NAD conference recap

Gallaudet University had a major presence at the 57th biennial conference of the National Association of the Deaf, held July 1-6 at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk in Chicago, Illinois. Nowhere was this better exemplified than the Gallaudet alumni reception on July 4, for which the hotel had to open an additional room to accommodate the overflow crowd. Khadijat Rashid, ’90, Provost; Brandi Rarus, Chief Communications and Undergraduate Admissions Officer; Caroline Solomon, Dean of the Faculty; and Rebecca Rydstrom, ’02, Director of Alumni Engagement, provided updates about the university to the estimated 300 people in the audience.

Six members of the Gallaudet University Alumni Association (GUAA) Board of Directors were in attendance. Besides Rydstrom, who serves as GUAA Executive Director, they were President Le Toudjida Allara, ’04 & G-’11; Home Region Board Member Thelma Schroeder, ’78 & G-’80; Middle Region Board Member José-Ovi Velasquez, AAS-’89 & ’04; West Region Board Member Richard Jacobs, ’91; and Board Member at Large Usherla DeBerry, ’99. Schroeder, Velasquez, and DeBerry represented GUAA at the NAD Council of Representatives (COR), which met Tuesday through Friday.

The World Federation of the Deaf held board meetings before, during, and after the NAD conference. WFD President Joseph Murray, along with WFD Board members Hjordis Haraldsdottir, Victoria Manning, and Kasper Bergman, presented a workshop on July 3 about WFD and its work, focusing on human rights, United Nations policy advocacy, WFD’s action plan for 2023 to 2027, and the organization’s recently-adopted Declaration on the Rights of Deaf Children. 

The National Association of State Agencies of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (NASADHH) also met prior to the NAD conference. 

At least 30 Gallaudet faculty, staff, alumni, and students presented at workshops or conducted educational research. Some highlights:

• Evon J. Black, ’87 & G-’96, Associate Director of the Center for Black Deaf Studies, gave a presentation entitled “Unveiling Untold Black Deaf Stories.”Her presentation elevated awareness of Mrs. Louise B. Miller, an overlooked hero of educational and racial justice in America. This largely untold story is of the power of a mother’s love and how Mrs. Miller’s courage and determination profoundly impacted generations of Black Deaf people and helped to reshape our nation’s educational landscape.

• Zachary Ennis, ’13, and Antony A.L. McLetchie, ’92 presented on “How to Combat Deaf Hunger: Strategies and Solutions.” They described the genesis of the Rochester Food Kitchen, based at Rochester School for the Deaf. 

• Dr. Audrey Cooper; Dr. Caroline Solomon; Aaron Kubey; Philip “PJ” Mattiacci, ’98; Suzy Rosen Singleton, E-’98; and Lisa Bothwell presented on advancing emergency management between federal agencies and non-governmental organizations.
  
• Sarah Miller, E-’07 & G-’21, and Joseph “JoJo” Lopez III, ’10 & G-’17 presented on DECLARE (Deaf Children’s Language Rights Everywhere), a newly-formed campaign to end language deprivation and preserve Deaf children’s human rights to sign languages, Deaf cultures, and Deaf communities. This movement is led by the Motion Light Lab, one of the university’s six research centers, in partnership with over 20 Deaf-led organizations.

• Norma Morán, Leticia Arellano, ’94, and Dr. Franklin Torres, ’00 & G-’02 conducted interviews with Chicago area Latine Deaf community members, and presented a workshop, “Roots of Resilience: Understanding Our Semillas (Seeds)” that aimed to illuminate the long-invisible history of the Latine community in the U.S., including the oft-overlooked Deaf Latine community.

See the full NAD conference workshop schedule.

The NAD Council of Representatives adopted five priorities for the next two years: address deaf youth well-being, deaf seniors issues, DECLARE (Deaf Children’s Language Rights Everywhere), access to services for deaf/disabled citizens and enhancing services for the deafblind community, and access to emergency responders and emergency notifications.

Lisa Rose, ’97 & G-’01, was elected NAD President for the 2024-2026 term. Stephanie Hakulin, ’00, and Milmaglyn Morales, E-’02, were reelected Vice President and Secretary, respectively. The NAD Board also includes James “Dino” Christianson Jr., Treasurer; Nicholas Lalanne, ’00 & G-’16 and Jacob Leffler, ’10 & G-’15, Region I representatives; Kevin Ryan and Chris Haulmark, Region II representatives; Michael Deuel, E-’00 and Christopher Patterson,  Region III representatives; Laura Kim, ’01 and Joseph “JoJo” Lopez III, ’10 & G-’17, Region IV representatives; and Dawnmarie Caggiano, affiliate representative. Dr. Bobbie Beth Scoggins, E-’77 & H-’16, is the organization’s interim chief operating officer. 

Several alumni received awards during the conference, including Brianne Burger, G-’06 (Knights of the Flying Fingers); Mark Douglas Hill, ’75 and Patricia Kuglitsch, ’76 (Golden Rose Award); Victorica Monroe, ’16 & G-’20 (Literary Excellence Award); Sherri Collins, ’88 (Senior Service Award); and David T. “DT” Bruno, ’18 (Service to Youth Award). 

Outgoing NAD President Jenny Buechner, ’02, bestowed the President’s Award on Vice President Stephanie Hakulin, Secretary Milmaglyn Morales, and outgoing Treasurer Michelle Cline, and on several of her predecessors as NAD President: Dr. T. Alan Hurwitz; Dr. Roslyn Rosen, ’62; Benjamin J. Soukup, E-’74 & H-’00; Andrew J. Lange, ’83; Dr. Bobbie Beth Scoggins, E-’77 & H-’16; Chris Estrin; and Melissa Draganac-Hawk, ’98 & G-’01. Finally, Dr. Jonathan Henner, E-’05, was honored posthumously with the NAD Distinguished Service Award.

Alumna Naima Boudreaux, ’19, and current student Joshua Wojnar placed first and second, respectively, in the NAD Pitch Competition held on July 4. Boudreaux won $7,500 for her pitch, “Deaf Mental Health and Wellness Hub.” Wojnar was awarded $2,500 for “DeafEco.” Wojnar also won third place in the Student BisonTank competition on April 25.

Rochester Institute of Technology won the 18th biennial NAD College Bowl competition on July 5, coming from behind to defeat Gallaudet, 108-107. Gallaudet was represented by current students Courtney Bronson and Frederick Scott and recent graduates Jared Herman, ’24 and Jonathan Summers, ’24. Casey Johnson-Pasqua, ’18, served as coach. 

The 2026 NAD conference will be held in the San Francisco Bay Area. The dates have not yet been announced.

Photo credit: Thelma Schroeder, ’78 & G-’80