Sean Maiwald

Sean Maiwald is a Lecturer II in the Master of Public Administration (MPA) program at Gallaudet University, where he teaches courses on data-based decision-making, leadership, and public management. His teaching and research focus on Deaf leadership, equity in governance, and the development of accessible, data-driven approaches to public service.

Sean holds a Master of Public Policy from The George Washington University and a Bachelor of Arts in Government from Gallaudet University. He is currently completing his Doctor of Public Administration at the University of Illinois Springfield, where his dissertation examines Deaf leadership and systemic accessibility in the public sector.

Before joining Gallaudet full-time, Sean served as a Managing Editor for the National Deaf Center on Postsecondary Outcomes at the University of Texas at Austin and as an adjunct instructor at Gallaudet, teaching courses in communication and general studies. His professional experience also includes legislative and policy work for the Council of the District of Columbia, where he helped draft, advocate for, and secure the establishment of the Office for the Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard of Hearing in Washington, D.C.—a landmark initiative expanding access and representation in local government.

Beyond academia, Sean is a Deaf entrepreneur and community leader. He co-founded the Virtual ASL Academy, a Deaf-owned tutoring and education company, and previously founded reFort, a tech startup launched during his graduate studies. He also served as President of the District of Columbia Association of the Deaf (DCAD), advancing policy, advocacy, and community engagement across the region.

Sean’s work bridges public administration, accessibility innovation, and leadership development—aimed at building a more inclusive and data-informed public sector.