Gallaudet University President Named Chair of the North Eastern Athletic Conference Presidents’ Council

Gallaudet University President T. Alan Hurwitz has been elected chair of the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) Presidents’ Council. Dr. Hurwitz, who is the first deaf person to hold this position in NEAC history, will serve a two-year term, effective immediately. Dr. Hurwitz previously served a two-year appointment as the NEAC Presidents’ Council vice-chair.

Dr. Hurwitz became the tenth president of Gallaudet University in January 2010. Prior to Gallaudet, Dr. Hurwitz was president of the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID), one of eight colleges within the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) in Rochester, NY. Dr. Hurwitz also served as dean of NTID from 1998 to 2009 and as vice president of RIT from 2003 to 2009. Dr. Hurwitz began his career in higher education at RIT/NTID in 1970.

Throughout his long career in education, Dr. Hurwitz has been a strong supporter of intercollegiate athletics.
“I am honored to be elected to serve as chair of the NEAC Presidents’ Council,” said Gallaudet University President T. Alan Hurwitz. “Gallaudet is proud to be a member of the NEAC and we strongly support our student athletes. I look forward to collaborating with the 12 colleges in the conference to provide advocacy and guidance for all of our athletic programs.”

Gallaudet joined the NEAC during the 2010-11 season after being part of the Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) for 20 years.

Gallaudet participates in 11 sports as part of the NEAC: baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s soccer, softball, men’s and women’s swimming, and women’s volleyball. Gallaudet has won three NEAC regular-season titles and five NEAC championships since joining the league.

Gallaudet has also won seven NEAC Player of the Year awards and four Coach of the Year honors in two seasons.

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.