Visiting scholar from Mexico researching AI and sign languages

The Office of International Affairs is pleased to announce that Nestor Aldrete Ochoa, from Guadalajara, Mexico, is on campus from March 11 to April 4, 2024 as an International Visiting Scholar (IVS), conducting research in the discipline of Sign Language Applications. His faculty liaison and mentor is Dr. Raja Kushalnagar, director of the B.S. in Information Technology and M.S. in Accessible Human-Centered Computing programs.

As an IVS at Gallaudet, Ochoa’s goals are to gain theoretical understanding of the nature of artificial intelligence (AI) and sign languages in the context of deaf communication; identify the history, evolution and current state of AI and sign language applications; and to immerse himself in deaf culture and sign language communication at Gallaudet.

Ochoa is the founder and CEO of NeuralWorks, an assistive technology company that breaks down communication barriers for deaf and hard of hearing people by offering real-time sign language translation and accessible sign language education, thereby enabling effective communication and early language acquisition and promoting cognitive development and social integration.

Faculty and staff who would like to bring foreign researchers and scholars to campus to enrich their classroom experience or conduct joint/collaborative research can find out more about the IVS program at https://gu.live/LSThk, or by contacting B. Mutisya Nzyuko, IVS coordinator, at intlsupport@gallaudet.edu.