University for Deaf Appoints an Interim President

From: New York Times - New York,NY,USA - Dec 11, 2006

Officials at Gallaudet University, the nation's premier institution for the deaf and hard of hearing, announced Sunday that a deaf educator who had spent years teaching there would become interim president for up to 24 months.

The board of trustees chose the educator, Robert R. Davila, from among three finalists for the post after a process that began when the board in October rescinded the selection of the former provost, Jane K. Fernandes.

Ms. Fernandes's appointment last spring set off months of protests from students and other members of the deaf community. Students and some alumni contended that minority candidates were not given enough consideration, that Ms. Fernandes lacked leadership skills and that she did not embrace the primacy of American Sign Language in deaf culture.

Mr. Davila, 74, told students, staff and faculty that as a boy attending the California School for the Deaf in Berkeley he worried about whether he would have the grades to attend Gallaudet. But he graduated from Gallaudet in 1953 and taught there for 17 years, until he took a job in the first Bush administration.

As assistant secretary of education, Mr. Davila was the top adviser for vocational rehabilitation for the disabled. From 1996 through 2004, he served as vice president of the National Technical Institute for the Deaf at the Rochester Institute of Technology.

''I am no stranger to Gallaudet; I am no stranger to the deaf community,'' Mr. Davila told students and members of the faculty and staff on Sunday. He promised to work to improve communications.

But Ryan Comerson, one of the leaders of the student protests against Ms. Fernandes's appointment, questioned Mr. Davila's views of American Sign Language as an autonomous language.

''I am concerned on whether or not Davila will be able to represent his constituencies and contribute to the healing process,'' Mr. Comerson wrote in an e-mail message received by The Associated Press.

Mr. Davila was chosen over two other candidates with ties to the university. They were William J. Marshall, chairman of the department of administration and supervision; and Stephen Weiner, a professor in the department of communication studies. Mr. Marshall and Mr. Weiner are also deaf.

University officials said Sunday that Mr. Davila would serve for a minimum of 18 months beginning on Jan. 2. He may stay in the post for up to six months pending the selection of a permanent replacement for Irving King Jordan, who was Gallaudet's first deaf president and is stepping down after 19 years.

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