Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Raja Kushalnagar

Dr. Raja Kushalnagar, professor and director of the Information Technology program in the school of Science, Technology, Accessibility, Mathematics, and Public Health (STAMP), was interviewed late last spring for Microsoft’s Fireside Chat series. Dean Halstead, Director of Security, Compliance, Identity, and Accessibility at Microsoft, sat down with Dr. Kushalnagar for a far-ranging conversation. 

During this interview, Dr. Kushalnagar said that Gallaudet’s Information Technology program has 60 students and graduates 10 to 15 students per year. Alumni typically obtain employment in the public and private sectors. He shared his experience and that of his students during the pandemic. He also emphasized the importance of captioning all videos, improving audio clarity, offering sign language support, and  creating software, such as Microsoft Studio, that allows students to submit their assignments in ASL through any learning management system. Finally, Dr. Kushalngar encouraged more education-industry collaboration, as well as mentoring and internship opportunities. Watch the Fireside Chat.

Dr. Kushalnagar also has been invited to address National Security Agency Central Security Service employees and affiliates on October 20 during the fourth annual NSA/CSS Accessibility Symposium for Information Technology. He will share his success of driving accessibility and playing a role in information communication access in academia here at Gallaudet and elsewhere. The symposium, with the theme “You are the Key”, will be both in-person and livestreamed.