Confirmed, Davila as Interim President
Davila, as the interim president, will face the unenviable task of cleaning up the mess left behind by Jordan, Fernandes, and BoT through their various acts of dereliction.
Jordan assumed the presidency awash in victorious glory. During his presidency, he increased the amount of endowments and raised awareness of Gallaudet worldwide. People recognized the triumphs of deaf people’s attempts in self-empowerment.
Unfortunately Jordan is a master of ruling the university through intimidation. Any shared governance was tossed aside and slowly the university had become an autocracy. The level of oppression worsened with time and the university became strangled by iron-fisted administrators.
The brave students suspected the PCS procedure was flawed with blatant disregard of the stakeholder’s feedback exhibited by the BoT. A protest erupted and has lasted to this day, with a hiatus during the summer break. BoT finally responded to the Gallaudet Community by forcing the resignation of Fernandes. However, to this day they remain oblivious and unresponsive to the second demand of no reprisals. This weekend, they received a better understanding, with the comprehensive report by the FSSA lawyer.
Davila will have the challenging job of reuniting the university community sharply divided by the irresponsible usage of ” Not Deaf Enough’, as practiced by Jordan, Fernandes, and their public relations department, a time that set friends and colleagues against one another. He will have to heal the wounds and lift morale. He will also need to regain of trust of Congress and pull up the evaluation of the academic programs, long neglected by Fernandes. Also he will face the difficult job of dealing with all-pervasive discrimination and oppression plaguing Gallaudet: audism, racism, ageism, sexism, and other -isms.
Hopefully with the right guidance, Davila will bring Gallaudet out of the tattered condition Jordan left it in and back on the right track. The guidance of the faculty, staff and students will even be more valuable than ever. I truly hope that the Gallaudet Community embraces Davila with open mind and get into the task together as a whole team, rehabilitating Gallaudet. elizabeth
Announcement of Interim President TODAY – Webcast Live at 1 p.m.
With a community reception to follow – See live webcast here.
Gallaudet University names Robert Davila interim president
(Washington, D.C.) Today, Gallaudet University Board of Trustees Chair Pamela Holmes announced the selection of Robert R. Davila as interim president of the university.
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Dr. Davila, who is deaf, served from 1996-2004 as vice president for the National Technical Institute for the Deaf, one of seven colleges of Rochester Institute of Technology. In 1989, he began a four-year appointment as Assistant Secretary for the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services in the Department of Education where he was the federal government’s chief advisor on federal policy affecting the education and vocational rehabilitation of the nation’s 40 million persons with disabilities.“Gallaudet is extremely fortunate to have Dr. Robert Davila as its interim president,†said Ms. Holmes. “He brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to Gallaudet at a time when the University faces many opportunities, as well as many challenges.â€Dr. Davila, who holds a Ph.D. in Educational Technology from Syracuse University, is no stranger to Gallaudet. Not only is he an alumnus [Class of 1953], but he worked on campus from 1972-1989, during which time he held progressively more responsible teaching and administrative positions, including as a member of the university’s Department of Education faculty, director of the Kendall School, acting dean of the Model Secondary School for the Deaf and, for eleven years, vice president of the University’s Pre-College Programs.
“I am honored to once again serve my alma mater,†Dr. Davila said. “I am fortunate to possess the energy, drive and dedication that will be required to lead our University over the coming months. I will seek to bring support and benefit to all constituent groups on campus and beyond.â€
Dr. Davila officially assumes his presidential duties January 2, 2007.
Davila, as the interim president, will face the unenviable task of cleaning up the mess left behind by Jordan, Fernandes, and BoT through their various acts of dereliction.
Jordan assumed the presidency awash in victorious glory. During his presidency, he increased the amount of endowments and raised awareness of Gallaudet worldwide. People recognized the triumphs of deaf people’s attempts in self-empowerment.
Unfortunately Jordan is a master of ruling the university through intimidation. Any shared governance was tossed aside and slowly the university had become an autocracy. The level of oppression worsened with time and the university became strangled by iron-fisted administrators.
The brave students suspected the PCS procedure was flawed with blatant disregard of the stakeholder’s feedback exhibited by the BoT. A protest erupted and has lasted to this day, with a hiatus during the summer break. BoT finally responded to the Gallaudet Community by forcing the resignation of Fernandes. However, to this day they remain oblivious and unresponsive to the second demand of no reprisals. This weekend, they received a better understanding, with the comprehensive report by the FSSA lawyer.
Davila will have the challenging job of reuniting the university community sharply divided by the irresponsible usage of ” Not Deaf Enough’, as practiced by Jordan, Fernandes, and their public relations department, a time that set friends and colleagues against one another. He will have to heal the wounds and lift morale. He will also need to regain of trust of Congress and pull up the evaluation of the academic programs, long neglected by Fernandes. Also he will face the difficult job of dealing with all-pervasive discrimination and oppression plaguing Gallaudet: audism, racism, ageism, sexism, and other -isms.
Hopefully with the right guidance, Davila will bring Gallaudet out of the tattered condition Jordan left it in and back on the right track. The guidance of the faculty, staff and students will even be more valuable than ever. I truly hope that the Gallaudet Community embraces Davila with open mind and get into the task together as a whole team, rehabilitating Gallaudet. elizabeth
Announcement of Interim President TODAY – Webcast Live at 1 p.m.
With a community reception to follow – See live webcast here.
Gallaudet University names Robert Davila interim president
(Washington, D.C.) Today, Gallaudet University Board of Trustees Chair Pamela Holmes announced the selection of Robert R. Davila as interim president of the university.
Â
Dr. Davila, who is deaf, served from 1996-2004 as vice president for the National Technical Institute for the Deaf, one of seven colleges of Rochester Institute of Technology. In 1989, he began a four-year appointment as Assistant Secretary for the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services in the Department of Education where he was the federal government’s chief advisor on federal policy affecting the education and vocational rehabilitation of the nation’s 40 million persons with disabilities.“Gallaudet is extremely fortunate to have Dr. Robert Davila as its interim president,†said Ms. Holmes. “He brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to Gallaudet at a time when the University faces many opportunities, as well as many challenges.â€Dr. Davila, who holds a Ph.D. in Educational Technology from Syracuse University, is no stranger to Gallaudet. Not only is he an alumnus [Class of 1953], but he worked on campus from 1972-1989, during which time he held progressively more responsible teaching and administrative positions, including as a member of the university’s Department of Education faculty, director of the Kendall School, acting dean of the Model Secondary School for the Deaf and, for eleven years, vice president of the University’s Pre-College Programs.
“I am honored to once again serve my alma mater,†Dr. Davila said. “I am fortunate to possess the energy, drive and dedication that will be required to lead our University over the coming months. I will seek to bring support and benefit to all constituent groups on campus and beyond.â€
Dr. Davila officially assumes his presidential duties January 2, 2007.
December 10th, 2006 at 2:35 pm
We need to challenge Davila to be proactive, instead of reactive, and hope that he comprehends the wonderful political and cultural changes that the protesters helped to bring to the campus community.
Thanks for all your wonderful work, Elizabeth! Cheers!
December 10th, 2006 at 2:43 pm
I used to know Bob Davila personally – we’re both old CSDB boys & I once rented a house from him.
He’s just what Gally needs right now – he’s smart, experienced, and genuinely hard-nosed when he needs to be.
Betcha his first (or one of his first) acts is to put s stop to the reprisals now going on. It’s a quick way to get everyone on campus on his side, and create an atmosphere of cooperation.
December 11th, 2006 at 12:12 am
No, the first action he needs to do is get rid of the PR, Paul Kelly any old iron fists and then the reprisal will stop immediately after they are gone. ALL the brownnosers needs to go their noses are so thick with craps I am sure they have a hard time breathing.
Davila will do good, I ask of him brign hopes to the rest of the school especially mainstreaming and residentials quality of education has gone downhill, Please give us parents hope that things will improve in time!!
December 11th, 2006 at 12:37 am
What can I say?
I’m proud of many people…
protesters
FSSA
BoT listening
Bloggers
I’m also proud of you, MZ – for STICKING IT OUT through tough time - during up and downs!
I wish Dr. Davila the best of luck and will be watching closely – through you and other bloggers!
I salute you!
xo
Iam
December 11th, 2006 at 8:42 am
I was there yesterday at Gallaudet when Dr. Davila was introduced. In speaking to several of the faculty members afterward, they all said the same things: they welcome him, and hoped that he is the right person for the job. When I shared my disappointment-my only disappointment-that he did not mentioned anything about the reprisals in his speech, they all said that is probably because he (like many of us) is not really aware of what is happening in that area. Hopefully that will change- as more details becomes public. Remember they said-we are still dealing with an administration that is control by IKJ, example: many persons did not know about the BoT ordering a halt to the whole process in November pending a report. So they (faculty members) are hopeful. I hope you are right, Mr.Pnutt…for the sake of Gallaudet…I hope you are right.
On another issue: I did not see IKJ at the reception… those of you were there: did you see IKJ?
And finally: one of the professors showed me the “parting gift” that IKJ gave away last week at his Annual Open House for Christmas. It was a 19 inches ruler. 19 years -19 inches. On one side it had a list of “millstones” that happened during the IKJ adm., while on the other side it had the 19 inches.
I suppose IKJ can give away anything he wants to. But when I saw that ruler, my reaction was (as a student of Deaf History) that rulers traditionally have been used against Deaf kids at Deaf schools to slap their hands when they were “caught” signing. My guess (and the guess of the faculty member) is IKJ knows this-and wanted to send a final message about who he is-a final insult, if you will, to the Deaf community-and particularly to the Gallaudet community.
Raphael J. St.Johns, C-87, G-00
December 11th, 2006 at 6:14 pm
Thanks, IamMine. I was just informed by one student leader that BoT will proceed with the reprisals. We’ll still have to work on this part until BoT reconsiders.
Rjst, serious about the ruler??? That symbol of a ruler as a control tactic arose in my mind immediately when you said the word ruler. I don’t consider a ruler an appropriate gift… not in the midst of the protest.
December 12th, 2006 at 10:00 am
Yes-I am dead serious about the ruler as a “gift” from King Jordan to the people who attended his Open House event. I was, at first, dismayed. But then I come to my senses-and realized that it is prue IKJ vengence. So I really should be surprise.
Raphael J. St. Johns
PS- I’d like to know more abotu the isues of reprissals- why is the BoT sholding thier grounds?
December 12th, 2006 at 1:58 pm
I meant-not be surprise- “So I really should not be surprise”. Sorry for the typo-its hard to write anything when you are not feeling well!
Raphael.