us. The story of Hume LePrince Battiste from the class of 1913 is an example of historical revelation that prompts us to reexamine how we have seen ourselves and our university for more than 100 years. As one of many thousands of students who have attended Gallaudet, his experiences at the university seemed unremarkable until his cousin, Maj. Andre Battiste Sr., provided clear evidence that all was not as it seemed.

REFRAMING HUME LEPRINCE BATTISTE’S IMPACT Courtesy of the Gallaudet University Archives

Hume Battiste was born hearing in 1891 in Grahamville, South Carolina. He was a student at a segregated school when he became deaf due to scarlet fever at age 13. As he was unable to continue attending hearing schools, he was admitted to the Pennsylvania Institution for the Deaf and Dumb in Mount Airy, now known as the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf. His uncle, Thomas Ezekiel Miller, was one of five African-Americans from the South elected to the U.S. Congress during the Jim Crow era. It was Miller’s support that enabled Battiste to move to Pennsylvania for schooling. In 1908, Battiste was admitted to an introductory class that was then known as Gallaudet College. His acceptance was based on a letter from his school’s superintendent, A. C. Manning, who wrote to the college’s president, Edward Miner Gallaudet, of Battiste’s skills as a student. Although Battiste was reprimanded for hazing as a freshman, he was an outstanding athlete throughout his college career, and served as captain of the baseball team. In March 1913, Battiste was discovered to be dating fellow student Margaret Gallaudet Sherman, the grand-niece of the recently retired college president. Letters from his successor, President Percival Hall, indicate that both students were reprimanded. However, while Sherman was allowed to continue her studies, Battiste was indefinitely suspended. He was offered a bachelor’s degree in philosophy for the work he had completed. Unsatisfied with this, he retook his final examinations by mail 54

while working for a pharmaceutical company in Ohio. Subsequently, Battiste was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree, and then moved west to attend Oregon Agricultural College in Corvallis; the college later became known as Oregon State University. While he was in Portland, Battiste played minor league baseball for the Portland Colts, a farm team for the Cleveland Indians. Following the outbreak of World War I, he returned to Ohio. Like many deaf people at the time, he worked for the Goodyear Tire Factory in Akron. As a member of the Goodyear Akron Track Team in 1918, he set an Akron record in the 440-yard run. Despite his years of athletic achievement, though, he chose to leave sports to run his own business.

In 1919, Battiste moved to Minden, Nebraska. He worked for and later became owner of a tire vulcanizing and service station. He married a white woman from Illinois in 1924, Freda Rummell, and their son Robert was born in 1929. In 1940, the Who’s Who in Kearney County publication noted that Battiste was a member of the local Chamber of Commerce and was active in the Methodist church, and that he enjoyed painting and gardening. Not willing to leave athletics behind completely, Battiste was also a pitcher for the Minden baseball team. After World War II, Battiste and his family moved to Los Angeles, California, where he passed away in 1968.

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Uncovering the past These facts of Battiste’s life are not new; they have been recorded in school records, local newspapers, and even baseball reference books. What is new information to historians, though, is that Battiste was Black. As a result of miscegenation — relationships between different races — Battiste family members have always been a variety of complexions, including many who appear in photographs to be fairly light-skinned. Although culturally African-American, family members were recorded as “mulatto,” “Black,” or “negro” in the vital records of Jim Crow-era South Carolina. In some isolated instances, Battiste family members moved to the North and “passed” as white, but because of the “one-drop rule,” meaning that a single drop of “Black blood” made an individual Black, the 55

REFRAMING HUME LEPRINCE BATTISTE’S IMPACT

Courtesy of the Gallaudet University Archives

family was always considered and recorded as such, regardless of complexion, hair texture, or skin tone. In 1889, Battiste’s parents were both recorded as “negro” on their marriage license. The 1900 U.S. Federal Census in Orangeburg, South Carolina lists “Hume L. Battiste” as Black. In 1910, the census-taker spelled his name wrong, but “Heme L. Battiest” — still in Orangeburg — was listed as “mulatto.” It is thus quite clear that the Battiste family has always been considered African-American. How, then, could Battiste have attended Gallaudet College during an era when Black students were not permitted? Indeed, Manning’s letter was very clear about Battiste’s race: “Mr. Hume Battiste [...] is considered a Negro and there’s the rub. The report is being circulated that the college boys intend to make it so disagreeable for him in case he enters college that he can’t stay.”

President Gallaudet’s response to Manning is not available in the Gallaudet University archives, but Battiste entered under the race labelled “Indian” and was recorded as the first student of that ancestry to attend. Whether the idea to take this approach came from President Gallaudet, Manning, or Battiste himself, Battiste listed himself as “Indian” on all future records. In the 1930 census in Nebraska, his heritage is listed as Catawba, a tribe from South Carolina; his mother, who was living with the family at the time, is recorded the same way. In the 1940 census, Battiste is listed as white, perhaps because he was not recorded as enrolled in any tribe Newspaper articles covering Battiste’s athletic achievements refer to him as “the Indian,” including a 1922 edition of the Silent Worker which calls him “the redskin.” From his college days until his death, Battiste called himself an Indian. Ernest Hairston and Linwood Smith’s 1983 book, Black and Deaf in America, acknowledges that Manning’s letter points to Battiste being Black, but says the school’s records, along with contemporary journalism,

indicate he was American Indian, and thus his race cannot be truly known.

Room for both legacies However, members of the Battiste family in South Carolina identify as Black to this day, even as the Gallaudet graduate left his ancestry behind by his own choice. Due to the race prohibitions of his day, though, it is certain he would not have risen to the heights he did under the banner of “negro.” Claiming status as an “Indian” afforded him the human dignity in wielding his own talents to achieve the American dream. Identifying Battiste as a black alumnus of Gallaudet from 1913, though, calls into sharp relief an issue with our university history. Our traditional narrative states that Andrew Jackson Foster, who graduated in 1954 — the year in which the U.S. Supreme Court ordered schools to desegregate —was the first Black person to graduate from Gallaudet. But reassigning the “first” designator from Foster to Battiste cannot harm Foster’s accomplishments and legacy. Foster was the first openly Black graduate. Where Battiste addressed racism by intentionally hiding his past, Foster attended Gallaudet as an openly Black man. The “disagreeable” environment Manning predicted for a Black student in 1908 indeed held true for Foster, who graduated in just three years, in part due to ill treatment by white classmates. Battiste went on to own his own business with U.S. Government contracts during World War II; the Minden Courier newspaper, noting his business acumen, said that he “made money

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even during the Depression.” Foster went on to found several schools for the deaf in Africa, revolutionizing deaf education there and helping generations of students. Neither man’s life’s journey is more or less remarkable simply because one graduated 41 years earlier than the other. To compare their legacies, though, is to examine Gallaudet through the lens of racism. What does it say about our history that a student was forced to pass as a member of a different race in order to attend? Was Battiste so unusual, given how many Black people passed for white, Hispanic and other races at the time? If his complexion had been darker and his hair of a different grade, would he have been successful in passing as “Indian” for most of his life? To what extent did his relationship with a Gallaudet family member contribute to his erasure from the university’s story? The work of historians is never over. What we think we know can change at any time based on new evidence. Indeed, the Battiste family, particularly Hume’s cousin Andre, has fought for many years to gain acknowledgement from the university for his story, but accepting change is often difficult. Transforming the narrative of the university’s history means acknowledging both Battiste’s graduation, and Foster’s accomplishments on campus and in Africa. There is room for both men in the history of our institution. This article is based on a presentation at the 2018 Deaf Studies Transformations conference by Maj. Andre A. Battiste, Sr., and Meredith Peruzzi, ‘11, manager of the National Deaf Life Museum at Gallaudet University.

GALLAUDET TAKE ACTIONS TOWARD ANTI-RACISM

GALLAUDET takes ACTIONS TOWARD ANTI-RACISM

Over the past few months, the United States has witnessed sustained, nationwide protests against racism that impact people of color, especially Black people, in their interactions with police departments and in other aspects of their daily lives. Although protests have occurred in the past in response to the extrajudicial killings of Black people in this country, the May 25, 2020, police killing of George Floyd was seen as singularly depraved. That is because the white police officer who killed Floyd had knelt on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes, ignoring his pleas to breathe. The protests have not yet abated. These protests have reenergized and rejuvenated the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement. BLM is a decentralized advocacy movement animated by the principle known as Satyagraha – that is, “truth force,” or holding onto truth. It is a way of non-violent advocacy, protest and civil disobedience developed and deployed by Mahatma Gandhi in India’s ultimately successful struggle for independence from British colonization. At Gallaudet University, we are mindful of our stature as a national, international, and multicultural university. We denounce systemic racism, and acknowledge how our past actions, or lack thereof, may have fallen short and thereby caused harm to our students. Therefore, we commit to self-reflection and to addressing—and correcting—those wrongs, taking steps to eliminate racism. We understand that

It is a way of non-violent advocacy, protest and civil disobedience developed and deployed in order to eradicate racism.

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advocacy, protest and civil disobedience developed and deployed in order to eradicate racism. We must make system change and individual change. That said, our community has engaged in a number of initiatives to make those changes.

First, members of the Black Student Union (BSU) and Student Body Government (SBG) created a petition to advocate for equity and promote diversity at Gallaudet. The organizations called for more training for professionals on campus, for more diversity in the staff, faculty and student population, and a zero-tolerance policy to stop racism. The BSU and SBG said these changes will guarantee and secure a safe and sound environment for our black students. The University leadership accepted the petition and is acting on all of its requests. Among them, the University will provide training to the Department of Public Safety (DPS) staff on internal and explicit bias in law enforcement, de-escalation, how to provide trauma-informed responses to complaints, as ASL and deaf culture. In addition, our Chief Operating Officer (COO), Dominic Lacy is leading the Department of Public Safety (DPS) Assessment committee, which includes the current Interim Chief Diversity Officer (CDO), Dr. Elizabeth Moore, and the director of Equal Opportunity Programs, Sharrell McCaskill. The committee is collecting concerns from students and other stakeholders; the goal is to transform the way DPS operates, enabling it to better engage with the campus community. Over the Summer, the faculty has engaged in anti-racism and culturally-and trauma-informed diversity training. That training will also be provided to staff soon; planning is underway. Gallaudet will also increase diversity among staff, faculty and the student body. The University is additionally strengthening its policies and procedures related to reporting the prohibition of racism in the community. 59

GALLAUDET TAKE ACTIONS TOWARD ANTI-RACISM

The newly formed Office of Human Resources (HR) Transformation Committee, again led by our COO, Dominic Lacy is in the process of hiring a consulting firm to examine the effectiveness of the Human Resources office, policies and procedures, especially concerning hiring processes. During the Human Resources onboarding process, we will also educate members of the campus community of Gallaudet’s mission to support the imperative of belonging and equity in word and conduct. We have made a commitment to anti-racism and the 13 principles of the BLM movement. Gallaudet also invites students to share their thoughts and suggestions on eradicating systemic racism. We have posted concerns we have received from student groups on the website: https://gu.live/5iP6z, as well as the leadership’s response to them. This transparency is important for the community to heal, and grow together as we eradicate racism on campus. We are posting the new Anti-Racism Plan as drawn by the Division of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion – the work began with Dr. Elavie Ndura, former Vice President of the Division of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and is being continued by the current Interim CDO, Dr. Elizabeth Moore. This plan addresses individual, departmental, and institutional strategies. Six feedback sessions with stakeholders were held in August. We continue to seek feedback, particularly from our students. Our staff and faculty will also be given the opportunity to share their thoughts, as well. Over the Summer, Gallaudet embarked on a series of informative anti-racism discussions 60

on Zoom, called Gallaudet’s Stand Against Systemic Racism. This work was a collaborative effort with the Anti-Racism Commitment Team (ACRT), formed by Dr. Ndura to create a means for people to share their experiences centered around racism on campus, vent their anger, talk about their aspirations, and share ideas for eradicating racism on campus through emphatically anti-racist policies and actions. While these moments for individuals to share their truths have ranged from triggering to cathartic, institutionally they provide important insights for driving real, anti-racist change. This important anti-racism work includes supporting white colleagues so they can negotiate their own process of self-analysis, self- discovery, and transformation as they confront racism. Dr. Moore and her Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) staff stands ready to support the many other initiatives happening on campus, such as:

• The new Center for Black Deaf Studies, headed by Dr. Carolyn McCaskill

• The new Students of Color Center established by Student Affairs

• President’s Pipeline Scholar’s Program– creating and promoting leadership development and opportunities for underrepresented ethnic groups.

Gallaudet remains resolute in its support of BLM and the university’s Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) students. We must provide our BIPOC students a place where they feel valued and safe. Our community is only strong when we allow others to be their authentic selves, and when we work together to end systemic racism.

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MEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM FEATURED on OLYMPIC CHANNEL This past March, the Gallaudet University men’s basketball team was featured on the Olympic Channel as part of its Body+ series. The docuseries highlights inspiring athletes who redefine what it means to have the perfect body, embracing theirs regardless of perceived limitations, age, or size. The Olympic Channel’s videographers and producers followed the team as it completed its 2018-2019 season. The video showcases the players and head coach Kevin Kovacs as they play Lancaster Bible College, using their 73-71 win to launch them into the playoffs. “To be the only deaf men’s basketball team in the nation fills me with an incredible sense of pride,” says John Werner Jr. in the video. Werner recently completed his freshman year, and says what he appreciates most about being on the team is how much he and his teammates can learn from each other, as well as how they become good friends. That is not to say the team is without its own unique set of challenges. While they cannot hear someone dribbling or when a

defender is trying to swipe the ball from them, they sharpen their communication in other ways. And, as is evident in the video, Kovacs sometimes receives warnings from referees when he moves outside of his courtside coaching box to communicate with his players. Ultimately, however, what is most important is the team’s spirit, which is on full display in the video. “Never give up,” Kovacs tells his team.. And, in the episode, they did not give up, fighting their way back from a 20-point deficit to win the game. The Gallaudet men’s basketball team and other athletes featured in the Olympic Channel’s series illustrate that they can do whatever they set their mind to. That includes 85-year-old Flo Meiler, who started to pole vault 20 years ago. She is one of the most decorated senior athletes in history, setting records at the National Senior Games, according to the channel. The series also highlights Aaron Wheelz Fotheringham, an extreme wheelchair sports star, among others.

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VALENCIA ENDS BASKETBALL CAREER WITH TOP HONORS

Senior men’s basketball guard Noah Valencia finished his university hoops career as a secondteam CoSIDA Academic All-American selection, a top men’s basketball scorer not only in the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC), but in university history, and was named the university’s male Student Athlete of the Year. He led the NEAC with 21.8 points per game, was second in season points with 546 and was first in the league with the number of steals, ending with 65. He was second in the number of 3-pointers with 96, was fourth in field goals with 172, and fifth in free throws with 106. 62

Valencia, who had a 3.83 GPA at the time of his All-American selection, was a physical education and recreation major. He was one of 15 All-American honorees from around the country in Division III men’s basketball for this year. He was also the fourth Gallaudet men’s basketball player to have received such honors. And, he was the first secondgeneration player ever to score 1,000 points, beating his dad’s career points. The younger Valencia ended his career with 1,874 all-time points; his uncles also played for Gallaudet.

To be eligible for CoSIDA academic honors, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.30 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his/her current institution and be nominated by his or her sports information director. Before Valencia was selected as an AllAmerican, he was named to the 2019-2020 D3hoops.com men’s basketball All-East region third team. He was one of the three players on the All-East region team. While this was Valencia’s first selection to a D3hoops.com team, he became the third Gallaudet men’s basketball player to ever be named to it. Robert Haney Jr. was on the third team in 2002-2003 and 2003 to 2004,

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and Trey Gordon was on it for 2014-2015 and 2015-2016. There were 769 nominations to the Allregion team this year, and sports information directors from the respective region voted on the nominees. Additionally, Valencia was one of 10 men’s finalists for the 2020 Josten’s Trophy and the first Gallaudet men’s basketball player to be a finalist for it in school history. The trophy is awarded to the outstanding NCAA Division III men’s and women’s basketball players who excel on the court, in the classroom, and in the community. This season marked the 23rd presentation of the awards, with the inaugural trophies bestowed in 1998. 63

WE ARE BECOMING A VISION FOR FUTURE

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WE ARE becoming: A VISION FOR THE FUTURE

In her State of the University address during the spring 2020 semester, Gallaudet University president Roberta J. Cordano, J.D. laid out the 10-year vision for the institution. She spoke of the university’s accomplishments since she began her presidency in 2016, and themed her presentation, “We are Becoming.” “The word ‘becoming’ refers to our history here at Gallaudet University. Since its inception, all that we have done to become what we are today represents this notion of change, to come into existence as we have,” Cordano

The word ‘becoming’ refers to our history here at Gallaudet University. told the crowd. “Throughout this act of becoming we have grown and developed into what we are today.” While she said this process of becoming has been part of Gallaudet’s story since it was 65

WE ARE BECOMING A VISION FOR FUTURE

founded, it is now a theme for where the university is headed. Since Cordano became president, she has engaged others in initiatives to prepare Gallaudet for this vision. For instance, she has focused on improving the university’s infrastructure. Leadership of the administrative and finance operations has been split into three top roles, creating the Office of Legal Affairs and putting into place an interim Chief Financial Officer and a Chief Operating Officer. The Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center has also made great strides, employing a shared leadership model with the appointments of a Chief Academic Officer and a Chief Administrative Officer. They now co-lead the center. Additionally, the Clerc Center has developed the first-ever standards for ASL development for K-12 students, among other accomplishments. Gallaudet also hired a Vice President of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion/Chief Diversity Officer, created a strategic plan for the future and restructured Academic Affairs to group academic departments into five schools. The latter was done to enhance student success. “This act of transforming our student experience also ensures that our students are prepared for the world of work and for the world they face today, and all of the complex problems they [will] need to resolve,” Cordano said.

Additionally, steps have been taken to transform the employee experience at Gallaudet and create a vision for what Cordano called a true bilingual university. To this end, Laurene Simms, Ph.D., was hired as Chief Bilingual Officer. Cordano also said the Board of Trustees has been working to ensure they are prepared to lead Gallaudet strategically into the future. The board is also looking reduce its number of committees. She urged the crowd to look at what Gallaudet has accomplished in four short years. “… we’ve not done this under any pressure from Congress, [or] mandates from the Department of Education that we make changes,” she said. “Our accreditors are not asking us to do something differently. The Board as well hasn’t been directing us to make any of the changes that we have [made]. We rather have chosen to transform in the ways that we have.” In doing so, Cordano says, Gallaudet is shoring up a foundation that will set it up for the future. She continued by speaking of the Signing Ecosystem, which includes not only deaf and hard-ofhearing individuals, but also their friends, colleagues, employers and educators, who connect through signed languages. She said when there is a Signing Ecosystem, money follows, speaking of entrepreneurs who have founded businesses that cater to the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.

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Meeting five grand challenges With Gallaudet’s accomplishments and the changes it has made over the past few years, it is primed to meet five grand challenges that will see it into the future. Those are to; 1. Demonstrate the benefits of ASL/English education; 2. Expand the impact of Gallaudet’s creative edge; 3. Realize the value of deaf people across the spectrum of identities; 4. Create pathways for success for Gallaudet students and graduates; and 5. Cultivate opportunities in both ASL- and English-based economies.

WE ARE BECOMING A VISION FOR FUTURE

“As we evolve and transform into the future, we must face these five grand challenges” -President Cardano 68

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https://gu.live/QPi4G

The challenges will allow Gallaudet to rewrite its story. “As we evolve and transform into the future, we must face these five grand challenges,” Cordano said. Three imperatives and three priorities will come together to make it all work, she adds. Those imperatives, or key items on which the university will focus, are an emphasis on the institution’s bilingual mission, belonging and equity, and innovation for impact. As the university continues to confront a past that has not always been inclusive, Cordano reported in her presentation that 53% of the 2019-2020 first-year students were people of color. Additionally, for the first time in history, Gallaudet’s leadership team is diverse and predominantly deaf-led. Provost Carol J. Erting, who spoke before Cordano took the stage for her State of the University address, called those within the Gallaudet community innovators. She told those within the crowd that innovation and transformation are at the root of our DNA and a part of who they are. “ … our mission is to

graduate students who become alums who are prepared to serve as leaders, innovators and changemakers,” she said. To that end, the three top priorities within Gallaudet’s 10-year vision are developing extraordinary learning and academic excellence across the lifespan, knowledge creation and discovery, and signing ecosystems and career success. “We’ll begin the important work of planning and working toward this future as we launch this work in the fall,” Cordano said. Phase one of the plan is slated to last from 2020 to 2024. Two additional phases will follow. Cordano urged those in the crowd to come together over shared values, which she says will guide the Gallaudet community “through this growth and through this process of becoming what we will be together.” “Gallaudet has been, currently is and will always be becoming all that we hope and dream to be,” she said. 69

GROWING THE SIGNING ECOSYSTEM

GROWING THE

SIGNING ECO

Gallaudet University has long been on a mission to provide deaf and hard-of-hearing students the same opportunities their hearing counterparts have. Now, through its Signing Ecosystem campaign, it aims to further combat disparities, improving the lives of those it serves. The Signing Ecosystem differs from the deaf Ecosystem because it is more inclusive. The Signing Ecosystem includes the friends, colleagues, employers and educators of deaf people and the hard-of-hearing; it is a community where everyone connects and interacts through signed languages. That means deaf- and hard-of-hearing- run businesses, as well as those led by hearing people who recognize the value of the 70

signing community, are key parts of the Signing Ecosystem. For instance, Procter & Gamble recently offered internships to three Gallaudet students who learned valuable information technology skills while working for the company. Proctor & Gamble recognized the skills the students brought to it and was appreciative of their contributions.

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OSYSTEM

GROWING THE SIGNING ECOSYSTEM

Together, we will improve the lives of those within our community. Through social media and other outreach, Gallaudet aims to increase awareness of the value and benefits of investing in deaf and hard-of-hearing people. That outreach will also celebrate deaf culture, American Sign Language, and the institutions and organizations that have embraced and recognized the value of ASL and deaf people. It will challenge the disability framework as an important step to truly advancing diversity and inclusion, and will foster opportunities for deaf and hard-of-hearing people in the workplace. As a leader in education of deaf and hardof-hearing people since 1864, this is one more way that Gallaudet will be a pioneer. By showing others the value our community brings to the world, highlighting success stories and growing the Signing Ecosystem, we will increase the quality of life for Deaf and hard-of-hearing people.

Be on the lookout for our social media campaigns and video series. You can share or like our posts, drawing attention to the Signing Ecosystem. Better yet, you can post your own success story as it relates to bilingualism, education or how your employer invested in you, and by extension, the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. Remember to use #SigningEcosystem in your post and tag Gallaudet University. Together, we will improve the lives of those within our community.

Signing Ecosystem Clips An Open Letter In ASL to Tim Cook CEO, Apple Inc. https://gu.live/8SiSb Procter & Gamble: Everyone is welcome to the #Signing Ecosystem https://gu.live/GoMPp Gesture Literacy Knowledge Studio: Turning imagination into reality https://gu.live/cxagZ

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SUPPORTING

OUR STUDENTS FINANCIALLY DURING COVID-19 Last March, the COVID-19 pandemic unexpectedly changed campus life within a week. There are many stories of Gallaudet students who didn’t plan on leaving for spring break suddenly finding themselves needing to purchase flight tickets at the last minute to go back home. Quickly, however, our community pitched in support. The COVID-19 Bison Aid Fund was established to help students with their unexpected financial hardships. GUAA made the initial leadership gift of $10,000 to jumpstart our community giving campaign, followed by an astounding $20,000 gift from the Student Body Government. Also, out of the 247 who donated so far, 47 people--including fellow students-- were first time donors to Gallaudet through Bison Aid. What an accomplishment of community support! Today, we are still in this pandemic and people at Gallaudet are asking, “What can we do to help? How can we anticipate challenges that we face as a community and be prepared to address them? How can we support our students in getting the ‘Gallaudet educational experience’ online?” We know that many students come to Gallaudet because of its

https://gu.live/eRBDb

unique educational opportunities, community, and support that they won’t get anywhere else. Gallaudet’s students are still facing unprecedented challenges to obtain the education they come to campus for. As we work to address these questions, Gallaudet University broadened this fund to allow us to be more flexible in supporting students as a part of our long-term preparedness in responding to the ongoing and future health crisis. Because of the support we have seen with our donors, we know we can build our capacity to care for our students in exceptional times of need. Even $10 makes a difference in our students’ educational experience. So far and in many ways, 2020 has been a hard year for everyone around the world. We continue to rely on the support of each other to adapt and to push through these times together. Remember, while we stay abroad, we are never far from home.

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ALUMNI NEWS

From left: Jean Lindquist Bergey, Associate Director, Thelma Ivette Gonzalez Schroder '78, Janet Weinstock, '78, Brian H. Greenwald, Director, '96, and Brianna DiGiovanni, Student Research Assistant, '20.

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ALUMNI News Gallaudet's Class of '78 is investing in the Schuchman Deaf Documentary Center. Thelma Ivette Gonzalez Schroeder and Janet Weinstock presented a check to the Center's Director, Brian H. Greenwald, PhD. Funds will support student internships, research and documentation of Deaf community stories. Thank you Class of '78!

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OBITUARIES IN MEMORIAM

C. ANN TENNIS, G-’43

With deep regret, we note the passing of the following Gallaudet University alumni. The listing contains the information we have in our record for 2020. If you wish to submit information on an alumna or alumnus who isn’t mention in this issue or has passed away, please email alumni.relations@gallaudet.edu to be added to the next edition.

LEGEND The class year shown is the year in which a person received their degree. E means a person attended Gallaudet, but did not graduate. G means that a person received a graduate degree. H means that a person received an honorary degree. AAS means that a person received an Associate of Applied Science degree. AuD means that a person received a Doctor of Audiology degree. PhD means that a person received a Doctor of Philosophy degree. 76

C. Ann Tennis, G-’43, passed away in Albany, California, on November 9 at the age of 100. Ann completed her master’s degree in deaf education at Gallaudet – a pursuit she attributed to her aunt and uncle, Ellen Pearson Stewart, 1917, and Roy J. Stewart, 1899. Ann had many fond memories of Gallaudet, which included working for Dr. Percival Hall, G-1893, and taking afternoon tea with Dr. Elizabeth Peet, H-’23. After graduation, Ann taught at schools for the deaf in Maryland, Illinois, and California (Berkeley). Throughout her life, Ann was an active GUAA member and loyal alumna. She established two endowed funds benefiting Gallaudet students and families at the Clerc Center. Nicholas T. Gould, ’09, Executive Director of Development and Alumni Relations, represented the university at Ann’s memorial service on November 30 in Oakland, California.

DONALD ALVIN PADDEN, ’45

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the community. For 28 years, they wrote and edited the Mileposts column in the Gallaudet Alumni Newsletter. Don was treasurer of the Gallaudet University Alumni Association from 1982 to 1989, and chaired the GUAA centennial reunion in 1989.

AGNES VIRGINIA MINOR PADDEN, ’47 The Gallaudet University community mourns the passing of Donald A. Padden, ’45, on Wednesday morning, February 19 in Frederick, Maryland. Don was 98 years old. He had been a part of the Gallaudet community for nearly 80 years, as a student, an athlete, a teacher, a coach, a revered mentor and father figure to generations of students, an alumni association officer, and an elder statesman of the Gallaudet and Deaf communities. Don was the last surviving member of the Five Iron Men, the 1942-1943 men’s basketball team that won the Mason-Dixon conference championship. The team had a losing record during the regular season, and was seeded last of eight teams in the conference tournament. Gallaudet won three straight games to win the tournament, with all five team members playing every minute of every game. Upon graduation in 1945, Don joined the Gallaudet faculty. He stayed for 42 years, with two stints as men’s basketball coach. He also expanded the intramural program and directed it for ten years, and served on the design committee for the Field House. He was inducted into the Gallaudet Athletics Hall of Fame in 1995, and the Field House gymnasium floor was named in his honor in 2017. Don was married for 72 years to Agnes Minor Padden, ’47, who also taught at Gallaudet for nearly four decades. Together, the Paddens were one of the most recognizable and iconic couples in our history, giving countless hours to the university and

Agnes Virginia Minor Padden, ’47, passed away on October 3, 2019 in Frederick, Maryland. She was 94 years old. Agnes, a Washington, D.C. native, was the first female Kendall School graduate to receive a bachelor’s degree at Gallaudet. She and her husband of 72 years, Donald A. Padden, ’45, were the quintessential Gallaudet couple, active and involved in the community from their college days to the present. During her 40 years at Gallaudet, Agnes taught physical education and English. She was an active, involved member of the Gallaudet University Alumni Association and its local chapters, and was past president of the National Organization of Phi Kappa Zeta Sorority. She and Don wrote and edited the Mileposts column in the Gallaudet Alumni Newsletter for many years. Agnes is survived by her husband, Don; son Robert, ’72 and his wife Melinda, ’74; daughter Carol and her husband, Tom Humphries, ’68, and three grandchildren, including Kami, ’09, and her spouse Dina Rae Padden, ’98 & G- ’06. Funeral services were held on October 8, and a celebration of Agnes’s life will be held at a later time. Memorial contributions may be made to the Donald A. Padden, ’45 & Agnes Minor Padden, ’47 Scholarship Fund. 77

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Gallaudet University and Gallaudet University Alumni Association mourn Agnes’s passing, and send condolences to her family, friends, colleagues, and all who knew her. She will be greatly missed.

AGNES MARIE DUNN SUTCLIFFE, ’59

Agnes Marie Dunn Sutcliffe, ’59, passed away on September 27, 2020 at her daughter’s home in Jefferson, Maryland. She had just celebrated her 86th birthday. Agnes was born in Fortescue, Missouri on September 12, 1934, the second of 10 children. Her family moved to Omaha, Nebraska so she could attend the Nebraska School for the Deaf. Upon graduating in 1954, she excitedly took a train to attend Gallaudet College (now University). She loved all the opportunities to play sports in college and was a proud, contributing member of Phi Kappa Zeta Sorority. Upon her graduation from Gallaudet in 1959, she joined the faculty of the Department of Physical Education and coached women’s field hockey, swimming and basketball. During that time, she also coached the United States women’s swimming team in the World Games for the Deaf in 1961 in Helsinki, Finland. Agnes served as the athletic director of the District of Columbia Club for the Deaf (DCCD) in the 1960s, while there was a strong “male-only” culture. She was also on the staff of Dee Cee Eyes, a local publication for Deaf people. 78

After her marriage to Dr. Ronald E. Sutcliffe, ’59, in 1962, she continued teaching physical education until the ninth month of pregnancy with her second child and then transitioned to being a full-time mother. Three more children and ten grandchildren would follow. While home raising her children and supporting her husband’s graduate studies, Agnes coached her children’s basketball teams and continued to give much of her time to Gallaudet University and the Gallaudet University Alumni Association (GUAA). She could often be seen recruiting volunteers for events, manning booths at Homecoming, organizing fundraisers and cheering at sport events, especially women’s basketball. Agnes later became a sign language instructor, first at what is now Community College of Baltimore County and then at Gallaudet University. She taught many new faculty and staff, which made her a well-known and popular face on campus. Upon retiring from teaching in 1998, she continued to travel the country and the world with Ron – attending nearly every National Association of the Deaf and Deaf Seniors of America conference and the Deaflympics, and touring fascinating places such as Egypt, Europe and New Zealand. She loved being involved in the lives of her grandchildren, attending many of their school and sporting events. In addition to her commitment to family and community organizations, Agnes maintained close friendships with her fellow “Bridgettes” – a group of Deaf women who met monthly for 50 years to play bridge – and her Red Hat Club of “Proud Primroses.” Agnes’s contributions have been recognized by many organizations, including the Phi Kappa Zeta Sorority, the Washington, D.C. Division No. 46 of the National Fraternal Society of the Deaf, and the Maryland Association of the Deaf. The Gallaudet University Alumni Association honored her with its prestigious Pauline “Polly” Peikoff, E-’36, “Service

to Others” Award in 2003. She served as GUAA Vice President from 1986 to 1989 and as President of the Washington, D.C. GUAA chapter. She and Ron were long-time members of Christ Lutheran Church of the Deaf. Agnes will be remembered as a caring, hardworking woman who often spoke of and acted on her dedication to her family and community. Her family and friends remember her as someone who did not just talk about what she wanted to see happen; she made them happen. Agnes was a strong believer in becoming involved and in involving others. Agnes is survived by her husband of 58 years, Dr. Ronald E. Sutcliffe, ’59, and her children: Glen W. Sutcliffe and his wife Marie of Bethesda, Maryland; Jane A. Sutcliffe, G-’92, of Jefferson, Maryland; Herb E. Sutcliffe of Washington, D.C.; Bert E. Sutcliffe of Boca Raton, Florida; and Dale F. Sutcliffe and his wife, Holly, of Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina; and 10 grandchildren. She is also survived by many sisters, brothers, nieces, and nephews.

J. STERLING WHITE, ’59 Gallaudet mourns the loss of alumnus and major donor J. Sterling White, ’59. He passed away on June 7 after a long illness at his home in Clemmons, North Carolina. He was 85 years old. Mr. White, a graduate of North Carolina School for the Deaf, received his Bachelor of Science degree at Gallaudet in 1959. He also studied spectroscopy at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His entire professional career was at R. J. Reynolds in its research division. He retired as a senior research chemist.

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After graduation, Sterling was active in the North Carolina Association for the Deaf and the Piedmont Lions Club, and served as a board member for the North Carolina School for the Deaf. Sterling and his late wife, Lucie (Moffatt) White, ’59, established The J. Sterling, ’59 and Lucie Moffatt, ’59 White Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics Equipment Fund at Gallaudet University. The fund was designed to ensure that the science department could acquire and maintain top of the line equipment to ensure students had access to cutting edge technology at Gallaudet University.

ROBERT BURTON CORBETT, ’63 Robert Burton Corbett, ’63, passed away on April 4, 2020 at age 78. Bob, an Arizona native, earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting at Gallaudet in 1963. He worked for the U.S. Department of the Navy his entire career, as a cost accountant and data quality analyst, and received several employee excellence awards. An outstanding athlete who held the world deaf record in the discus throw at 153 feet, 1 inch, he was inducted into four athletics halls of fame, including Gallaudet’s. He was assistant track and field coach at Gallaudet from 1972 to 1990, and assistant coach for the U.S. deaf track and field teams in the 1981, 1985, and 1989 World Games for the Deaf. A lifelong fisher, he was a founding member of the MarVa Silent Bass Anglers and served as the group’s treasurer. Bob is survived by his coparent, Lily Page Bess, ’66; a son, and a large extended family.

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NELLIE JANE NORMAN, ’68

Nellie Jane Norman ’68, was born on September 11, 1939 to Frances Christine Thomas Norman and Fred Gene Norman. She graduated from the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind in Staunton in 1957. Originally a member of the Gallaudet College Class of 1962, she took time off from school and worked in the printing industry in the Washington area and New York City. She earned her bachelor’s degree at Gallaudet University in 1968, and subsequently received her master’s degree at New York University and her Ph.D. at Howard University in 1995. Even with her advanced academic credentials, Dr. Norman was intensely proud of another distinction-her membership in the International Typographic Union (ITU). Her father had been a printer and a member of the ITU. In his day, it was rare for a deaf person to become a federal union member; the elder Norman had to request support from his U.S. Senator, Harry F. Byrd. Once Mr. Norman had his ITU card, he helped many other Deaf people enter the printing industry and join ITU. Dr. Norman not only followed in her father’s footsteps, but further pushed back against arbitrary restrictions by securing her union card as a Deaf person and as a Deaf woman. She and her father had a lifelong bond over their work as printers. Dr. Norman started her Gallaudet career as a member of the Department of Theatre. She later joined the faculty of the newly-established Department of Television, Film, and Digital Media, and served as that department’s chair. She retired 80

as a member of the Communication Studies program in the Department of Art, Communication, and Theatre. In 1985, the television department at Gallaudet asked her to redesign Images, a half-hour television program. Her work resulted in the nationallytelevised Deaf Mosaic, which earned multiple Emmy awards as it celebrated the richness of Deaf culture. During the 1988 Deaf President Now movement, Dr. Norman was co-director of media relations for the Deaf President Now Council. Dr. Norman’s enduring professional legacy will be her genius at lifting up Deaf culture, language, and art. She was especially proud of having founded the WORLDEAF Cinema Festival at Gallaudet in 2010, and seeing the National Deaf Life Museum open on April 8, 2014, the 150th anniversary of the signing of Gallaudet’s charter by President Abraham Lincoln. Last fall, Dr. Norman proposed the idea of creating an exhibition on the history of American Sign Language research. With insight that came from decades of lived experience, she recognized that ASL research was a catalyst for cultural understanding. Studies taking place at Gallaudet and other universities as early as the 1960s would have an impact far beyond the American Deaf community. This exhibition idea is one more example of Jane Norman’s visionary leadership, and the university is taking steps to carry out her dream. More information will follow. Dr. Norman is survived by her sister, Fredericka C. (Freda) Norman, E-’69; her nephew Nikolaus Norman-Peterson and his wife Sarah, and a beloved grand-nephew, Desi.

1945 Phyllis Arvilla Anderson Mendenall, ’45, passed away on January 22, 2020, at age 98. She was born on June 20, 1921. Phyllis attended Kansas School for the Deaf. After graduating from Gallaudet, she taught for 35 years in Wichita, Kansas. She was predeceased by her husband, James C. Mendenall, and two children, and is survived by three children.

1946 Everett Ray Shrout, ’46, passed away on August 28, 2019 at age 94. He was born on September 4, 1924. Everett retired from the Dayton Daily News after 42 years of service as a typesetter. He was predeceased by Beatrice Strout, his wife of 60 years, and is survived by three children, five grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

1950 Eldora Minnie Lux Jones, ’50, of West Saint Paul, Minnesota, passed away on January 24, 2020 at age 93. Eldora was born on February 6, 1926, and attended Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf. She met her future husband, James D. Jones, ’50, while attending Gallaudet. After graduation, they became leaders in the Minnesota deaf community. Eldora is survived by three sons and one daughter. Urias J. Meadows, ’50, of Elyria, Ohio, passed away on December 9, 2019, at age 94. He was born on July 25, 1925 in Huntington, West Virginia, and graduated from Ohio School for the Deaf. He was employed for 27 years by the Elyria City Schools in the maintenance department until his retirement in 1991. Urias was devoted to environmental conservation and stewardship. He was a 30-year

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member of the Izaak Walton League of America and received several national awards. Urias also founded the league’s Black River Chapter. His work in helping to create a living memorial forest program with the Black River Chapter and the Lorain County Metropolitan Park District won a National Arbor Day Foundation Award. Urias also worked on establishing a deaf and blind retirement and healthcare facility for physically challenged people and served as secretary-treasurer. He is survived by his wife and son. Alberta Imogene Delozier Smith, ’50, of Knoxville, Tennessee, passed away on November 1, 2019. She was 95 years old Alberta spent her life advocating for the deaf, 40 years of which she spent working in Deaf education. Alberta was the first feaf female principal in the United States, a position she held at Tennessee School for the Deaf until she retired in 1987. She is survived by three daughters and one son.

1952 Elaine L. Liner Shaffer, ‘52, of Sterling, Virginia, passed away on July 11, 2019, at age 88. She was born on Nov. 8, 1930. Elaine attended Louisiana School for the Deaf (Baton Rouge). Elaine volunteered with the Northern Virginia Resource Center for Deaf & Hard of Hearing Persons and was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions.

1953 Robert R. Anderson, ’53, of Jacksonville, Illinois, passed away on February 6, 2020, at age 89. Robert was born on October 13, 1930, in North Tonawanda, New York. He graduated from Rochester School for the Deaf and received a bachelor’s degree from Gallaudet. Bob earned a 81

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Master of Education degree in deaf education from MacMurray College and a second master’s degree from the National Leadership Training Program at California State University at Northridge. His teaching career started at New York State School for the Deaf. From there Bob went on to teach at South Dakota School for the Deaf. In 1957, he began a lengthy career at Illinois School for the Deaf, serving in many administrative positions. He retired in 1984 and moved to Chicago, where he became the Grand President of the National Fraternal Society of the Deaf. Bob returned to Jacksonville to become interim assistant superintendent at Illinois School for the Deaf. He was instrumental in the founding of the Jacksonville Community Center for the Deaf. Bob is survived by his wife, Mary Margaret McCray Anderson, ’69, three sons, and a daughter.

1954 Gilbert Louis Delgado, G-’54 & H-’97, of Santa Fe, New Mexico, passed away on November 3, 2019, at age 91. He was born on September 3, 1928, in Santa Fe. After graduating from high school, he joined the United States Marine Corps, achieving the rank of sergeant. Subsequently, he earned his bachelor’s degree from the College of Santa Fe, a master’s degree from Gallaudet University, and a Ph.D. in educational technology from The Catholic University of America. Gilbert began his career in deaf education in California as a teacher and administrator at both of the California School for the Deaf campuses. He then became a professor at Gallaudet and dean of the graduate school. While at Gallaudet, Gil set up deaf resource centers at universities in Costa Rica and Puerto Rico to provide training materials for speech teachers as well as films on lipreading and sign language. Later, he became the second director of Media Services and Film Captioning in the U.S. Department of 82

Education. He published jis research on hearing loss in Hispanic communities and translating American Sign Language from English to Spanish. Gil returned to Santa Fe in 1988 and become the first Hispanic superintendent of the New Mexico School for the Deaf. He is survived by one son and five daughters. George Wesley Dickson, ’54, of Edgewood, Pennsylvania, passed away on December 20, 2019, at age 90. He was president of his senior class at Gallaudet and past president of the Pittsburgh Association for the Deaf. George was a student, teacher, and board member emeritus at Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf. He is predeceased by his wife, Alice Sandstrom Dickson, ’54, and survived by a son and a daughter.

1955 Thelma Agnes Cutchin Breighner, E-’55, of Media, Pennsylvania, passed away on January 26,2020, at age 89. Thelma was born in Lonaconing, Maryland, on September 30, 1930. She was a graduate of the Maryland School for the Deaf and a past member of the Silent Oriole Club. Thelma worked for Coca-Cola in Baltimore, Maryland; Mission Helpers of the Sacred Heart in Towson, Maryland; and the Social Security Administration in Woodlawn, Maryland. She is survived by four children. Richard Eugene “Dick” Caswell, ’55, of Silver Spring, Maryland, passed away on January 24, 2020, at age 89. Dick was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on September 3, 1930, and graduated from the Minnesota State Academy of the Deaf in 1950. While attending Gallaudet, Dick excelled in sports, especially football and basketball. Gallaudet is also where Dick met and later married his college sweetheart, Dorothy Maurine Leitch,

E-’57. He graduated from Gallaudet with a degree in education and a minor in physical education. Dick worked at the Washington Star newspaper for seven years as a linotype operator, and then at the United States Printing Office. For 16 years he worked for the U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services as a proofreader, serving under the chairmanship of five different senators. Dick retired in 1995 with 34 years of government service. He served many organizations for the deaf, such as the American Athletic Association of the Deaf, where he served as publicity director, secretary-treasurer, and president. Dick also served as the AAAD representative to the United States Olympic Committee. He was an active service member to the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf as basketball technical delegate for 24 years, and was involved with seven Deaflympics. Donald Edward Tress, E-’55, passed away on July 29, 2019, at age 87.

1956 Donald L. “Pat” Irwin, E-’56, passed away on February 10, 2019, at age 86.

1957 John Richard Hermann, ’57, passed away on April 2, 2020, at age 87. John T. Jacobs, ’57, passed away on January 31, 2020, at age 86. John was born in Hill Country, Texas, on April 17, 1933. He graduated from Texas School for the Deaf in 1952. John worked at TSD as a mathematics and physical education teacher for 33 years. John is survived by his wife, Judith Jacobs; three sons, including William S. Jacobs, ’10; and a daughter.

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1958 John Christian Miller, Jr., ’58, passed away on Dec. 23, 2019, at age 84. John was born on Jan. 5, 1935. John attended Kendall School for the Deaf between 1940-1953, and Gallaudet for one year before pursuing full-time employment. He retired from the U.S. Government Printing Office after 39 years of service. John’s participated twice in the World Games of the Deaf (WGD): 1961 in Finland and 1965 in Washington D.C. In 1981, he was inducted into the National Hall of Fame.

1959 Lois Thompson Gatehouse, ’59, passed away on Aug. 21, 2019, at age 83. She was born on Feb. 16, 1936, in La Crescenta, California. Lois graduated high school from Berkeley School for the Deaf and then graduated from Gallaudet with a Bachelor of Arts in teaching. Lois met her husband at Gallaudet, and after graduation, they moved to teach at the Baxter School for the Deaf (Falmouth, Maine). She also taught and retired from the California School for the Deaf (Fremont). Lois is survived by her son and daughter. Julie A. Kren Damron, E-’59, of Ann Arbor, Michigan, passed away on June 24, 2020, at age 86. Julie was born on Sept. 1, 1933, in Los Angeles. She attended California School for the Deaf (Berkeley) graduated from Gallaudet with her bachelor’s degree. While attending Gallaudet, Julie met Herbert Lee “Herb” Damron whom she married on Dec. 5, 1959. The two first lived in Los Angeles and then Ecorse, Michigan. In 2019, Julie moved to Ann Arbor. She is survived by a daughter and son.

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1960

1961

Elizabeth Ruth Sparks Pollard, E-’60, passed away on April 26, 2020, at age 80. Libby was born on March 21, 1940. She spent three years at the West Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind (Romney) before transferring to the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf (Pittsburgh), where she graduated in 1956. After graduating from Gallaudet, Libby studied data entry at the Electronics Computer Programming Institute (Cleveland, Ohio). She became a keypunch/data entry operator at the Iron City Sash and Door Company in Pittsburgh, and while working there, took training courses in advanced computer programming. Libby’s commitment and desire to advance her skills led to two promotions, first as junior computer programmer, and then as senior programmer/systems analyst. She retired in April 2002 with 30 years of service. Throughout her life, Libby contributed significantly to many organizations as a volunteer, board member and parliamentarian. She served on the boards of WPSD, the WPSD Alumni Association and the Gallaudet University Alumni Association (GUAA). Libby became the first female president in several organizations, including the local division of the National Fraternal Society of the Deaf, Pittsburgh Association of the Deaf, and the Pennsylvania Society for the Advancement of the Deaf. She served a four-year term on the NAD board of directors and was elected president of NAD and served two terms. After her NAD service, Libby studied to become a certified parliamentarian, providing parliamentary and leadership training as well as consultation services, and mentoring those aspiring to parliamentary careers. Libby is survived by four sons.

Robert T. DeVenny, ’61, passed away on Dec. 13, 2019. He worked for The Washington Post.

Thomas M. Janulewicz, E-’61, of Surprise, Arizona, passed away on Dec. 11, 2019, at age 84. Thomas was born on Dec. 1, 1935 and grew up in Cheyanne, Wyoming. He graduated from Nebraska School for the Deaf (Omaha) in 1955. Thomas worked for the U.S. Government. Mary Helen Necaise Margiotta, E-’61, passed away on April 23, 2020, at age 81. Mary was born on Aug. 27, 1938. She graduated from Mississippi School for the Deaf (Jackson) and Virginia School for the Deaf (Staunton). Mary worked as a computer operator for 25 years at The Sun Herald. She was very involved in various organizations, including the Gulfport Club for the Deaf, where she served three terms as president and two terms as secretary, and also with the Mississippi Association of the Deaf. She was named to the Mississippi School for the Deaf Hall of Fame for Special Events and she received the Quota Club Award. Marita G. Fowler Leeder, ‘61, of Marshfield, Wisconsin, passed away on July 18, 2020, at age 84. Marita was born on Feb. 17, 1936, in Milton, Wisconsin. She attended University of Wisconsin-Whitewater College Training School. After graduating from high school, Marita earned her bachelor’s degree in kindergarten-primary education at the same campus. She taught in Janesville for two years, but pursued her dream of teaching Deaf students after watching her Deaf neighbor communicate with her mother by passing notes. Marita earned her Master of Science degree at Gallaudet. Upon returning to Wisconsin, she taught both hearing and deaf students for four years. Marita treasured the nine years she was home raising her children in their formative

years. In 1974, she took great pride in returning to teaching elementary students at the Wisconsin School for the Deaf (Delavan) until her retirement in 1996. Marita enjoyed leading and volunteering time and support to local community. She led a caregiver support group and sewed hundreds of masks during the COVID outbreak. Marita is survived by her son and two daughters.

1962 Cara O. Baer Murphy, G-’62, of Florence, South Carolina, passed away on April 10, 2020, at age 80. Tata was born in Spartanburg, South Carolina. She was a graduate of Columbia College and worked as a special needs teacher. Tata’s career took her from Maine to Tennessee to Washington, and finally the Darlington County (S.C.) School District from which she retired in 2001. Tata is survived by her husband and two daughters. Raymond E. Piper, ’62, passed away on June 11, 2020.

1963 Susan D. Chevallier, E-’63, passed away on Feb. 10, 2020, at age 80. Sue was born on Dec. 2, 1939 in Angola, Louisiana. She graduated from the Louisiana School for the Deaf (Baton Rouge) and was an avid basketball player throughout her high school years. Sue became a printer by trade and retired from Capital City Press (Baton Rouge). An activist, advocate and supporter of many causes, Sue sought to ensure that all had a voice, esp. those in the deaf community. She was a member of Louisiana Association of the Deaf, Baton Rouge Association of the Deaf, and enjoyed her association with the Arkansas Deaf community (especially camping). She is survived by two daughters.

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Robert Burton Corbett, ’63, passed away on April 4, 2020 at age 78. Bob, an Arizona native, earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting at Gallaudet in 1963. He worked for the U.S. Department of the Navy his entire career, as a cost accountant and data quality analyst, and received several employee excellence awards. An outstanding athlete who held the world deaf record in the discus throw at 153 feet, 1 inch, he was inducted into four athletics halls of fame, including Gallaudet’s. He was assistant track and field coach at Gallaudet from 1972 to 1990, and assistant coach for the U.S. deaf track and field teams in the 1981, 1985, and 1989 World Games for the Deaf. A lifelong fisher, he was a founding member of the MarVa Silent Bass Anglers and served as the group’s treasurer. Bob is survived by his co-parent, Lily Page Bess, ’66; a son, and a large extended family.

1964 Betty Lee Bounds Evans, ’64 & G-’65, of Austin, Texas, passed away on Nov. 6, 2019, at age 77. She was born on March 5, 1942 in Hampton, Arkansas. Betty graduated from Arkansas School for the Deaf (Little Rock) and earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education at Gallaudet. While an undergraduate, she was twice elected homecoming queen. Betty’s education career took her from one coast to the other. She started at Maine School for the Deaf (Portland), then Oregon School for the Deaf (Salem), and Western Oregon University (Monmouth). Betty served as director of the Gallaudet University Regional Center at Ohlone College (Fremont, California) before transitioning to a corporate career. She was employed by Sprint Corporation and was part of the team responsible for pioneering Texas Relay service in Austin. After helping make public telephones 85

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accessible for the deaf and hearing people in Texas, Betty transferred to Sacramento, California, to become the Sprint Human Resources Manager for the Sprint Relay Call. She was wooed back to Texas by the man who would become her husband, and transitioned back to a career in education. Betty first served as a middle school teacher at Texas School for the Deaf (Austin), then curriculum specialist, and finally as assistant superintendent. She is survived by her husband, daughter, son and step-son.

of Science from Gallaudet, and Master of Education from Western Maryland College. She worked as a school librarian at Culver Military Academy (Indiana), as a teacher at Maryland School for the Deaf, and later at Indiana School for the Deaf (Indianapolis). Linda is survived by her husband, daughter, and two sons.

Charles M. Hiney, E-’64, of Ocala, Florida, passed away on Nov. 26, 2019, at age 78. Charles was born in Roaring Spring, Pennsylvania. He graduated from the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf (Pittsburgh) in 1959. He was employed at the Tyrone Daily Herald, Wilson Printing Co., The Washington Post, Commercial Printing Inc., and was owner of H&H Printing and Stationary, which changed to Creative Graphics, and Lakeland Press Inc., until his retirement.

1967

Linda Sokolis Wick, ’64, of Mooresville, North Carolina, passed away on Dec. 26, 2019, at age 81. Linda was born on Sept. 29, 1939, in Santa Rosa, California. She was a graduate of the California School for the Deaf (Berkeley) and met her husband while attending Gallaudet. Linda worked at the university as a library technician. She is survived by her mother, husband, two daughters, and one son.

1965 Linda Louise Heiser Cooper, ’65, of Culver, Indiana, passed away on Nov. 11, 2019, at age 78. She was born on Nov. 9, 1941, in Argos, Indiana, and graduated from the Indiana School for the Deaf (Indianapolis) in 1959. Linda received her Bachelor 86

1966 Judith Ann Grantham, ’66, passed away on January 20, 2020.

Mary Beth Miller, ’67, passed away on Aug. 5, 2019. Mary Beth graduated from Kentucky School for the Deaf (Danville) and received her bachelor’s degree at Gallaudet. She also received degrees from Connecticut College and New York University. Mary Beth was one of the founders of New York Deaf Theatre, and she acted as well as wrote/ directed original plays for the National Theatre of the Deaf. Marilyn Sue Pierce, E-’67, of Evansville, Indiana, passed away on on April 11, 2020, at age 76. Marilyn was born on Nov. 9, 1943 in Evansville. She graduated from Edwards County High School in 1961 and attended one year at the newly opened Wabash Valley Community College (Mt. Carmel) before transferring to Gallaudet. Marilyn worked for the Federal Trade Commission in Washington, D.C., as a legal technician, maintaining and controlling the Commission records. She received many awards for her extraordinary dedication to duty and services to the Commission and retired in March 2004 after 30 years of service. Marilyn volunteered her time and talents with many organizations, such as the Deaf Telecommunicators of Greater Washington, Inc., where she served as president. She also assisted

the local police department and the Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority as they were making their telephone systems accessible to the deaf community. Van Kent Scheppach, ’67, of Vancouver, Washington, passed away on March 18, 2020 at age 77. Van was born on Dec. 18, 1942.

1968 Richard Joseph Coppola Jr., ’68, passed away on April 25, 2020. Nothing gave Richard more joy than performing as Elvis Presley, his idol, at deaf-community events. He is survived by his wife and son. Janice Edrea Harris,’68, of Torrington, Wyoming, passed away on Dec. 14, 2019, at age 76. Janice was born on Aug. 5, 1943. She attended Colorado Springs School for the Deaf and Blind, graduating as valedictorian in 1963. Throughout her life, Janice excelled in a range of sports, such as basketball, volleyball, softball and track in high school; track and field, hockey, golf and swimming in college; and golfing and bowling as an adult. In 2012, Janice was the first woman to be inducted into the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind’s Hall of Fame in recognition of her achievements in athletics. James Anthony Oster, ’68, passed away on March 19, 2020. John Garnett Schroedel, ’68, of Westerville, Ohio, passed away on March 17, 2020 at age 78. John was born in Seattle, Washington. While attending Gallaudet, he served as editor of The Buff and Blue and as vice-president of the Student Body Government. From 1966-1968, he worked in the federal office of vocational rehabilitation. John

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obtained his bachelor’s degree in sociology from Gallaudet and his master’s degree in sociology in 1971 and his doctorate in sociology in 1976 from New York University. He worked as a researcher at NYU’s federally-funded Deafness Research and Training Center and served on the research team from 1968-1974 that conducted the first and only national census of Deaf people in the United States, the results of which were published in a book, The Deaf Population of the United States. After working as a researcher at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf at Rochester Institute of Technology, and later at Gallaudet, John joined the research team at the University of Arkansas Rehabilitation Research and Training Center for Persons who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing (Little Rock) where he worked for 23 years until retirement. John’s research focused on demography and on employment of Deaf and hard of hearing people in the United States, and he produced numerous publications and research reports that have been cited and referenced both in the U.S. and internationally. In addition to serving on the board of directors of the Little Rock Deaf Community Center, he was also a long-time member of the Arkansas Association of the Deaf. Tien F. Chung, ’68, passed away on July 19, 2020. Norma Ann Wojcik Steele, E-’68, of Marietta, Georgia, passed away on Dec. 9, 2019, at age 73. Norma was born in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, on Nov. 29, 1946. She graduated from the Ontario School for the Deaf (Belleville) in 1964. Norma was a longtime and active member of Southern Baptist churches with Deaf ministries in Virginia, Tennessee, Florida and Georgia. She also served on the Tennessee Association of the Deaf board, first as secretary and then as president. Norma was employed with Social Security Administration until her retirement. She is survived by two daughters. 87

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James G. Kelty, ‘68, passed away on Dec. 2, 2019, at age 74. He was born on Feb. 28, 1945. James attended Pioneer High School in San Jose and Gallaudet from 1966 to 1968.

1969

Joan D. Hersh Revell, E-’68, passed away on June 7, 2020.

JoAnne Mary Stump-Nelson, ’69, passed away on March 16, 2020. Joanne attended Clark School for the Deaf (North Hampton, Massachusetts) and graduated from Queen of Angels Academy (Dorval). She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Gallaudet, a Master of Arts in teaching from McDaniel College (Westminster, Maryland), a Master of Arts degree from California State University, Northridge, and a Master of Arts degree from McGill University. Joanne was well respected for her outstanding leadership in the Canada Association of the Deaf where she served as president, vice president, secretary and on the board of directors for over 50 years. She also was president of the Montreal Association of the Deaf. Joanne was known as loving educator who retired from teaching at the Mackay Centre School (Montreal) after 35 years and continued to be a substitute teacher for several more years. She was also a founding member of Canadian Deafness Research and Training Institute. Joanne was presented with the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal, an award bestowed upon Canadians for their outstanding contributions to the country and their community.

Robert C. Watson, ’68, passed away on July 16, 2020, at age 78. Robert was born on April 20, 1942. He attended Alabama School for the Deaf (Talladega) and graduated from Gallaudet with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education. Robert married Jean Grubb, a fellow Gallaudet alum, and the two moved North Carolina to teach at the Eastern North Carolina School for the Deaf (Wilson). He a passionate advocate for Deaf education and in his local Deaf community participating in many Deaf clubs, activities, and organizations, including the Wilson Association of the Deaf and the Junior National Association of the Deaf. Robert was also very active in sports, coaching both Boys and Girls Basketball, leading his girls team to win the Mason-Dixon Girls Basketball Championship in 1988. He was inducted into the Sports Halls of Fame at both ASD and ENCSD. Robert retired from ENCSD after 30 and devoted much of his time to building and strengthening the Deaf church locally, at the Forest Hills Baptist Church (Wilson), as well abroad on mission trips working with deaf communities in Uruguay in 2009 and 2010. He was one of the founding members of the Wilson Deaf Senior Citizens group and served as its first president. Robert is survived by his wife, daughter, and son. Peter Vandenberg, E-’68, passed away on April 9, 2020.

Marilyn Irene Cook Amundsen, E-’69, passed away on Dec. 4, 2019.

Dennis Franklin Murphy, ‘89, passed away on March 31, 2020, at age 76. Dennis was born on Jan. 8, 1944 in Chadron, Nebraska. He started his education at Nebraska School for the Deaf (Omaha), spent some years attending public school, and after a family move to South Dakota, graduated from South Dakota School for the Deaf (Sioux Falls) in 1962. Dennis received his associate of graphic arts and offset press degree at Gallaudet. He is survived by his wife, two sons, daughter and step-daughter.

John L. Ritter, ’69, of El Paso, Texas, passed away on May, 2, 2020, at age 76. John was born on Dec. 21, 1943 in Port Carbon, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Temple Deaf College (Kansas City, Missouri) in 1984 and Liberty University (Lynchburg, Virginia) in 1989 where he earned a Graduate of Theology degree, a Bachelor of Science in Pastoral Studies and founded the Deaf Prophecy Conference. He is survived by his wife, five sons and two daughters. Sharlene F. Schmidt Wolford Haney, ’69, of Independence, Missouri, passed away on May 14, 2020, at age 75. Sharlene was born on Feb. 14, 1945 in Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania. She graduated from Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf (Pittsburgh) in 1964, and Lincoln Land Community College (Springfield, Illinois) with an Associate of Science degree in computer science in 1982. Sharlene then earned a Bachelor of Science in computer science from California University of Pennsylvania in 1987. She was a member and officer of the WPSD Alumni Association. Sharlene started a career in data processing with the Illinois Department of Public Health from 1970 until 1982. She served as a member and officer of the Bloomington, Illinois, and Springfield, Illinois, Clubs for the Deaf, as well an officer of the American Athletic Association of the Deaf. From 1987, until her retirement in 2000, Sharlene worked for the Pennsylvania Department of Veterans Affairs as a health care systems analyst. She married Leland J.C. Haney, a Gallaudet college classmate, of Independence, Missouri. She served as treasurer, vice-president, and president of the Jackson County, Missouri, Association of the Deaf for many years. She is survived by two sons and a daughter.

1971 Delmar C. Cheeseman, E-’71, passed away on March 12, 2020.

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Ronald Joseph Gelden, E-’71, passed away on Feb. 11, 2020, at age 72. Ronald was born on Aug. 7, 1947.

1973 Robert Earle Mezzanotte, E-’73, passed away on July 4, 2019. Michelle Marie “Micki” Nesbit, E-’73, of Fort Belvoir, Virginia, passed away on Dec. 12, 2019, at age 70. Micki was born in Bethesda, Maryland, on Feb. 17, 1949. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology at Penn State University and her Master’s Degree in Deaf Education at Gallaudet. Micki taught at the Rochester School for the Deaf for 30 years. After moving to The Fairfax at Belvoir Woods, she wrote for the monthly newsletter and taught classes in sign language and Shakespeare. Micki is survived by her mother.

1974 Dale Edward Birley, E-’74, passed away on Sept. 28, 2019, at age 67. Dale was born in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, on May 6, 1952. He attended Gallaudet for two years before transferring to the University of Saskatchewan. Dale was known for being a man of service, dedication and philanthropy. For more than 30 years, he lent his expertise and leadership to Saskatchewan Deaf Sports Association, Saskatchewan Deaf and Hard of Hearing Service, and Regina Association of the Deaf and Canadian Sports Association. Dale worked for the Government of Saskatchewan for almost 44 years. In 2005, Dale received a Centennial Leadership Award for his outstanding contribution to the province. Dale is survived by his wife and children.

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William Paul “Bill” Hatfield, ’73, of Hagerstown, Maryland, passed away on Jan. 21, 2020, at age 76. He was born on Aug. 26, 1943. Bill graduated from Gallaudet with a bachelor’s degree in sociology. He retired from the Maryland School for the Deaf after working over 25 years as a teacher and a dorm counselor. Bill was deeply involved in the deaf community through school, sports and social events. He is survived by his son and daughter. Mary Ann Fowler Swinney, ’74, passed away on Aug. 25, 2019. Karen W. Wooten Hazen, ’74, of Greensboro, North Carolina, passed away on Feb. 25, 2020, at the age 69. Karen was born on March 23, 1950 in Richmond, Virginia, and grew up in Washington, D.C. She attended The Maryland School for the Deaf and graduated with a bachelor of science from Gallaudet. Karen pursued a career in education, first in Maryland and then in North Carolina at the Central NC School for the Deaf (Browns Summit). She was an active Civil War reenactor. Karen is survived by her husband and daughter.

1975 Paula Jean Mathieson, G-’75, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, passed away on Dec. 21, 2019, at age 81. Paula was born in Detroit, Michigan, on Sept. 23, 1938, Fluent in both ASL and BSL, she dedicated her life to teaching and studying children with hearing disabilities. Paula graduated from Carleton College (Northfield, Minnesota) in 1960, and received her master’s degree in deaf preschool education from Gallaudet. For 10 years, Paula worked as a classroom teacher at the Maryland School for the Deaf. She moved to Scotland and was awarded her doctorate in psychology from

the University of Edinburgh in 1992, writing about the comparative effect of handedness on deaf and hearing children. Upon her return to the United States, she continued to teach and learn, attending classes at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. Christine G. Collins Wood, E-’75, passed away on Aug. 27, 2019.

1976 David E. Bugbee, ’76, of Sarasota, Florida, passed away on Jan. 23, 2020, at age 67. David was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and attended W.E. Martin School for the Deaf, Springfield High School (Springfield, Pennsylvania), Model Secondary School for the Deaf, Rochester Institute for the Deaf, and Tampa Institute of Technology. David grew up in Springfield, Pennsylvania, and on the eastern shore of the Chesapeake Bay. He worked at Best Buy in computer repair and as a property manager. He loved the sea and fishing, and spent many happy hours in his Boston Whaler fishing for snook. Richard Oakland “Dickie” Glover, Jr., E-’76, passed away on Nov. 29, 2019, at age 67. Dickie was born on May 8, 1951, in Halifax County, North Carolina. He attended North Carolina School for the Deaf (Morganton). After graduating from Gallaudet, Dickie went back home to Eastern North Carolina where he worked with the Lion’s Club Industry in Winston Salem as well as an arts theatre. He also worked for Eastern North Carolina School for the Deaf (Wilson) for 23 years. While there, Dickie founded the Eastern North Carolina School for the Deaf (ENCSD) Cloggers. After retiring Dickie continued working 16 more years for the state as a service support provider for the deaf. He is survived by his partner and mother.

Robert John “Bob” Westerhaus, ’76, of Savage, Minnesota, passed away on Aug. 27, 2019, at age 66. Bob was born on April 22, 1953, in Duluth, Minnesota. He received his bachelor’s degree in psychology/social work from Gallaudet, his master’s degree from McDaniel College (Westminster, Maryland) and his Master’s of Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary. Bob worked at CaliforniaFremont and Iowa Schools for the Deaf and taught ASL at Chaska and Edina High Schools. He retired both as a pastor and a teacher. Bob is survived by his wife, four sons, and one daughter. Mary Beth Inman Aquila, ’76, of Slidell, Louisiana, passed away on July 8, 2020, at age 68. Mary Beth graduated from Louisiana School for the Deaf (Baton Rouge), and she studied home economics at Gallaudet. Mary Beth was vice-president of the North Shore Louisiana Deaf Coalition from 20162018, and member-at-large in 2020. She was also a member of Louisiana School for the Deaf Alumni Association.

1978 Rita Ann Corey, ’78, of Frederick, Maryland, passed away on Jan. 25, 2020, at age 66. She was born on Sept. 18, 1953. Rita devoted her time and talents to the arts. She was a dancer, performer, producer and script writer; she directed plays at Gallaudet and at the Maryland School for the Deaf; and she was also an actress for the National Theatre of the Deaf (West Hartford, Connecticut). Rita was one of the original founders of Musign, a traveling theater company that incorporated music, dance and signing into their performances; she also was the first deaf person to receive a Master of Fine Arts degree in stage directing from Catholic University. Corey is survived by a daughter.

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1979 Robert Paul Terro, Sr., E-’79, of Carencro, Louisiana, passed away on Feb. 1, 2020, at age 66. Robert was born on April 8, 1953 in Rayne, Louisiana. He graduated from Louisiana School for the Deaf (Baton Rouge) in 1973 and worked for and retired from the City of Sulphur as a heavy equipment operator. He was member of Louisiana Acadiana Deaf-Blind Citizens, Deaf-Blind Support Group and bowling teams in the Lafayette community. Robert is survived by his companion and son.

1980 David C. Catt, ’80, passed away on July 6, 2020.

1981 Sandra Lynn Fox, ’81, of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, died on Dec. 2, 2019, at age 64. Sandra was born on June 30, 1955, at Loring Air Force Base in Limestone, Maine. She received her education at the Florida School for the Deaf (St. Augustine), and Virginia School for the Deaf (Staunton). Sandra majored in art at Gallaudet and received her Bachelor of Science degree. She was employed by the school library and retired in 2017 with 36 years of service. Vicki L. Marlow Cunningham, E-’81, of New Castle, Indiana, passed away on May, 11, 2020, at age 61. Vicki was born on Oct. 17, 1958. She graduated from Indiana School for the Deaf (Indianapolis) where she was very active in sports, serving as the captain of the basketball, volleyball and track teams. Vicki started her college years at Gallaudet and then attended Tennessee Temple University (Chattanooga) where she received the 91

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first of her two bachelor’s degrees. Her second was from Ball State University (Muncie, Indiana). Vicki returned to Gallaudet to receive her first master’s degree. She earned another master’s degree at the University of Western Maryland. Vicki became a teacher at the Indiana School for the Deaf (Indianapolis). She appeared before the Indiana Senate and House of Representative becoming the first deaf person to ever address the state legislature. In 1981, Vicki led the women’s basketball team at the Deaf Olympics to win the gold medal. She was featured in the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame for her basketball accomplishments and recently she was inducted into the Indiana Deaf School Hall of Fame. Vicki is survived by her parents, two sisters and a brother.

1982 Maria Christina “Maki” Armengol, E-’82, passed away on Oct. 13, 2019, at age 65. Maki was born in Havana, Cuba, on Aug. 26,1954,and came to the United States with her family in 1961. She graduated at the top of her class in high school and received a scholarship to Gallaudet. Maki lived in Miami, Florida, until 2018. She is survived by two sisters. Mary T. O’Donnell Johnstone, ’82, of Sarver, Pennsylvania, passed away on Sept. 30, 2019, at age 88. Mary was born on Jan. 7, 1931. While attending Gallaudet, she served as the editor of the school’s newspaper, and received awards for her writing. Mary graduated from Gallaudet with a Bachelor of Arts degree. She worked as a fashion illustrator for Gimbel’s, Hornes, and Kaufmann’s department stories in Pittsburgh. Mary was a strong advocate for the deaf community and volunteered with Self Help for Hard of Hearing People.

1983

Katherine Renee Kahlden, E-’83, of Shreveport, Louisiana, passed away on Nov. 8, 2019, at age 60. Kathy was born in Baton Rouge on Nov. 28, 1958. She attended St. Vincent’s Academy (Shreveport) where she was a member of the marching squad. Kathy attended Gallaudet for one year and Louisiana State University-Shreveport for three more years before accepting a job as a civilian classified employee at Barksdale Air Force Base. During Kathy’s nearly 19 years of working for Barksdale, she earned many employee awards including Civilian Employee of the Quarter in 1986. She is survived by her mother and two brothers. Cathryn Ann Deppe Pate, E-’83, of Lake Mills, Wisconsin, passed away on Feb. 10, 2020, at age 61. Cathy was born on Feb. 7, 1959 in Watertown, Wisconsin and attended Lake Mills High School before graduating from the Wisconsin School of the Deaf (Delavan) in 1978. She had been employed by Hamlin, Inc. and Lake Mills Cleaners & Dyers. Cathy was a member of the Maranatha Deaf Assembly of God Church and served on its board. She also served as a committee member of the Midwest Deaf Women’s’ Retreat. Cathy is survived two daughters and one son. Joe Walter Whitner, E-’83, passed away on Jan. 16, 2020.

1985 Patricia Marie “Patty” Janosko Campanaro, ’85, of New Market, Maryland, passed away on Feb. 29, 2020, at age 59. Patricia was born on Feb. 18, 1961, in Rochester, New York. She was employed by Springfield Hospital Center (Sykesville) and served as a compassionate therapist for 29 years. She is survived by her husband, daughter, and son.

Mary Ann Dowling Hillman, E-’85, passed away on Aug. 23, 2019, at age 59. Mary was born on June 1, 1960. She is survived by three daughters. Lilly Rattner Shirey, ‘85, of Boynton Beach, Florida, passed away on May 11, 2020, at age 87. Lilly was born on Oct. 27, 1932 in Vienna, Austria. In 1940, and at the age of 8, she fled Vienna with her family for Genoa, Italy, to board a ship that would bring them to the United States. Lilly attended Lexington School for the Deaf and Textile High School (East Elmhurst, New York). She eventually achieved her lifelong goal of attending Gallaudet. Lilly’s career canvassed both the private and public sectors. Her favorite jobs were with the captioned films office at Fanwood and as a teacher’s aide at the American School for the Deaf. Her last job, as an FBI headquarters tour guide, gave her immense pleasure as she met people from around the world. Libby taught ASL, and served as a tutor for the Shared Reading Project in Washington, D.C. She was also an accomplished actress, performing in productions of A Play of Our Own, Parts 1 and 2, and Tales of a Clubroom. She was served as director of the Miss Deaf Connecticut and Miss Deaf Maryland pageants, and as sponsor of states’ representatives to the NAD Miss Deaf America Pageant. Lilly devoted much time to writing articles, giving presentations, and being interviewed about what she and her family experienced during the Holocaust as Deaf Jews. She was determined that no one would ever forget. Community service was also very important to Libby. She was instrumental in the founding of the Junior National Association of the Deaf (Jr. NAD) Metro New York City chapter, and helped to found the New York-based Mental Health Association of the Deaf. Lilly is survived by two sons and two daughters.

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1986 Carole Jean McClain McIndoe, ’86, passed away on March 1, 2020, at age 89. Carole was born in Youngstown, Ohio, graduated from New Castle High School and attended Allegheny College (Meadville, Pennsylvania) where she became a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in biology. She received her certification as a teacher of the deaf from UCLA by driving 80 miles each way to attend the program. When her family relocated to the U.K., Carole worked in the West Middlesex County area as a peripatetic teacher for the families who had children newly diagnosed with a hearing loss. After relocating to Biloxi, Mississippi, in 1969, she enrolled in the University of Southern Mississippi (Hattiesburg) master’s degree program for learning disabilities in Deaf students. Carole’s thesis recommended modifications to the Hiskey-Nebraska Test of Learning Aptitude to provide a more accurate evaluation of Deaf children’s ability to learn. She established the first Mississippi day school for Deaf children, which allowed students to live at home while attending. In 1975, after a family move to Maryland, Carole taught within the Montgomery County Public School Deaf and Hard of Hearing program, served as interim director for six months, and later became responsible for assigning all Deaf students to appropriate county schools. She attended the school psychology program at Gallaudet and earned her school psychologist certification. Carole retired from Montgomery County Public Schools in 1998 and was a long-time supporter of the Montgomery County Association for Hearing Impaired Children. She served as president and was voted Teacher of the Year. Carole’s work on a state law requiring all newborns to receive the BAER hearing test before being discharged from the hospital earned her a citation by the State of 93

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Maryland. Prior to retiring, Carole created a scholarship that MCAHIC awards to a Deaf high school graduate attending college. She is survived by her husband, two sons and two daughters.

1987 Debra Charlene Gatling Reames, G-’87, passed away on Jan. 16, 2020, at age 57. Debra was born in Murfreesboro, North Carolina, on May 24, 1962. She graduated from Murfreesboro High School in 1980, received a degree in speech pathology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and a master’s degree from Gallaudet. Debra taught at Central State Hospital for the Intellectually Disabled (Petersburg, Virginia), the Maryland School for the Blind, as well as other school systems in South Carolina and Georgia which educated blind and visually impaired students. She was working for the Hanover Public School System until her death. Joan C. Gormley Kemp, E-’87, passed away on June 11, 2020.

1989 Connie Renee Ammerman Dotson, ’89, passed away on July 9, 2019, at age 55. She was born on Oct. 27, 1964, in Fort Thomas, Kentucky. Connie was valedictorian of the graduating class of 1984 of the Kentucky School for the Deaf (Danville) and inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame. She was awarded the title of Miss Deaf Kentucky and placed 10th in the Miss Deaf America Pageant. Connie was the first deaf student accepted into the Kentucky Governor’s Scholars Program. Connie graduated with a bachelor’s degree in history from Gallaudet. Career highlights include working for three years in the Washington, D.C. office of Illinois Sen. Alan Dixon; at the IRS for 2 years, and 26 years at the VA 94

Medical Center in Lexington. Connie was an active member of Anchor Baptist (Bluegrass Deaf Mission) where she had been a Sunday school teacher for 18 years. She is survived by her husband. Carolyn Marie Mielke, AAS-’89, passed away on April 11, 2020, at age 58. She was born on Jan. 13, 1962, in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota. Carolyn graduated from Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf (Faribault). After graduating from St. Paul College, Carolyn worked for a few years in the Minneapolis/ St Paul area before attending Gallaudet. She worked in the Washington, D.C., area for many years, but returned to Minnesota to be closer to her family. Carolyn is survived by her mother. Debra U. Uthus Yared, AAS-’89, of Woodbridge, Virginia, passed away on July 10, 2020, at age 57. Debra was born on Aug. 21, 1962, at the U.S. Army Hospital in Tehran, Iran, and when her family returned to the United States, she attended Ft. Lauderdale Oral Boarding School for the Deaf. Upon completion of her primary education, she attended the Model Secondary School for the Deaf and enrolled at Gallaudet where she met her husband, Michael. Debra accepted an administrative position at the Department of Energy where she worked for 20 years and was awarded for outstanding performance. Debra is survived by her mother, stepmother, husband, two sons and a daughter.

1991 Thomas Heath Geurkink, ’91, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, passed away on Jan. 3, 2020, at age 55. Tom was born on Nov. 16, 1964. He graduated from Bartlesville (Okla.) High School, attended East Central University (Ada, Oklahoma), and National Technical Institute for the Deaf.

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1992

1995

Jacqueline Ann Enos, E-’92, passed away on April 25, 2020, at the age of 52. Jackie was born on Dec. 23, 1967, in Provincetown, Massachusetts. She attended Marconi School for the Deaf (Wellfleet) and graduated from Boston School for the Deaf where she loved playing basketball and softball.

Joanne Jackowski, G-’95, passed away on March 20, 2020, at age 67. Joanne was born on Sept. 27, 1952. She graduated from SUNY Cortland with a degree in speech pathology and audiology, continued her education in ASL at Rochester Institute of Technology/National Technical Institute for the Deaf and received her Comprehensive Skills Certificate from the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf. Joanne was awarded her master’s degree in ASL interpretation/special communication education from Gallaudet. She worked as an ASL instructor at Aurora of CNY and Onondaga Community College (Syracuse); obtained additional training so that she was certified to interpret in medical as well as legal venues; and established special educational services for the Deaf in Chicago, Honolulu and Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania. While a member of the faculty at Bloomsburg University, Joanne formed IMAGE, a theatre for the deaf, with actors using sign language, costumes, and set designs to present plays to Deaf and hearing audiences simultaneously. She broadened her interpreting skills in the classrooms of BOCES, Syracuse University and OCC in disciplines as diverse as poetry, engineering, visual arts and political science. She interpreted for internationally recognized speakers at the Syracuse University Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. For three years, Joanne developed curricula at the University of Hawaii. Joanne was instrumental in establishing the Central New York RID chapter and served on its board of directors for many years. She was also the National RID Region I managing representative, coordinating the activities of 14 states in the Northeast.

Elizabeth Bryan Seebeck, G-’92, passed away on Oct. 11, 2019, at age 54. Elizabeth was born in West Point, Mississippi, on Aug. 9, 1965. She graduated from Vanderbilt University in 1987 with a degree in education and received her master’s degree from Gallaudet. Elizabeth was a huge proponent of Montessori-based education and served on the Oglesby Montessori Foundation, which supports and advocates for public Montessori programs within Chicago Public Schools. Elizabeth is survived by her mother, husband, and four children.

1993 John Francis Dunsmore, ’93, of Martin County, Florida, passed away on Aug. 18, 2019, at age 54. He was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Nov. 22, 1964. John graduated from Edina High School in 1985, and received his master’s degree from the University of Minnesota. While at Gallaudet, John was a brother of the Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity. John enjoyed traveling everywhere, being with friends and was a diehard Minnesota Vikings fan. He will be remembered for his cunning wit and his fierce ability to love others. He is survived by his wife, a daughter and a son. Laureen C. Baskerville, ’93, passed away on June 29, 2020.

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1996

1998

Samuel Lee Weber, ’96 & G-’99, passed away on Aug. 14, 2019, at the age of 54. Samuel was born on Dec. 29, 1964 in Boise, Idaho. He graduated from the Idaho School for the Deaf and Blind (Gooding). For six years he worked at Gallaudet’s Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center before joining the faculty in the former Department of Family and Consumer (Child) Studies in 2005 and then serving as lecturer and coordinator of Gallaudet’s Family and Child Studies program in the Department of Social Work. Samuel was involved in several international initiatives for deaf children, notably in Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. He also served as an assistant coach of the Gallaudet women’s basketball team for two seasons, head coach of the Model Secondary School for the Deaf boys’ basketball team for two seasons, and assistant coach of the same team for one season. In addition, he coached soccer at Kendall Demonstration Elementary School. Professor Weber was much-loved by his students and is remembered as a dedicated, open-minded, welcoming and knowledgeable educator. He is survived by his wife and children.

Stephanie DeJaunce Scott, ’98, of Wilson, North Carolina, passed away on March 18, 2020, at age 48. Stephanie was born in Winston-Salem. She graduated with a Master of Arts Degree in Deaf Education and a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Gallaudet. Stephanie was a Deaf services specialist/ advocate for the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (Wilson).

1997 Traci Whitworth Williams, ’97, of Fremont, California, passed away on Nov. 25, 2019, at age 53. At Gallaudet, Traci was the founder and member of Delta Zeta sorority. Traci worked as a cottage counselor at the California School for the Deaf (Berkeley) and as an ASL instructor at Irvington High School. In October 2019. She is survived by her parents, step-parents, and a daughter.

2005 Louise Taufer Lyon, G-’05, of Spring, Texas, passed away on March 18, 2020, at age 73. Louise was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, on August 14, 1946. Louise received her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Brigham Young University, her master’s degree at Gallaudet and she worked as a nurse for 36 years. Louise is survived by her companion, David, two sons and three daughters.

2007 Mien Jun “Christina” Lin, G-’07, passed away on Dec. 31, 2019.

2010 Michael Alfredo Gonzales, E-’10, passed away on March 13, 2020, at age 33. Michael was born on April 3, 1986, in Lamesa, Texas. He graduated in 2005 from Coronado High School where he excelled in swimming. He attended SouthWest Collegiate Institute for the Deaf (Big Spring, Texas), where he received a degree in art and media design. Michael assisted in designing games and was a moderator with his online Deaf and Hard of Hearing Gaming community. He is survived by his parents and two sisters.

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2011 Carey R. Heisey, E-’11, passed away on June 26, 2020.

2014 Matthew Corwyn Harris, E-’14, of Houston, Texas, passed away on April 5, 2020, at age 28. He was born on Aug. 11, 1991, at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. Matthew attended Rustburg High School (Virginia) and attended Gallaudet for two years. He worked as a welder and played semi-professional football. He is survived by his son, daughter, mother, father and three sisters.

2015 Tyler James Lewis, E-’15, passed away on March 25, 2020.

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