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On the Green—A publication for Gallaudet faculty, teachers, and staffGallaudet University • 800 Florida Avenue NE, Washington, DC 20002-3695

ON THE GREENO C TO B E R 1 9 , 2 0 0 7 • V O L . 3 7 . N O . 2 1

IN THIS ISSUE

Participants show theirsigning pride in CelebrateASL!

Campus tour competitionannounced; cash prizes to beawarded

When visitors see Gallaudet’s campus forthe first time, they are often struck by thehistoric buildings, sculptures by deaf artists,state-of-the-art facilities, and picturesquelandscaping. Many say that they had noidea that Gallaudet had such a beautifulcampus. The Office of EnrollmentMarketing would like to share this well-keptsecret about Gallaudet and is inviting stu-dents, faculty, staff, and alumni to help bylaunching the Campus Tour Competition.

From now until November 19, 2007,Enrollment Marketing is accepting videosand flash presentations showcasing thebeauty of Kendall Green. The communitywill judge the entries, which may be up tofour minutes, and choose three winners.The top three choices will receive awards of$300, $200, and $100.

For more information, including rulesand guidelines, go to admissions.gallaudet.edu/campustour.

This photo of a flower with Chapel Hall inthe background is an example of a uniquelook at the Gallaudet campus. The Officeof Enrollment Marketing hopes to encour-age more such creative perspectives withits Campus Tour Competition.

S ix new members have been appoint-

ed to GallaudetUniversity’s Boardof Trustees, BoardChair BenjaminSoukup announcedOctober 5. Fourvacancies on theboard remain.

Named to theboard are: Dr. JorgeL. Díaz-Herrera,Dr. Lawrence R.Fleischer, Jeffrey L.Humber, Jr., Dr. Richard Ladner, James R.Macfadden, and Marlee Matlin. (Note: Goto news.gallaudet.edu/?ID=11826 for briefbiographic sketches of the new board mem-bers.)

Far-reaching initiatives that would trans-form Gallaudet’s campus into a model com-

munity of support for diversity wereunveiled by President Davila to the Boardof Trustees on October 5.

The Gallaudet Democratic Initiativesand The President’s Agenda for Diversitythat Dr. Davila outlined to the board is a

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Board of Trustees names six new members; President Davila unveils diversity initiatives

(From left) Student Body Government (SBG) Vice President Sara Collins and trustees PamelaLloyd-Ogoke and Christopher Sullivan chat at a reception for students and Board of Trusteemembers on October 4. The event was held in the SBG offices in HMB.

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O fficial enrollment figures for the fall semester have been released by the Office of Institutional Research. The

total enrollment for the current semester is1,633 students: 1,080 undergraduates, 414graduates, and 139 professional studies stu-dents. New students admitted to Gallaudetrepresent 472 of the grand total.

The enrollment for fall 2006 was 1,823students—1,206 undergraduates, 430 grad-uates, and 187 taking professional studies—560 of whom were new students.

Although this year’s new undergraduateclass is smaller than previous years, theapplicants for enrollment who were turneddown almost doubled those of past years,said Interim Dean of EnrollmentManagement Catherine Andersen.Accordingly, statistics show the quality ofthis year’s new undergraduates is markedlyhigher than previous years. Reflecting theUniversity’s higher admissions standards, 81percent of new undergraduates were admit-

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Enrollment figures show changing student body

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comprehensive project that would be devel-oped and implemented within two years, tocreate a climate of respect for all people andideas.

Davila said the directives, which wouldrespond to concerns about campus diversityexpressed by the Middle States Commissionon Higher Education, as well as theUniversity’s own objectives, build upon thediversity plan that was handed to him whenhe became president in January. While thatplan was filled with good intentions, saidDavila, it was criticized for lacking goals,and therefore, accountability.

While Davila said he is “committed andserious” in leading the effort to see that theguide is successful, and he has many indi-viduals in his office working on campusdiversity issues, he emphasized that the job“can’t be only on the president’s shoulders,”

it must be campus-wide. Progress has been made. Last month,

Davila received recommendations from theDiversity and Healing workgroups. Theircentral recommendation was to engage anationally known consulting group underthe guidance of Dr. Christine Clark of theUniversity of Nevada, Las Vegas, to developand conduct a two-year process to improvethe University’s understanding of and com-mitment to diversity and multiculturalism.

Davila said he also wants a concentratedeffort on fulfilling the needs of deaf minori-ty children who are deaf. He said very littleis known about the academic achievementsof minority students and the problems theyencounter. Because statistics show they areamong the first to drop out of school, dataneeds to be gathered so Gallaudet knowswhat kind of programs can be developed tomeet their needs and keep them in school.He said he also wants to make fundingavailable to hold a national conference onthe needs of minority students in late 2008.

Davila also said Gallaudet must be aggres-sive in identifying young deaf studentsacross the nation. “They are the lifeline toour University, and without them we arenothing,” he said. He pointed out thatalmost every school in the nation has deafstudents, and Gallaudet must make themaware of the benefits it has to offer them.

Increasing scholarship support to attractto Gallaudet promising students who lackfinancial means for a college degree isanother of Davila’s goals. The Board ofTrustees gave a boost to the University’sscholarship by approving a one-time expen-diture from the endowment that moved $2million scholarship funds, which now standat $10 million.

In the coming weeks, Davila will bemeeting with groups on campus to sharethese plans and to gather final input. By themiddle of November, details of this two-year program will be introduced to thecommunity.

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Kendall GreenGallaudet University800 Florida Avenue, NEWashington, DC 20002-3695

Published bi-weekly for the staff, teachers, and facultyof Gallaudet University by the Office of PublicRelations.

Acting Director & Publications ManagerRoz Prickett

Editor & Photo EditorTodd Byrd

WriterRhea Yablon Kennedy

ContributorsDavid TossmanOscar Ocuto

Design/ProductionGraphic Design & Production

PrintingBelJean Printing

Gallaudet University is an equal opportunityemployer/educational institution and does notdiscriminate on the basis of race, color, sex,

national origin, religion, age, hearing status, disability,covered veteran status, marital status, personalappearance, sexual orientation, family responsibilities,matriculation, political affiliation, source of income,place of business or residence, pregnancy, childbirth,or any other unlawful basis.

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ON THE GREEN

A drive to better involve the community in the Capital City Market Development Project was launched this month. Anew website dedicated to the project explains that Gallaudet considers development of the Capital City Market,which is located across from Gallaudet’s 6th Street entrance, “an opportunity to enrich the neighborhood’s social,cultural, and economic fabric.” (LEFT) Student Anquinette Kimble displays a bottle of wine from the wide selectionat A. Litteri, Inc., an Italian grocery store in the market. (RIGHT) A selection of gourmet olives is another offering atLitteri. With the new website, presentations on campus on October 11 and 12, and a survey that all are invited tosubmit, Administration and Finance has invited the Gallaudet community to learn more and get involved with theproject. To view the website, go to gallaudet.edu/marketdevelopment.xml. To send comments or questions on theproject, email capitalcity@gallaudet.edu.

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“I appreciate your efforts. I can’t empha-size enough, this is something we need todo,” said board member Tom Humphries atthe conclusion of Davila’s presentation. “I’mconfident we’re going to get the results weneed.”

In other actions at its October meeting,the Board of Trustees:

• Accepted a gift of $4 million from theestate of Virginia Binns. According toLynne Murray, director of theDevelopment Office, Mrs. Binns was notmarried and had no dependents at thetime of her death. She had no connec-tion to Gallaudet other than the fact thather sister, Dorothy Binns, worked herein the 1930s, although a search of theUniversity’s Archives could find norecord of her employment.

• Approved a 3 percent increase in tuitionand board for the 2008-09 academicyear, but gave the University authority toadjust food service fees, which are sub-ject to frequent fluctuations in the mar-ket rate.

• Re-appointed board officers: Dr.Benjamin Soukup, chair; Frank Wu,vice-chair; Christopher Sullivan, secre-tary; and at-large members CherylHeppner and Dr. Harvey Goodstein.These individuals make up the board’sexecutive committee.

• Approved changes to the FacultyGuidelines to establish apromotion/tenure committee to ensurethat decisions in these areas regardingfaculty meet the necessary criteria.

• Approved the appointment of Dr. AlanCohen, medical director, chief executiveofficer, and chairman of the board of theNational Deaf Academy, to the Board ofAssociates.

Enrollment figurescontinued from page 1

ted with no English conditions—an increasefrom 59 percent last year; 15 percent of thisyear’s students meet the requirements forHonors-level English (though not necessari-ly enrollment in the Honors Program)—almost doubling last year’s figure of 8 per-cent; and 67 percent are enrolled in fresh-man English—up from 51 percent last year.Based on the math placement test, 25 per-cent of new students were admitted withoutconditions—up from 14 percent last year.

Undergraduate students make up 66 per-cent of the University’s total enrollment for2007—the same as last fall; graduate stu-dents represent 25 percent—slightly upfrom 24 percent last year; and professionalstudies students fill in the remaining 9 per-cent—10 percent last fall.

The undergraduate total is broken downas 1,018 degree-seeking students—com-pared with 1,138 for the fall 2006 semester;22 visiting, exchange, international internsand undergraduate special students—thesame as last fall; and 40 English LanguageInstitute students—six students less thanlast fall. In the undergraduate category,there are 226 new degree-seeking stu-dents—281 last fall; 176 first-time fresh-men—212 last fall; 46 transfers—67 lastfall; and four second-degree students—upfrom two last fall.

In the graduate student category, thereare 383 degree-seeking students—versus404 last fall; and 31 graduate special stu-dents—an increase of five students from ayear ago. Of these, 117 are new graduate

students—168 last fall; and 17 new gradu-ate special students—the same as last fall.

Professional studies students total 139this year—compared with 187 last year.(NOTE: Graduate special and professionalstudies figures include those students previ-ously categorized as graduate extension andinternational intern.) In this area, 74 stu-dents are new, an increase from 58 last year.

Diversity among United States studentsoverall has remained fairly consistent overthe past five years, the figures reveal. Of thisyear’s U.S. undergraduates, 12 percent areAfrican American, 6 percent areAsian/Pacific Islanders, 3 percent are NativeAmerican, 9 percent are Hispanic/Latino,70 percent are Caucasian, and 1 percent isunknown. U.S. graduate students breakdown to 8 percent African American, 4 per-cent Asian/Pacific Islanders, 1 percentNative American, 6 percentHispanic/Latino, 74 percent Caucasian, and8 percent unknown.

Another diversity-related statistic is thegrowth in cochlear implant users amongstudents enrolled at the University. Thisyear, among undergraduate students thereare 65 students with cochlear implants, 24of them being new students, whereas lastyear there were 55 undergraduates who usedcochlear implants, and 22 were new stu-dents. Percentage-wise, cochlear implantusers represent 11 percent of new under-graduates and 6 percent of all undergradu-ates. Last year, they represented 8 percent ofnew undergraduates and 5 percent ofundergraduates overall.

Archived enrollment statistics are avail-able online at www.gallaudet.edu/x2294.xml.

CorrectionThe photo of a group of govern-ment officials from Vietnam visit-ing KDES that appeared in theOctober 5 On the Green had anincorrect photo credit attached. Thephoto was taken by Clerc CenterPublic Relations and Publicationsstudent worker Yiqiao Wang. OTGregrets the error.

Going, Going, GoneFOR SALE: Beautiful 5-BR, 3 1/2-BA house, finishedbasement, deck, on quiet cul-de-sac, landscaped andwooded 1/3-acre lot, near Cheverly. See www.homes-database.com/PG6541947, agent Alan Johnson.

FREE TO GOOD HOME: Deaf American Bulldogpuppy, 10 wk. old male, NKC registered, Email ivani-cole@verizon.net.

ON THE GREEN October 19, 2007

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I n an August 30 email to the campus, President Davila said that Gallaudet faces “difficult challenges in the year

ahead,” including scrutiny by the MiddleStates Commission on Higher Educationand a tightening University budget. In thatmessage, Dr. Davila outlined six steps heplanned to take to meet new financial goals.These included capping total payrollexpenses for Fiscal Year 2008 at current lev-els, not awarding a general pay increase ifthe federal appropriation remains at currentlevels (which is expected), limiting meritincreases to between 2 and 4 percent, bal-ancing the utilities budget with additionalfunds, and preparing budgets that reflectthese measures.

Perhaps the most talked about item wasDavila’s statement that Gallaudet wouldhave “long term reductions in the totalnumber of employees, with an initial reduc-tion during FY 2008 of 3 percent of regularstatus employees.”

For more information on the president’sreduction in personnel plans, On the Greenspoke to Paul Kelly, vice president forAdministration and Finance.

OTG: The wording in Dr. Davila’s messagewas “reduction… of 3 percent of regularstatus employees (not positions but actualemployees).” What does this mean?

PK: It means that the University will needto reduce 30 actual people in order toachieve its budgetary goal for Fiscal Year2008. The current plan is to try to achieveas many cuts as possible through attrition—closing positions as employees move on orretire—but it is also possible that there willbe some layoffs.

OTG: Who might be affected by this?

PK: Staff are most likely to be affected.Because teaching and learning are prioritiesof Gallaudet, reductions in staff will occurbefore reductions in faculty.

OTG: Why is this cut necessary?

PK: This measure is to achieve the goal ofmaintaining the payroll at $107 million.This crunch is due in large part to nogrowth in the federal appropriation and areduction in the number of enrolled stu-dents over the past two years, which willtranslate into reduced tuition and auxiliaryrevenue. Two additional major fiscal chal-lenges are utility cost increases and the ris-ing cost of benefits.

OTG: How has this information beenshared with the community?

PK: These issues were discussed in the pres-ident’s budget memo to the campus com-munity and in his Town Hall meeting. It isall public information. I plan to keep thecommunity updated if and when there areany changes.

OTG: What is meant by “long term reduc-tions”? Does that mean layoffs could hap-pen in FY-’09 and beyond?

PK: Unless something changes on the rev-

Q and A with Paul Kelly offers information on staff reductionenue side, there will be some cuts. But wehope to reduce cuts with strategic planning.During Fiscal Year 2008 it is expected thatunits will develop staffing plans that will bemore closely aligned with the University’sstrategic objectives and avoid the creation ofmore staff positions. In addition, thePresident’s Management Team will need tomeet to discuss other options to achievestaffing reductions.

OTG: What else is the University doing tocut costs?

PK: I’m pleased to report that the campuscommunity has been careful with spendingin Fiscal Year 2007. Even though we tight-ened up at the midpoint of the fiscal year,we have seen actual reductions in discre-tionary non-payroll spending, includingtravel, general expenses, and furniture. Wewill probably do better in Fiscal Year 2008.We plan to work with a student-led groupand a group interested in sustainability totry to reduce energy consumption. Eventhough budgets are tightening, the commu-nity has come together to reduce costs.

Gallaudet joined in the celebration of the deaf community’s rich linguistic legacy during International Week of theDeaf, also known as Deaf Awareness Week, recognized September 24-30. In observance of the International Day ofSign Languages, a World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) initiative, Gallaudet’s Department of ASL and Deaf Studiesand the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) teamed up to host an event called Celebrate ASL! On the afternoonof September 28, community leaders mounted the historic steps of Chapel Hall to talk about linguistic struggles andtriumphs.

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Roving ReporterWhat is your favorite thing about Halloween?

It’s exciting to do somethingwe did when we were young,which is to wear costumesand get free candy! We wantto see everyone who dressesup on October 31 in theBison Shop for our annualcontest. Prizes will beawarded in several cate-gories.

Gallaudet Bison Shop staff(from left) Priscilla

O’Donnell, KatherineSpeigel, and Rock Lemery

The kids and their costumes.Nothing beats seeing a smileon their faces when you givethem candy!

Caroline Solomon, associate professor, Biology

Greeting the kids at myfront door wearing a mask.It’s usually a tiger face.

Yvonne Green, administrative assistant,

ITS

This is a day where every-thing becomes a nightmare.Everyone should lock up andprepare for a good scare!Yeah! It’s Halloween time sofeel the fear crawling underyour desk!

Gary Brooks, productionspecialist, Academic

Technology

Campus CalendarFor more details and events, go tocalendar.gallaudet.edu For the Academic Calendar, goto www.gallaudet.edu/x4511.xml For Athletics events,go to www.gallaudetathletics.com

October 19—Resume clinic, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., JSAC 2221 (CareerCenter)19-21—Homecoming festivities. For the schedule, seewww.gallaudet.edu/x2044.xml or the last issue of Onthe Green.22—Resume check-up, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., JSAC 2221(Career Center)23—Panel discussion: Funny in Farsi: A Memoir ofGrowing Up Iranian in America, 4-5 p.m., JSAC G Area

24—Internship and Job Fair, sponsored by the CareerCenter, noon-5 p.m., GUKCH26—Presentation by Firoozeh Dumas, author of Funnyin Farsi noon-1 p.m., Elstad Auditorium

November2—Undergraduate Open House, GUKCH and variouslocations; Students of Color Leadership Conference, 3p.m., JSAC MPR5—PFLAG monthly meeting, 7:30-9:30 p.m., HMB S1357—GRI First Wednesday Research Seminar, noon-1p.m., JSAC 10119—Graduate School thesis/dissertation workshop, 10a.m.-noon, JSAC 1011; American Red Cross blooddrive, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., MSSD gym; Presentation: “WhatHave We Learned from Contemporary Research on LipReading?” by Dr. Lynne Bernstein, 2:30-4 p.m., JSAC1011

Senior Oana Hunter, who is interning atthe National Postal Museum, said of herfirst meeting with her employer, “Everyonewas very friendly.” She enthusiasticallyshared, “I am going to be able to design andkeep my own personal postage stamp.”Another student, Ryan Hastings, is lookingforward to doing page layout work on theweb for the Freer Gallery of Art and SacklerGallery online catalog. The shop will be set-ting up a Smithsonian email account toassist him with communication access onthe job.

For more information about the MSSDInternship Program, or to find out how tosponsor an MSSD junior intern in yourdepartment, emailAllen.Talbert@gallaudet.edu.

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Clerc Center HappeningsInto the workplace: MSSD seniors test their skills at local area jobs

By Susan M. Flanigan

A group of Clerc Center teacher and staff volunteer guides gathered in the front lobby bright and early on

October 3 to meet with MSSD seniors forthe annual internship dry run. Enthusiasmand a bit of nervousness prevailed as theguides swung into action, checking with thestudents—“Do you have your paperwork,resume, directions, bus tokens or Metrocard, ID, and box lunch?”

The 53 students and guides then headedout, some on foot to nearby work sites butmost boarding a bus bound for UnionStation where they dispersed to the nextpart of their journey to jobsites around themetropolitan Washington, D.C. area.

At MSSD, students start their internshipexperience on campus. As sophomores, theirfirst work experience is at the Clerc Center,and as juniors they move on to jobs at vari-ous Gallaudet departments. By their senioryear, students are ready to go to jobs offcampus. Meaningful employment in highschool is one of the most important factorsin long-term employment success. To beprepared for employment after high school,

the MSSD interns get to experience first-hand what expectations are like on the job.

The first day is a kind of practice in get-ting to the work site. On this day only, stu-dents are matched to guides from the ClercCenter who go with them to and from theirinternship workplace and assist with com-munication on site. During the journey, stu-dents review with the guides landmarks andthe timing of the legs of the trip to preparethem to make the journey independentlythe following week. At the work site, stu-dents meet with their new supervisors andhave a chance to meet staff, review workpolicies (both the policies of the employersand MSSD’s policies for student workers),and discuss communication strategies.

Many students intern at governmentagencies, nonprofit organizations, food serv-ice locations, and stores in places like theSmithsonian Institution, GeorgetownUniversity Hospital, Sign LanguageAssociates, Deaf Reach, U.S. Health andHuman Services, and the Library ofCongress. Each of the seniors work a mini-mum of 136 hours during the 24 weeks ofthe program, averaging five to six hours ofwork every Wednesday.

Allen Talbert, MSSD internship specialist, and Jandi Arboleda, outreach specialist for the Clerc Center (right), give last-minute instructions to MSSD seniors and their Clerc Center teacher and staff guides before the students head to theirfirst day of off-campus internships.

Among OurselvesBrianne Burger, ASL English BilingualProgram Development projects coordinatorin the Center for ASL/English BilingualEducation and Research, plays the role ofSarah in The McLean Community Players’production of Mark Medoff ’s Tony Award-winning play, Children of a Lesser God.Performances will be given at the AldenTheatre in McLean, Va., on October 19,20, 26 and 27 and November 2 and 3 at 8p.m., and on October 21 and 28 at 2 p.m.ASL interpreters will be provided onOctober 20, 26, and 28. Further informa-tion on the production can be found on thePlayers’ website: www.McLeanPlayers.org.

Ask Cousin SallyWhere is Cousin Sally?

Where indeed! She is sitting at her comput-er, just waiting for your questions about theminutia of Gallaudet life. Email her atcousin.sally@gallaudet.edu

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Personnel NotesService Awards for August

Five years: David Barclay, assistant professor, Social Work;Scott Carollo, assistant professor, Art; MaryClark, professor, EducationalFoundations/Research; Wendy Hanks, researchscientist II, Audiology; Gabrielle Jones, Englishteacher/researcher, KDES Principal’s Office;Raymond Merritt, associate professor, Biology;Jennifer Nasukiewicz, family educator, FamilyInvolvement, Clerc Center; Deborah Pichler,assistant professor, Linguistics; Renee’ Smith,administrative secretary, ASL and Deaf StudiesProgram; Amy Stevens, assistant professor, Art;Franklin Torres, instructor, DevelopmentalPrograms; Tyese Wright, family educator, FamilyInvolvement, Clerc Center

Ten years: Beth Benedict, associate professor,Communication Studies; Lynn Boren, volleyballhead coach/Sports Camp coordinator, Athletics;Noemis Hernandez, Custodian, CustodialServices; Jorge Palomino, supervisor, CustodialServices; Pilar Pinar, associate professor,Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Cultures;Olga Rosario, custodian, Custodial Services;Tracey Salaway, associate professor, Art;Susan Schatz, coordinator, Instruction (Grades 4to 8), KDES Principal’s Office; Martha Sheridan,associate professor, Social Work

Fifteen years:Cristina Berdichevsky, professor, ForeignLanguages, Literatures, and Cultures; BarryBergen, associate professor, History; CarolCohen, associate professor, Social Work;Barbara Gerner De Garcia, professor,Educational Foundations/Research; JenniferNelson, professor, English; Pia Taavila, profes-sor, English

Twenty years: Phyllis Ballenger, teacher/researcher, KDESPrincipal’s Office; Steven Benson,teacher/researcher, KDES Principal’s Office;Jimmie Bowman, driver, Transportation; VenitaDzime-Assison, audiologist, Cochlear ImplantEducation Center; Matthew Goedecke, coordi-nator, curriculum, Clerc Center; Ellen Loughran,professor, Foreign Languages, Literatures, and

Cultures; Deborah Luria-Appel, coordinator,Professional and Graduate Student Service,Graduate School; Ruth McLennon, assistantprofessor, Physical Education and Recreation;Anne Simonsen, professor, Physical Educationand Recreation

Twenty-five years:Deborah Krichbaum, associate professor,Family and Child Studies; Sarah Doleac, assis-tant professor, Physical Education andRecreation; Eileen Matthews, associate dean,CAPSS; Michael Weinstock, interim director,Athletics; Charles Welsh-Charrier, coordina-tor, English MSSD /LiteracyActivities

Thirty years:Kathryn Baldridge, associate professor,Physical Education and Recreation; JohnChristiansen, professor, Sociology; CarolErting, professor/chair, dean, Graduate Schooland Professional Studies; William Kemp, pro-fessor, ASL and Deaf Studies; Thomas Kluwin,director, Institutional Research; Fat Lam, profes-sor/chair, Math and Computer Science; EvelyneMitton, benefits and records technician, HumanResources Services; Debra Nussbaum, coordi-nator, Cochlear Implant Education Center; AnnPowell, professor/chair, Biology; GeorgeSampson, mechanic, Maintenance Services;Vicki Shank, professor, Math and ComputerScience; Richard Suiter, information and pro-duction specialist, Publication and InformationDissemination, Clerc Center

Thirty-five years:John Canney, associate professor, English

New employees hired for August:

Katherine Adams, speech/language patholo-gist, Support Services, Clerc Center; KentBabson, e-Learning facilitator, e-Learning;Jamie Bailey, CFY speech-language patholo-gist, Support Services, Clerc Center; DouglasBortoletto, residential educator, MSSDResidence Education; Aimee Burke, teacher,KDES Principal’s Office; Keith Clark, residentialeducator, MSSD Residence Education; JanisCole, temporary instructor, ASL and DeafStudies; Gretchen Cronin, speech/languagepathologist, Support Services, Clerc Center;Jennifer Drew, teacher, KDES Principal’s Office;

Reed Gershwind, instructor, Business;Elizabeth Graham, interpreter III, GallaudetInterpreting Services; Lawrence Gray, tempo-rary instructor, ASL and Deaf Studies; TiffanyHarvey, research specialist, ED/RERC on HearingEnhancement; Anibelka Henriquez, teacher,KDES Principal’s Office; Benjamin Jarashow,temporary instructor, ASL and Deaf Studies,David King, residential night assistant, MSSDResidence Education; Brian Malzkuhn, tempo-rary instructor, ASL and Deaf Studies; AmberMarchut, science teacher, MSSD Departments;Gaurav Mathur, assistant professor, Linguistics;Jillian Minarich, teaching fellow, KDESPrincipal’s Office; Robert Parkinson, mathteacher, MSSD Departments, Clerc Center; MarkPhipps, teaching fellow, MSSD; RichardRomero, teacher, KDES Principal’s Office; KristinRoush, audiologist, Audiology; NechamaSelzer, residential night assistant, MSSDResidence Education; Karthik Sethuraman,Oracle/PeopleSoft senior technical analyst,Information Technology Service; Dale Shepard,residential educator, MSSD Residence Education;Robert Traina, residential night assistant, MSSDResidence Education; Miako Villanueva, tempo-rary instructor, Interpretation; Niesha La’CheaWashington, teaching fellow, MSSD; HeatherWithrow, teaching fellow; Sheri Youens-Un,temporary instructor, ASL and Deaf Studies;Alexander Zernovoj, ASL-English bilingualteacher, KDES Principal’s Office.

August Promotions:

Daun Banks, administrative assistant,President’s Office; Jeffrey Brune, assistant pro-fessor, Department of History; Mark Burke,coordinator, athletics, physical education, recre-ation, and intramural programs, MSSD Athletics;Scott Carrollo, associate professor, Art;Cynthia Edwards, assistant professor, English;Julie Greenfield, coordinator, Human ResourcesPlanning and Development, Office of the Dean,Clerc Center; Brian Greenwald, associate pro-fessor/coordinator, History; Sodartha Guion,operations assistant, Child Development Center;Kristen Harmon, professor, English; LisaJacobs, coordinator, National Training, Trainingand Technical Assistance, Clerc Center; SusanJacoby, director, New Initiatives Management,

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Personnel Notescontinued from page 7

Transition, Clerc Center; Michelle Jefferson,executive secretary, Training and TechnicialAssistance, Clerc Center; Sydney Lasry, data-base administrator/systems engineer, Office ofthe Director, ISCS, Clerc Center; StephanieMarshall, manager, Student Services (interim),Counseling, Assessment, and Social WorkServices, Clerc Center; Kristin Mulrooney,assistant professor, Linguistics; Carie Palmer,associate professor, Developmental Programs;Deborah Chen Pichler, associate professor,Linguistics; Jessica Sandle, MSSD assistantprincipal (interim); Meridith Selden, assistantprofessor, Psychology; Christopher Sewell, resi-dential educator, MSSD Residence Education;Laurene Simms, professor, Education; KendraSmith, assistant professor, Counseling; CarolineMiller Solomon, associate professor, Biology;Barbara Stock, associate professor, Philosophyand Religion; Nicole Sutliffe, director, planningand communication, Office of the Dean, ClercCenter; Helen Thumann, associate professor,Education; Mary Weiner, professor, Psychology;Michael Wenger, senior information technology– Windows server administrator, Office of theDirector, ISCS, Clerc Center.

T he communication gap between major health care provider Kaiser Permanente and its deaf patients is

being bridged, thanks to a program initiatedby Shirley Hack-McCafferty, executive sec-retary for the Gallaudet Research Institute,and her church.

Hack-McCafferty got the idea after visit-ing a co-worker, Russell Perkins, dissemina-tion specialist for Technology InformationSystems, while he was in the hospital. Afterlearning of the myriad of frustrations hefaced due to communication difficulties, sheintervened with hospital staff and was ableto get Perkins an interpreter. “After seeingthis, I was led to do something to help,”said Hack-McCafferty. Another co-worker,Senda Benaissa, a research associate in theGallaudet Research Institute, told her that alarge percentage of deaf people in theWashington, D.C., area have Kaiser as theirhealth care provider.

Hack-McCafferty spoke with Dr. Rev.Lloyd McGriff, her pastor at Galilee BaptistChurch in Suitland, Md., about facilitatingcommunication between health careproviders and deaf patients, and he enthusi-

astically embraced the idea. Rev. McGriffwrote a letter to Kaiser in March offeringfree, beginning ASL classes to medical per-sonnel. Kaiser accepted and offered spacefor the classes to be taught at its facilities inLargo, Md.

When Rev. McGriff asked Hack-McCafferty to coordinate of the new pro-gram, one of her first moves was to contactDr. Carolyn Stern, believed to be theworld’s first deaf female family physician,and who is on the staff of Gallaudet’sStudent Health Service, and ask her to givea presentation at Kaiser on accessibility andthe deaf patient. Stern graciously accepted,and her September 11 presentation was aninformative and eye-opening experience forthe audience of nurses, doctors, and admin-istrators. She will be featured in theDecember issue of the Kaiser MedicalNewsletter.

In addition, Hack-McCafferty met withDr. Jerry McConnell, a physician at Kaiser’sLargo facility, and explained to him thecommunication difficulties deaf people facein medical situations. “Then I asked if hewould be interested in taking ASL classes.

He responded absolutely yes,” she said. Thedoctor’s nurse, Tiana Austin, was enthusias-tic about learning sign language as well.Both were supportive of the program andgot the information about the church pro-gram’s sign classes to the Kaiser staff.

The result has been overwhelming. Todate, 200 Kaiser staff members have signedup for ASL classes. Galilee Baptist Church’sDeaf Ministry started its first six-week ses-sion of classes at Kaiser on October 2. Theclass is taught by Michelle Sadler, a formerGallaudet student.

Hack-McCafferty emphasizes that this isstrictly a volunteer effort by all concerned.“This is a labor of love, hoping to opentheir minds to learn more sign language inthe future,” she said.

Following her September 11 presentation to health care workers at Kaiser Permanente’s Largo, Md., facility, Dr. CarolynStern (center), deaf family physician at Gallaudet’s Student Health Service, meets with Carolyn Wright (right), president ofthe Deaf Ministry, Shirley Hack-McCafferty (second from left), executive secretary for GRI and coordinator of the DeafMinistry’s sign language instruction program for Kaiser, and Kaiser staff members.

Hack-McCafferty and Galilee Baptist Church help bridge communi-cation gap by offering sign language classes to Kaiser Permanente