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May 24, 2006

Gallaudet President-Designate Fernandes speaks at international conference

From: Gallaudet - May 24, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Mercy Coogan
Director
Office of Public Relations
Gallaudet University
202.651.5727
 
Gallaudet’s President-Designate Fernandes gives keynote presentation in Bangkok, Thailand

(WASHINGTON) Dr. Jane Fernandes, Gallaudet University’s president-designate, recently delivered a keynote speech at the opening of the First World Congress on the Power of Language: Theory, Practice, and Development, in Bangkok, Thailand, following an audience with Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. 

Fernandes has been directly involved in Gallaudet's ongoing efforts in Thailand, where Gallaudet’s resources and expertise, supplemented substantially by the Nippon Foundation, have facilitated the successful college graduation of several cohorts of deaf Thai people who now work as sign language teachers. Thai Sign Language has been declared an official language of the country. 

During her trip to Thailand, Fernandes will observe firsthand the outcomes and impact of the project.

The program’s objectives are as follows:

To call for the world’s awareness and concrete action plans from national and international bodies to jointly address how an impact language could bring to the world, especially to promote understanding through languages, and their translation and interpretation across borders;

To bridge the gaps among linguists and scholars, and among multidisciplinary professionals as well as to smooth articulation between both groups;

To promote world intellectual gatherings where experts, professionals, novices exchange knowledge, expertise, and experiences on the power of language, and how language could be used to improve quality of life and societal development;

To encourage more advanced research, grants and scholarships on the power of language, and how it can enhance world peace and sustainable development.
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About Gallaudet University
Gallaudet University is the world leader in liberal education and career development for deaf and hard-of-hearing undergraduate students. The University enjoys an international reputation for the outstanding graduate programs it provides deaf, hard-of-hearing, and hearing students, as well as for the quality of the research it conducts on the history, language, culture, and other topics related to deaf people. In addition, the University’s Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center serves deaf and hard-of-hearing children at its two demonstration schools and throughout the nation by developing, implementing, and disseminating innovative educational strategies. Gallaudet is located in Washington, DC.