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The Department provides foundation courses that serve as valuable underpinnings for graduate students pursuing professional preparation programs in other graduate departments at Gallaudet. These include courses in educational psychology, multicultural education, social science statistics, research methods, school law, and other areas. Students learn to work collaboratively with professionals from other fields.
Our Mission
The Department of Educational Foundations and Research's mission and vision correspond with Gallaudet University's and the Graduate School of Professional Programs' mission and vision. Specifically the Department of Educational Foundations and Research utilizes a transformative framework to provide degrees in International Development as well as foundational courses for other degree programs within Gallaudet University's professional training programs. DEFR course work provides connections across Professional Education Programs that allow students to develop critical thinking skills, obtain experiences with interdisciplinary connections, explore multiple social and professional identities, and understand social responsibility in the context of their preparation as teachers, counselors, administrators, school psychologists, speech and language professionals, and international development specialists who serve deaf and hard of hearing people and people with disabilities.
The Department of Educational Foundations and Research also offers:
Recent Department News
Topic: Dr. Mertens and Dr. Wilson's new book
News Post Date: Friday April 13, 2012
Guilford Press has just published Drs. Donna Mertens and Amy Wilson's new book , "Program Evaluation Theory and Practice: A Comprehensive Guide" Both teach in the Department of Educational and Foundations and will use their book to teach graduate students in the International Development Program. Their book will be used by instructors and graduate students in education, psychology, sociology, social work, nursing, public policy, management, and criminal justice as well as applied researchers and evaluators.
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African Lessons on Language and Citizenship:
Local Action and Transnational Partnerships
April 19 and 20, 2012
Link to Conference Registration
Development Assistance & Deaf Communities
Jiayi Zhou's Background
Gallaudet professors and staff featured on NPR's Kojo Nnamdi Show
Development Assistance & Deaf Communities Abroad
Photo by Mercy Coogan
On October 3, 2011, National Public Radio WAMU's Kojo Nnamdi Show explored the current situation for deaf people in the developing world, including the negative and often lifelong consequences if they are not allowed access to early language development. For more information Click Kojo's logo.
Jiayi Zhou, a graduate student in Gallaudet's Masters of International Development Program and a citizen of China, talked about her experiences pursuing higher education in the United States, and how it made her realize how much she could accomplish as a deaf person, at the EducationUSA Forum supported by the U.S. Department of State, held June 22 to 24 at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C. Zhou was a panelist at the forum with four other international students from Europe and Eurasia who are enrolled at U.S. colleges and universities. Zhou told the audience that she applied to Gallaudet after a group of deaf study abroad students from the University visited her school for deaf students in China. Prior to that day, Zhou had no knowledge of Gallaudet's existence, and she was shocked at the confidence the deaf students possessed in comparison to her fellow students. She applied to Gallaudet, and after being accepted, entered the English Language Institute to learn American Sign Language and English. Along with acquiring new language skills, she learned about American culture. Zhou says that the experience of being a student in the United States helped her become more assertive and curious about the world around her. She went on to complete an undergraduate degree in graphic design at Gallaudet before deciding to pursue a master's degree. (Source: http://tinyurl.com/5vyxrey)
Several International Development students attended the launching of Saving Lives at Birth: A Grand Challenge for Development, an initiative between USAID, Norway, Canada and the Gates Foundation, to seek innovative prevention and treatment approaches for pregnant women and newborns in rural, low-resource settings. Hilary Clinton, Melinda Gates, the Director of USAID and representatives from collaborating Development organizations presented.
Gallaudet's International Development Program, Center for International Programs and Services, and Gallaudet Study Tours wins Award for one of the top ten Innovative Programs in U.S. Higher Education from the US Center for Citizen Diplomacy.
"The Higher Education Task Force selected 10 programs at U.S. colleges and universities that serve as outstanding examples of how to engage many more Americans in citizen diplomacy and address the major global challenges of the 21st century."
International Day of Persons with Disabilities Celebration
Current students and recent graduates of the International Development Program attended an event to honor International Day of Persons with Disabilities at the U.S. International Council on Disabilities in downtown D.C. They met others passionate about advancing human rights for people with disabilities around the world and saw keynote remarks by Wade Henderson of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and Ambassador Luis Gallegos of Ecuador. The students and alumni, who were accompanied by IDP Director Amy Wilson (second row, left), joined more than 120 USICD members and friends at the event.
First Lady Michelle Obama Welcomes Chinese Diplomats to the United States
Mrs. Obama spoke to more than a thousand students from Howard University, students from Gallaudet's International Development Program, and Washington-area schools, as well as members of the U.S. State Department and visitors about the importance of building relationships with their peers in China and creating a mutual understanding around the world.
Professor, Dr. Khadijat 'Kubby' Rashid, appointed White House Fellow, Class of 2010-2011
The International Development students will miss Dr. Rashid's insights into Economic Development and Micropolitics as this 2010-2011 academic year the White House and Inspector General Peggy Gustafson at the Small Business Administration have appointed her to work with them. She is one of 13 outstanding men and women appointed to serve as White House Fellows and is the first deaf person to be named a White House Fellow. Dr. Rashid is pictured here with some of her favorite ID students.
'Making it Work' internship takes student to the U.N.
Nicar Bocalan helped to organize a panel at United Nations Headquarters during the 3rd Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Read more about his internship with Handicap International here.
The Department of State's Special Advisor for International Disability Rights, Judy Heumann, hosts panel discussions recognizing the International Day of Disabilities 2010
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International Development student, Mary Dakim, was one of several ID students who attended the meeting and spoke with Advisor Heumann at the end of the day. Issues during the day included discussions on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, challenging violence against women and girls with disabilities: Overcoming the Barriers to Dignity and Equality, and HIV/AIDS and disability: How Can We Take a More Inclusive Approach?
The National Federation on Education and Integration of the Deaf (FENEIS) from Recife, Brazil presented to the campus community about their collaboration with Disabled People International - Japan (DPI) and the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in creating HIV/AIDS materials for low literacy communities. Front row Geovanne de Sales Gila of Antonio Cardoso of FENEIS. Second Row Amy Wilson, Masami Morigami (DPI - Japan), Patricia Cardoso (FENEIS), Keiichiro Nakazawa (JICA).
Ned Seligman (pictured above) has had more than 25 years experience working with grassroots development organizations in Africa and was the Peace Corps Director in Sao Tome and Principe for 3 years in the mid 1990's. Before setting up STEP UP, he worked for the World Wildlife Fund, Catholic Relief Services, the American Friends Service Committee, and the Peace Corps. He received his B.A. from Yale University and a Masters Degree from Johns Hopkins University.
Mr. Seligman recently visited with International Development students at Gallaudet to discuss ways in which deaf individuals could be included in the STEP Up program in Sao Tome.
Senior Specialist of Save the Children Campus Presentation>
Shana Peiffer | Senior Specialist, Department of Child Protection Save the Children USA spoke to ID students about her work with vulnerable and at risk and children during natural disasters such as the recent Haiti earthquake. She also shared about her personal educational and professional experiences and history in the field of development. Pictured above is ID student Carrie St. Cyr (on right) talking with Ms. Peiffer (on left) and Dr. Amy Wilson (center).
Dr. Barbara Garner de Garcia, Professor and Chair of the Department of Educational Foundations and Research, was in Chile Sept. 27th to Oct. 3rd to attend the 10th Latin American Congress on Bilingual Education of the Deaf in Santiago where she gave a presentation on the current realities in bilingual education of the deaf in the US.
While in Chile, she participated in an event sponsored by the US Embassy in Chile on Sept 28th and did a radio interview for the US Embassy (in Spanish) on Sept. 29th to be broadcast throughout Chile. On Sept. 30th, Dr. Garner de Garcia attended a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Relations to discuss the Chile-Callifornia Partnership and possible projects that could support the Deaf community in Chile.
Dr. Charles Reilly, senior research scientist in the Gallaudet Research Institute, attended the September 1 and 2 meeting of the External Advisory Committee (EAC) of the National Center for Deaf Health Research (NCDHR), held in Rochester, N.Y. The EAC is facilitated by Gallaudet President Alan Hurwitz. During his visit, Reilly explored possible collaborations for research projects related to health issues with NCDHR's Principal Investigator, Dr. Thomas Pearson, who also serves as associate dean of clinical research for the University of Rochester.
Donna Mertens gave a keynote address to the Australasian Evaluators Society at their 2010 Conference in Wellington, New Zealand.
Amii Limpp worked in Syria this summer with the Victor Pineda Foundation's collaboration in the Open Hands Initiative Youth Summit where they produced the first cross-cultural guidebook for implementing the UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities in the Middle East.
Approximately 10,000 deaf children live in Afghanistan and live without any communication with the hearing world. Afghanistan has a higher prevalence of deaf people due to several factors including a lack of 
preventative services and vaccinations; the high rate of complications during childbirth; inter-marriage; and injury from bombs, mines, trauma, and torture. About 20 Gallaudet students, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends road 16, 25, or 30 miles on a Panjshir Tour bike ride to raise funds for a deaf school in Kabul through the NGO Mountain2Mountain. Amy Wilson participated in the ride along the Potomac River as other supporters held concurrent rides throughout their own cities for the same cause.
Jiayi Zhou participated in Mobility International's Institute on Leadership and Disability where young women leaders from around the world came together to build leadership skills, create new visions, and strengthen their international network of support.
Rue Winiarczyk interviewed Deaf Malays throughout the country as part of her research on prioritizing the needs of Deaf Malaysians. Her research will be used by the Malaysian Deaf Association and Gallaudet's Center of International Programs and Services.
Amy Wilson presented a paper on Humanitarian Health Work with People in Resource-Poor Countries: Social/Cultural Considerations at the first conference of the Coalition of Global Hearing Health supported by the American Academy of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery Foundation.
ID student Mary Dakim and Program Director Amy Wilson, presented at a Congressional Staff Briefing on Persons with Disabilities and US Foreign Assistance sponsored by Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D-MN) held on Capitol Hill. Ms. Dakim spoke about her experience growing up in Nigeria for the audience to understand the challenges one faces when living as a deaf person in a resource poor country. Dr. Wilson shared research about the best practices for American international development organizations. She stressed that the key is full and direct participation of people with disabilities in American development assistance organizations, in all development assistance programs, and working directly with Disabled People's Organizations overseas in every step of development assistance - from needs assessment.
Hilary Cote, a student in the Master’s in International Development Program and doing her internship in the Philippines, is quoted in the Manila Bulletin about a camping activity for children with disabilities that is held every
.JPG "Hilary with two people on a running track")
Valentine’s Day in Quezon City, Philippines.ent, to project design, planning, management of programs, and evaluation.
Sarah Houge, a 2nd year International Development graduate student, is interning with the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD). Sarah's work focuses on Deaf education in Gabon, Central Africa. This is one component of a larger project, WCAR: WFD Deaf Human Rights and Capacity Building Project in Western and Central Africa. Read more about Sarah Hogue in the article she wrote in the February 2010 issue of WFD's newsletter.
International Development students went to the gala to recognize the service of President Robert R. Davila on December 5, 2009. They enjoyed the special guests, music and dance performances.
Alnoe Tabanera Paler, a talented deaf Filipino photographer, shared his wonderful photographs with Gallaudet University and gave a special presentation to the International Development class. Zelda Marie R. Sagun, his interpreter, explained the groundbreaking and grassroots movement of providing interpreter training in the Philippines. Zelda Marie R. Sagun (the interpreter), Hilary Cote (an international development graduate student), and Alnoe Tabanera Paler (the deaf Filipino photographer) smile for a photograph after discussing the situation in the Philippines.
Simon Houriez of France spoke to International Development students about visual media he created for visual learners, such as deaf children. He is an Ashoka Fellowship winner and told us about winning this prestigious award. Simon Houriez discussed his work with graduate student K-Leigh Shaw after class.
American Evaluation Association awarded Professor Donna M. Mertens, Department of Educational Foundations and Research, the PAUL F LAZARSFELD THEORY AWARD at their annual meeting in Orlando Florida on November 13, 2009. The Lazarfeld Theory Award is presented to an individual whose written work on evaluation theory has led to fruitful debates on the assumptions, goals, and practices of evaluation.
Mertens posits that the field of evaluation can transform society through work that shares - or brings - the voices of those pushed to societal margins into the world of research. This applies to those discriminated and oppressed due to factors including but not limited to race/ethnicity, disability, immigrant status, political conflicts, sexual orientation, poverty, gender or age as well as power structures that perpetuate social inequities and indigenous people and scholars from marginalized communities undergoing change. Mertens explains that "The transformative approach to evaluation makes explicit the use of evaluation for the purpose of furthering social justice."
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students viewed the premier of the film, "La Americana" at the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB). The film centers around a Bolivian woman who makes a dangerous and illegal journey to New York City knowing she may never return home, to earn enough money to pay for the medical care needed for her disabled daughter. Pictured here is the director of the film, Nicholas Bruckman, (center) with Eirin Kallestad (second from left) from the IADB, and graduate students Kathleen Wijiting, Sarah Houge, and ID graduate, Lisa Fisher.
International Development Graduate Students (from left), Amii Limpp, Ni
car Bocalan and Dayak Dashuwar, attended Mental Disability Rights International (MDRI) 15th year anniversary celebration on Tuesday Oct. 20th. MDRI presented Congressman Patrick Kennedy with the Human Rights Award. This celebration had an amazing line up of inspiring speakers featuring Executive Director of MDRI Eric Rosenthal, Entrepreneur and Investment Banker Ted Kennedy Jr,. and Ecuadorian Ambassador Luis Gallegos. Congressman Patrick Kennedy called for a united front against genocide, torture and abuse of people with disabilities.
Sarah Houge, a second year student in the international development master’s program, presents a gift of thanks to David 
Morrissey, executive director of the United States International Council on Disability (USICD), for speaking to students about USICD’s work in advocating for the ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Morrissey also spoke to the students about the importance of working, writing, and volunteering during their graduate studies in areas that build their portfolio and moves them in the direction of their desired careers.
Graduate School Dean Carol Erting (left), and Educational Foundations and Research Department Chair Barbara Gerner De Garcia (right) congratulate Educational Foundations and Research professor Donna Mertens on the publication of three of her books in the past year. Dr. Mertens authored Research and Evaluation in Education and Psychology: Integrating Diversity with Quantitative, Qualitative, and Mixed Methods (Sage, 2010, now in its third edition), and Transformative Research and Evaluation (Guilford Press, 2009). She is co-editor of The Handbook of Social Research Ethics (co-edited by Pauline Ginsberg, Sage, 2009).
Dr. Donna Mertens, a professor in the Department of Educational Foundations and Research, was invited to make presentations in several international venues during the summer months. She presented "Theoretical Groundings in Mixed Methods Research: A Transformative View" at the International Mixed Methods Conference in Harrogate, England, where the formal announcement was made of her accepting the editorship of the Journal of Mixed Methods Research. The co-editor is Max Bergmann of the University of Basel, Switzerland. Mertens presented "Transformative Research, Ethics, Inequality, and Human Rights" at the University of Johannesburg, and "Transformative Research: The Complexities That Challenge" at the North-West University in Potchefstroom, South Africa, where she also conducted professional development activities. She gave two presentations, "Transformative Mixed Methods Research" and "Researcher-Participant Partnerships: Radicalizing the Relationship and Exploring Ethical Options," at the American Psychological Association meeting in Toronto, Canada. (On The Green, Gallaudet University, 10/09)
The Faculty Development Committee awarded funding to Dr. Amy Wilson to attend and be featured as a Noted Speaker at the Pacific Rim International Conference on Disabilities in Honolulu speaking on “Improving Development Assistance to Deaf Communities in Developing Countries: Transforming Dependency into Empowerment”.
Instituto de la Sordera (INDESOR) in Santiago, Chile. Students in the Fall 2008 Multicultural Foundations of Education class raised almost $300 to buy children's books in Spanish which were donated to the school when invited course instructor, Dr. Barbara Gerner Garcia, made a visit to the Institute. Lucia Rojas, Director of the school, is an alumna of the Dept of Education, Gallaudet University.
Under the patronage of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz, Prince Salman Center for Disability Research hosted the Third International Conference on Disability Research the 22nd to the 26th of March, 2009, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The goal of the conference was to examine and promote the role of research in preventing disability and improving the quality of life of individuals with disabilities, and the means of facilitating that through international partnerships targeted at high impact research. Dr. Amy Wilson presented the importance of including Deaf stakeholders in all aspects of research.
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Dr. Wilson with a Deaf leader from Tunisia and two Deaf leaders from Saudi Arabia |
Those are real camels with Dr. Khalid and Dr. Wilson! |
Dr. Donna Mertens and Dr. Amy Wilson from the Department of Educational Foundations and Research are pictured signing a contract with Guilford Publications for their writing of "Program Evaluation", a 560 page textbook that they will complete for Spring 2011 distribution.
On-Campus Presentations
Carol Duffy visited Gallaudet and presented her documentary, Deaf: Hear Me, a film used by the Deaf community in New Delhi, India to increase awareness, change attitudes and create more equitable opportunities for Deaf people in India. The film was well-received and after the screening, several audience members stated the film reflects many of the same challenges they, too, face whether born in developing countries or in the United States.
World Bank Workshop on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Gallaudet University – Washington D.C.
ASL interpreted
View the presentations online:
Part I Part II
Charlotte McClain Nhlapo of the World Bank, and Michael Stein of Harvard Project on Disability participated in the workshop.
Watch this video from the conference.
International Development students Nicar Bocalan, Amii Limpp, Jiayi Zhou, Caitlin Hudson, Leah Maxson, and Mary Dakim stand with Mr. Victor Vodounou after watching his presentation about his life growing up deaf in Benin. Influenced by Andrew Foster, Mr. Vodounou now runs an organization called Live Ear Ministries where he works with deaf people around the world. Mr. Vodounou is pictured 3rd from the left.
