President Hurwitz elected to DC Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors

Gallaudet University is pleased to announce President T. Alan Hurwitz has been elected to serve on the Board of Directors for the DC Chamber of Commerce. Hurwitz was nominated by Chamber President & CEO Barbara Lang and his selection was confirmed by the entire Board at their quarterly meeting on April 25.

Hurwitz will serve on the Board for two calendar years, effective immediately. His appointment marks the first time in the history of the DC Chamber that a deaf person has held a position on the Board of Directors.

“I am honored to serve on the DC Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors to help promote the interests of the entire business community in the District,” said Hurwitz. The DC Chamber has been instrumental in strengthening and growing the economy of the District, particularly in the Northeast, where Gallaudet University is located. The economic vitality of the District is essential for building opportunities for Gallaudet students, staff, and faculty, and in turn, I encourage the campus community to become involved in the economic welfare of the city.”

We are proud to have President Hurwitz joining the Chamber’s Board of Directors; said Barbara Lang, President & CEO of the DC Chamber of Commerce. As one of our City’s largest employers and most important economic engines, universities play a vital role in the District’s economic development. Dr. Hurwitz brings a wealth of experience and public service spirit to the table, and we expect his work on the Board will benefit and enrich not just the Chamber, but the District of Columbia as a whole.

The DC Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors is comprised of more than 50 of the District’s preeminent business leaders, each of whom has made a commitment to furthering the cause of commercial growth and development in the District. Bringing a wealth of real-world business experience to the table, these men and women provide active guidance to the Chamber in its day-to-day operations, in addition to their invaluable assistance in fundraising, making connections, and recruitment.

Hurwitz became the tenth president of Gallaudet University on January 1, 2010. Now in his fourth year, Hurwitz has overseen the ongoing establishment of four pre-graduate programs including law, medicine, architecture, and business, the opening of a National Science Foundation-funded neuroimaging research laboratory, new relationships forged internationally and nationally in Beijing, Panama, and with the U.S. federal government, the university’s first-ever tax-exempt bond issue which funded an innovative residence hall and energy conservation projects, and the creation of a University Council, in which a group of students, faculty, and staff advise him on university decisions of interest to the entire campus community.

This year, Hurwitz was honored with the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) District II Chief Executive Leadership Award and the Washington University in St. Louis School of Engineering Alumni Achievement Award.

Hurwitz has been involved with many professional and deafness-related organizations throughout his career. Hurwitz is chair of the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) Presidents’ Council and is the first deaf person to hold this position in NEAC history. He previously served as the NEAC Presidents’ Council vice-chair. Hurwitz is also a past president of the National Association of the Deaf as well as the World Organization of Jewish Deaf.

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.

The DC Chamber of Commerce strives to promote and protect the interests of the business community in the District through advocacy, support, and a network of 1,700 members. The organization’s 2013 goals include working with the District government and its partners to implement an economic development strategy that will expand services to DC visitors through the Chamber’s Tourist Information Center, increasing international engagement, pursuing investment opportunities for its members, and continuing to improve the business climate in DC through strong policy advocacy.