On 19 October 2004, PEN-International director DeCaro formally introduced Dr. T. Alan Hurwitz to members of the JFD Board as the new RIT Vice President for NTID and Dean/CEO of NTID. The JFD Officers present included:
It was resolved that the JFD and PEN-International would work together to find ways to improve the postsecondary education of students who are deaf in Japan.