From the NTID President's Office - April 2023

Submitted by Rick Postl

Admissions is working with the bulk of admitted students towards their enrollment decision. Admitted Regular Decision students received their financial aid packages in early March, and are becoming more inquisitive with the May 1 enrollment deadline looming. As of March 1, we have admitted 336 students and are within the averages for the past five years. Work continues with prospective students who still are working on their applications, and reaching out to those who have yet to learn about RIT. There also are students who are just beginning to think about life after high school, and we are looking to capture their attention. There will be a number of open house and campus visitors in the coming months. Be sure to say hello to our campus guests and let them know they will be joining an outstanding community.

Submitted by Denise Kavin

• We are pleased to welcome Charles McFadden as the new senior director for Pre-College Outreach, and David Strom as the new director for Project Fast Forward.
• Our first ever Deaf Employment Summit is June 7-9 with approximately 100 participants coming to campus. This is being organized collaboratively by NTID, Gallaudet University, Communication Services for the Deaf, and the National Association of the Deaf.
• We are hosting a Project Fast Forward training for teachers and counselors from schools across the country June 25-30 with approximately 50 participants.

Submitted by Bryan Hensel

April is a busy month for the Office of External Affairs. We hope you’ll join us for these events:

• April 2: Dyer Arts Center Exhibit Opening: The Big Read Exhibit. Join for the unveiling of The Big Read exhibit featuring works from deaf Ukrainian artists, and for a reception with Ilya Kaminsky, author of “Deaf Republic,” the book featured as a part of the NTID Big Read program. “Deaf Republic” explores the themes of language, power, and community and encourages people from diverse backgrounds to experiment with poetry as a means of expressing their own experiences of language, power, and community. The reception is 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. in the Dyer Arts Center.
• April 3-4: VR Taskforce Meeting. Please be sure to say hello and thank you to the many Vocational Rehabilitation professionals who will be on campus for their second VR Taskforce meeting. The goal for the group is to enhance collaboration and coordination between NTID and our VR partners, helping ensure we collectively best serve current and prospective RIT/NTID students. Special thanks to Theresa Johnson and Denise Hampton for coordinating this effort.
• April 12: Deaf Night at RMSC. RIT/NTID is partnering with Rochester Museum & Science Center for Deaf Night, 4-7 p.m., Wednesday, April 12, at RMSC, 657 East Ave., Rochester. The event will provide an accessible and friendly experience for deaf and hard-of-hearing people in the community. Deaf Night is an exclusive evening exploring RMSC’s offerings of science, technology, and hands-on programming. Interpreting services will be provided pro bono by students in NTID’s Bachelor of Science in interpreting program.
• April 20: Edmund Lyon Memorial Lectureship with T. Alan Hurwitz. NTID welcomes T. Alan Hurwitz, NTID’s first president and the 10th president of Gallaudet University. He will share thoughts on his career in academia and discuss his new book, “Let’s Go In: My Journey to a University Presidency.” A limited number of Hurwitz’s books will be available free of charge on a first come, first served basis. The lecture is 4:30-5:30 p.m. in the Dyer Arts Center, with a book signing to follow.
• April 25: Next Big Ideal Competition Finale. Join as our Next Big Idea competition team finalists present their ideas for products and businesses that will serve the community. The competition is 6:30-9:30 p.m. in the CSD Student Development Center, rooms 1300/1310. Door prizes will be awarded. Special thanks to our sponsor, ZVRS/Purple.
• April 27: NTID Retiree Reception. NTID celebrates the Class of 2023 faculty and staff retirees 12:30-2:00 p.m. the Dyer Arts Center. Please join in thanking your colleagues for their many years of service to RIT/NTID, and in wishing them well as they embark on the next chapter in their lives. Heavy hors d’oeuvres provided.
• April 27-29: NTID Foundation and Alumni Association board meetings. Be sure to say hello and thank you to members of the alumni and foundation boards who provide their time, talent, and treasure to support NTID and the many outstanding students who study here. The boards meet twice annually and are critical in helping secure financial support for our students, and provide guidance on a variety of topics that will impact the future of NTID.

Submitted by John Macko

• Regina Kiperman-Kiselgof and Amy Stornello presented on Training Resources and Career Coaching for the Deaf (TRACCD) twice in February to 36 VR counselors from Region 1-5 Regional Coordinators for the Deaf (RCD) in Illinois.
• A DreamWorks Information Session was held in February, where 51 participants learned about DreamWorks’ internship program and their Abilities Employee Resource Group. The session was available to all majors of all degree levels, including AAS, BFA/BS, and MFA/MS.
• Practice Interview Week: 22 students from business, computing, engineering, MSSE, and visual communications met with representatives from The Learning Center for the Deaf, PNC, Sorenson, Wegmans, Denise Reed-Lamoreaux, Kimley-Horn and Signing Animation. This was a great opportunity for our students to improve their interviewing skills.
• Kari Campos-Hamilton, Pam Christopher, and Beth Karbowski attended the Women’s Leadership Summit in February, organized by Saunders College of Business.
• Employer Partnerships:
  • Dawn Lucas met with Kenya Taylor from Edward Jones to discuss summer 2024 Summer Internship/Rotational Development program. She also met with the U.S. Army Civilian Career Management Activity, who is interested in virtual/in-person information sessions on federal employment/resumes. 
  • John Macko, Miranda Harms, and Nanci Shrager from California School for the Deaf – Riverside met with Sarah Emerson from Garner Holt Education to discuss potential opportunities for NTID students. Garner Holt Education through Imagination is a team of educators and industry professionals dedicated to producing world-class educational environments, programs, products and resources to provide students with a strong foundation in creativity, innovation, technology and entrepreneurship to keep pace with our nation’s need to prepare students who are college and career ready in the areas of science, technology, engineering, arts, and math. Garner Holt Productions, Inc. is the world’s leading manufacturer of theme park animatronics. They are known for outstanding design and manufacture of animatronics, show action equipment, special effects and themed environments.
  • Procter & Gamble did an hour-long virtual info/Q&A session for precision manufacturing technology and applied mechanical technology students regarding the specialized internship they've created for NTID students.
  • Emma Bixler from Corps THAT met with 20-30 students. Corps THAT works to support the inclusion of deaf and hard-of-hearing participants in conservation corps and outdoor programs.
• Recent Events:
  • Amtrak hosted an information session March 9 for students to learn about opportunities in 2024.
  • The 8th Deaf Employment Summit webinar “Infinity & Beyond” took place March 9, and was hosted by Gallaudet University in collaboration with NTID, Communication Service for the Deaf, and National Association of the Deaf. The webinar featured a panel of aerospace personnel, including RIT/NTID alumna Apurva Varia, ’79, mission operations director.
  • NCCC hosted a Roundtable Discussion on Wednesday, March 22. Students learned how to build a successful career from three alumni:
    • Blake Trauger, ’06, ’08, business team leader at Mack Trucks
    • Cassie Burton, ’16, environmental chemist at Eurofins
    • Joanne Karayiannidis, ’02, district director at U.S. Department of Labor

Submitted by Maria Ocasio

Join me in welcoming our new colleagues and congratulating those who have changed to other positions:

New hires:

• Sydney Lyons, captionist I, Department of Access Services
• Krystina Ho, marketing communications specialist, Deaf Health Care and Biomed Science Hub

Position change:

• Gabriel Ponte-Fleary, assistant director of visual communications, Department of Access Services

• Congratulations to ASLIE’s Bachelor of Science in Interpreting program, which will receive the Provost’s Excellence in Student Learning Outcomes Award at a ceremony 4:30 p.m. Thursday, April 13, in Ingle Auditorium, with a reception in the Al Davis Rom in the Student Alumni Union. All members of the RIT community are encouraged to RSVP by Friday, April 7.
• Nominees for the 2022-23 Staff Council Awards from NTID include:
  • Jessica Contreras ’12, Research Program Coordinator
  • Eliza Fowler ’16, ’22, Interpreter
  • Denise Hampton ’10, Assistant Director of Vocational Rehab Services
  • Brittany Taylor ’09, Manager, Interpreting Team for COS and CHST
• Mike Kane, Charles (Isaac) Coleman, and Philip Pham received a Dodge Faculty Grant to create personal finance videos featuring RIT/NTID students.
• Rain Bosworth’s proposal submission to the AdvanceRIT’s Connect Partnership Grants Program, “Rochester Deaf Women in Research Group activities,” has been approved and will receive $3,425 in funding.
• John Macko, director of NTID’s Co-op and Career Center, has been named head coach of the USA Deaf Men’s Volleyball team. Macko was a player for the Men’s USA Deaf Volleyball team for 14 years. He competed in the Pan American Games, World Championships, and Deaflympics in Russia, Bulgaria, Denmark, Italy, New Zealand, and Venezuela. He also won the silver medal in Sofia, Bulgaria. In this current assignment, Macko will lead the team to the Deaflympics in Japan in 2025.
• The following NTID personnel earned the Cultural Humility Certificate from RIT’s Division of Equity and Inclusion:
  • Kira Avery, interpreter
  • Joshua Baker, captionist I
  • Bonnie Bastian, senior speech/language professional
  • Barbara Fagenbaum, captionist III
  • Alexis Lazaro, visiting lecturer
  • Carlton Mangonon, interpreter
  • Natalie Mascarenas, associate interpreter
  • Misty Nabewaniec, associate interpreter
  • Joan Naturale, NTID librarian
  • Meg Robertson, associate interpreter
• Kathleen Brady, Kelly Metz-Davis, Mellissa Youngman, and Mark Pfuntner of NTID’s business studies department, won the Best-In-Track Award (Student Support and Success category) for their presentation, “Best Practices for Developing Online Videos for Deaf/Hard of Hearing Students” at the Online Learning Consortium’s Accelerate Conference in October 2022.
• Patrick Graham, department chair for the Master of Science in Secondary Education program at NTID, was elected president of the Association of College Educators for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing at the San Antonio Conference on Feb. 3, 2023. Graham will lead the association for the next year.
• Recognizing the leadership and expertise of Marissa Woodruff and Brian Haak, with the support of the Office of External Affairs, for the homecoming of alumnus Daniel Durant to RIT/NTID. They planned a multi-day event that included a showing of the movie “CODA” with a Q and A session afterwards, as well as opportunities for students and alumni to interact with the actor. Not only has the video of the event been watched over 50,000 times, both Daniel and his "Dancing with the Stars" partner Britt Stewart shared it on their social media pages (~150k followers each). Daniel and his interpreter Gabriel shared that this was the most welcome they have ever felt and are extremely impressed with the professionalism of RIT/NTID.

• NIH’s National Institute of General Medical Sciences featured a story on RIT/NTID’s U-RISE program.
• RIT/NTID students Anna Nack, and Gavin and Ethan Morrobel earned scholarships from Cochlear America. More on these students here:
  • Rochester First
  • Hearing Health Foundation
  • RIT News
  • Spectrum News
• National Deaf High School Theatre Festival scheduled for SLC this month will feature Sunshine 2.0.
  • The festival also is featured on the Deaf West website.
• Good Day Rochester interviewed Jill Bradbury and Monroe County Library’s Alicia Gunther about plans for the Big Read: NTID.
• Education Week featured a story about STEM-specific signs.
• A story on a middle school robotics tournament sponsored by NTID’s Regional STEM Center at Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind.
• Deaf Day of Play was featured in various outlets:
  • RIT News
  • WHEC TV
  • YouTube
  • Spectrum News
  • 13 WHAM TV
• RIT/NTID partners with Rochester Museum & Science Center for Deaf Night, April 12
• Sunshine 2.0’s performance in Seattle, Washington, was featured in Deaf Spot Light
• An article by alumna Christine Sun Kim was featured in a UK publication, Art Hub.
• Thomas Warfield’s 25-year concert was featured in City Newspaper and WXXI.
• WBFO interviewed Keven Poore and Danny Maffia for an article on accessibility during emergencies.
• Danny Maffia’s site visit to Italy was featured in this Italian publication.
• Alumnus Daniel Durant’s visit to campus was covered by the following news outlets:
  • YouTube
  • 13 WHAM TV