Gallaudet Announces Finalists For University President

The Gallaudet University Board of Trustees has announced the three finalists vying to replace outgoing university president T. Alan Hurwitz, who will step down from the post at the end of this year.

The finalists, all of whom are deaf and women, were selected at the recommendation of a presidential search committee representing a cross-section of the campus community including members of the Board of Trustees, students, faculty, staff, and alumni.  The search committee was assisted by Bridge Partners, a professional search firm.

“The search process has been guided by a mission to identify a transformational leader; one who will inspire and motivate the campus community toward positive change,” said Gallaudet University Board of Trustees Chair Heather Harker. “Our goal this fall is to give each finalist a chance to communicate her vision and why she believes she is best suited to take on the role of president at this juncture in Gallaudet’s history. Following that, we look forward to implementing a smooth and seamless transition to new university leadership.”

The candidates will be on campus in mid-September to present to the campus community their vision for the future of Gallaudet as well as to meet with members of the campus community. The final selection for university president is expected to be made before the end of the fall semester. Hurwitz will officially step down as president on December 30.

“Now that the first phase of the presidential search process is complete, we look forward to the broader campus community’s involvement in the selection process,” said Gallaudet Board of Trustees Vice Chair Duane Halliburton, who also chaired the presidential search committee which recommended the finalists. “Each finalist has built a strong record of achievement and any one of them could ably serve as the university’s next president.”

The finalists are:

Roberta “Bobbi” Cordano holds a B.A. from Beloit College in Beloit, Wis., and a Juris Doctor from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She is currently the vice president of programs for the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation in St. Paul, Minn., overseeing direct community-based programs in the areas of early childhood, community mental health, school reform, among other areas. Her full bio can be found here.

Pamela Lloyd-Ogoke holds a B.A. from Rochester Institute of Technology and a M.A. in deafness rehabilitation from New York University. She is currently the chief of community integration services and supports for the North Carolina Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, providing budget oversight and oversight of statewide programs that enhance access, independence and outreach. Her full bio can be found here.

Annette Reichman holds a B.A. in psychology from Gallaudet University and M.S. in rehabilitation counseling with the deaf from the University of Arizona. She is currently the director of the Office of Special Institutions in the U.S. Department of Education, which oversees statutorily funded special institutions including Gallaudet, National Technical Institute for the Deaf and the American Printing House for the Blind. Her full bio can be found here.

Gallaudet University, federally chartered in 1864, is a bilingual, diverse, multicultural institution of higher education that ensures the intellectual and professional advancement of deaf and hard of hearing individuals through American Sign Language and English. Gallaudet maintains a proud tradition of research and scholarly activity and prepares its graduates for career opportunities in a highly competitive, technological, and rapidly changing world.

CONTACT: Catherine Murphy, Executive Director for University Communications
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catherine.murphy@gallaudet.edu