Utah Native Dr. Robert G. Sanderson to Receive Honorary Degree from Gallaudet University

Washington, DC – Robert G. “Sandie” Sanderson will be awarded an honorary doctoral degree by his alma mater, Gallaudet University, at the institution’s 141st commencement ceremony May 14, 2010. Gallaudet, founded in 1864, is the nation’s premiere university for students who are deaf or hard of hearing.

For more than 60 years, the now 90 year-old Utah native has been a strong advocate for the state’s deaf and hard of hearing citizens. In 1965, Sanderson became a vocational rehabilitation counselor for the Utah Division of Rehabilitation Services; by 1985 he was the director of all state programs serving deaf people.

A member of the Gallaudet Class of 1941, Sanderson has remained a steadfast friend and supporter of the university since his graduation.  He served for 12 years as a member of the university’s board of trustees, and over the years volunteered his time and talents to the school’s leaders in a variety of other ways.

In addition to his service to Gallaudet, Sanderson is well known for his advocacy on behalf of the national deaf community. He is a past president of the National Association of the Deaf and served on numerous boards of organizations all over the country that serve deaf and hard of hearing people.

In recognition of his exemplary service to the state’s deaf community, in 2003 the State of Utah named its statewide deaf services center in West Taylorsville the Robert G. Sanderson Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

Contact: Mercy Coogan  mercy.coogan@gallaudet.edu, 202.403.9916