Read President Hurwitz's Inaugural Address (PDF).

View the Photo Tribute.

An historical moment
The arrival of a new leader is an exciting and important event in the life of a university. The Inaugural Ceremony is an opportunity for faculty, students, staff, alumni, and other members of the community to witness and celebrate the beginning of a new era as Dr. Alan Hurwitz is officially invested with all the powers of the office of the president.

The inauguration of Gallaudet University's tenth president, Dr. Alan Hurwitz. was held on Wednesday, May 12 at 3:30 p.m. in the Field House.  A reception followed in the atrium of the Sorenson Language and Communication Center (SLCC).

Everyone was welcome to attend the ceremony and reception.  The ceremony was broadcast on campus cable television channel 11 and shown live on the internet. The video of the program will be available soon.

Inaugural ceremonies rare at Gallaudet
These ceremonies are a rare occurance at Gallaudet University. There have only been nine previous presidents in our 146-year history as an institution of higher learning. In 1864, U.S. President Abraham Lincoln signed the charter to allow the school, which started as an elementary and secondary program, to begin its college program and confer degrees. Our first president, Edward Miner Gallaudet—son of the University's namesake, Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet—served until 1910. One of our more recent presidents, Dr. I. King Jordan was in office for almost 19 years and was the university's first deaf president. Dr. Hurwitz is preceeded by Dr. Robert R. Davila.