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Naiara Larrakoetxea, a PhD candidate at the University of the Basque Country who studies Deaf political culture, had often felt isolated as an academic. That changed when she arrived at Gallaudet this fall as a Deaf Studies Incubator Fellow through a new program sponsored by the Mellon Foundation that brings emerging scholars to campus to pursue intersectional, interdisciplinary projects. 

The logo for the Deaf Studies Incubator features two connected hands and the words, "Critique, Create, Collaborate"
The deadline to apply for next year’s fellowships is March 15. Click here for more information.

Suddenly, Larrakoetxea found herself invited to events and into conversations. “The first emails in which I saw the names of bibliographic references talking to me left me very shocked, but it turned out that they were all human and also very nice,” says Larrakoetxea, who was initially overwhelmed by all of the offers of help. “I didn’t know what kind of mentoring I needed because I didn’t have this kind of support ever.”

There has been a similarly warm welcome for Amelia Palmer, a post-BA researcher focused on groundbreaking research on Black Deaf Canadians. Dr. Joseph Hill, G-’04 & PhD ’11, from the Center for Black Deaf Studies (CBDS), Dr. Jannelle Legg, G-’11, from the Schuchman Center for Deaf Documentary Studies, and other faculty members have provided crucial guidance for her archival research. “I appreciate my mentors since we meet weekly to review my work and engage in critical thinking,” says Palmer, who is especially grateful that they have kept her on track every time she has encountered a challenge or experienced self-doubt.

Being the first two Incubator fellows ever has meant that Larrakoetxea and Palmer have had to field a lot of questions about the program. “People are generally intrigued about the meaning of ‘incubator’ and I am pleased to explain it,” Palmer says. Larrakoetxea puts it like this: “As in a baby incubator, we get a little support for a time so that, in the end, we can become stronger and independent.” 

That support takes the form of a stipend ($41,700 for post-BA fellows and $48,600 for post-MA fellows), a housing allowance, office space, access to campus facilities, and a robust training and mentorship program in data collection and analysis, writing, publishing, teaching, digital storytelling, and more.

A group of eight people stand outside of the Washburn Arts building on a sunny day.
Deaf Studies Incubator Fellows Naiara Larrakoetxea and Amelia Palmer had a chance to connect with artist Christine Sun Kim when she gave a presentation on campus.

One of their kickoff activities this year was a chat with artist Christine Sun Kim, who gave a presentation at an event honoring the 30th anniversary of Deaf Studies at Gallaudet. “I had queries regarding her utilization of art and music composition that integrates deaf culture and sign language for both hearing and deaf audiences,” Palmer says. It got Palmer thinking about how she could convert her own research into art.

These are the kinds of ideas that fellows are urged to explore, explains Dr. H-Dirksen L. Bauman, Co-Director of the Incubator, and Program Director of Deaf Studies. He plans to increase programming for fellows that allows them to learn about potential visual methodologies and technologies, including mapping. “They can render visible what had previously been suppressed,” he says.

There is a fundamental flexibility to the program, which is what initially appealed to Larrakoetxea. “It adapts to the needs of each person and their objectives,” she says. That has allowed the Fellows to chart their own paths this year.

Palmer has been combing through photos, newsletters, and other documents to piece together the stories of Black Deaf individuals in Ontario in the 18th and 19th centuries. Just recently, she attended a conference in Ethiopia, where she was able to connect with other scholars, and dig into themes such as education and deaf mobility.

For Larrakoetxea, the focus has been on current events. “To have the Center for Democracy in Deaf America (CDDA) organizing activities on campus, to be able to live firsthand the historical political moment we are in Washington D.C., and on top of all that to have experts in Deaf Studies every day in every topic of interest, is something that cannot happen anywhere else or any other time,” she says.

Incubator Co-Director Dr. Teresa Blankmeyer Burke, who is Director of the School of Arts and Humanities, notes that Larrakoetxea quickly became a visible fixture at events and classes this year. “Her perspective on the Presidential election and its aftermath has been greatly appreciated by students, faculty, staff and alumni,” she says.

Hosting the Incubator at Gallaudet is a reminder to everyone to find points of connection. CDDA Director Dr. Brendan Stern, ’05, plans to highlight the benefits of interdisciplinary collaboration at the upcoming Gallaudet Distinguished Debate, which is co-sponsored by the Incubator, the Chief Bilingual Officer, and the Faculty Senate.

Expect more events next year, as well as more fellows (find application info here). “I would say we’re just getting started,” Bauman says.

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