Three new Trustees welcomed to the Gallaudet University Board of Trustees 

The Gallaudet University Board of Trustees is pleased to welcome three new trustees: Edna Conway, Dr.Leah K. Cox, and Melissa Draganac-Hawk, ’98 & G-’01. Each of them will bring the full weight of their experience and wisdom to support Gallaudet University as it navigates its journey and thrives. They officially begin their term at the October Board of Trustees meeting. 
 

Edna Conway is a former Chief Security Officer at Microsoft and Cisco. She has served on several corporate and nonprofit organization boards, including Fusion Risk Management and Attabotics. She also advised several advisory boards, such as the Council on Cybersecurity at the New York University Tandon School of Engineering. Her experience includes serving as a consultant on operational-related matters relating to compliance, cybersecurity, and intellectual property.  
 

Dr. Leah Cox is currently the Vice Provost for Equity, Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She brings a wealth of experience and expertise in higher education administration and diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Previously, she was Vice President for Inclusion and Institutional Equity at Towson University, and Assistant to the President for Diversity and Inclusion at the University of Mary Washington. Dr. Cox is very familiar with Gallaudet University as she worked here for several years as a Career Center coordinator. She also assisted with establishing the Office of Multicultural Affairs, as well as several programs. 

Melissa Draganac-Hawk is the Head of School at the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf (PSD). She moved up the ranks within PSD, starting as an ASL specialist in Early Childhood Education. Ms. Draganac-Hawk is an alumna of Gallaudet University and Lexington School for the Deaf. A first generation American, born to deaf Peruvian parents, she grew up communicating in Peruvian Sign Language. She has taken on leadership roles in several deaf organizations, including Deaf Women United and the National Council of Hispano Deaf and Hard of Hearing (now Council de Manos), and served for 14 years on the Board of Directors, including three terms as President, of the National Association of the Deaf. Additionally, she has served as a consultant to K-12 institutions and organizations on diversity, equity, and inclusion.