Academics

Overview

Our purpose is to tell the Gallaudet Story so that the world recognizes the value of Deaf people across the spectrum of identities.

At Gallaudet University, there are so many stories– many that are visible, and many, many more that are untold. University Communications is here to show the world what Gallaudet stands for by telling the stories of our students, our faculty, our staff, our alumni, our donors — in short, our community.

University Communications spotlights those stories and ensures that the messaging and framing support our mission: Deaf people have value, and the world is a better place because of our contributions. We do that by:

  • Amplifying Gallaudet’s stories through public and media relations
  • Strengthening our campus community through internal communications
  • Managing the Gallaudet brand and digital assets
  • Publishing the Gallaudet Today magazine and key email digests
  • Optimizing our social media channels
  • Coordinating major campus-wide events
  • Operationalizing the Gallaudet website (gallaudet.edu) and intranet (MyGU)
  • Designing and promoting Gallaudet’s recruitment and enrollment strategies
  • Running major campaigns and strategic initiatives

Our Teams

University Communications consists of three departments.

Marketing and Experience is the architect of the Gallaudet brand, with its team of creative, marketing, and video professionals that create print, web, video, and other graphic content aimed at showcasing the outstanding academic and campus life. Marketing and Experience also manages key communication tools, including the Brand Book, website and intranet (MyGU), social media, email digests, Apple Maps Guides, and more.

Public & Media Relations serves as a liaison between members of the media and campus constituents, by providing strategic planning to place positive stories from the university community into key media markets, responding to requests from the media, and assisting campus administrators, faculty, staff, and students with coordinating media requests and with interview training.

Internal Communications strategizes and implements communications for the internal campus community, supporting leadership communications, health and safety initiatives, and other major communication campaigns.

Our Products and Services

PRODUCTS & TOOLS

  • Gallaudet Today magazine Reach: 25,000+ readers
  • Brandbook Visual and identity guide for the Gallaudet brand, logo and language
  • Gallaudet.edu Our website that the world reads
  • MyGU Our intranet for the internal campus community
  • gu.live URL shortening service for Gallaudet.edu
  • Apple Maps Guides The first online map of the Signing ecosystem
  • Gallaudet social media Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and TikTok
  • Media outlets

SERVICES

Manage key communication campaigns

  • Gallaudet Promise
  • Signing Ecosystem
  • Thankful Bison
  • Alumni Presents…
  • President’s Office communications
  • COVID-19/Return to Campus
  • … and other University-wide initiatives

Manage University-wide events

  • Welcome Home
  • Homecoming
  • State of the University
  • Commencement
  • … and other University-wide events

Admissions and Enrollment marketing and communication

Public and Media Relations

  • Strategic planning to place stories into key media markets
  • Respond to requests from the media
  • Coordinate media requests and interview training

Creative, Marketing, and Video

  • Design
  • Copywriting
  • Web Design and Development
  • Photography
  • Social Media
  • Videography

Mass Print and Email Distributions

  • Gallaudet Today
  • Annual Report of Achievements
  • Email: Hi5 and MyGU Digest

Requesting support from University Communications

Need to submit a request or ask for support?

Please complete our request form.

Tell us what problem you are trying to solve and the desired outcome. We will work with you to determine whether your request can be plugged into an existing campaign/project and/or aligns with a University-wide priority. If the answer is yes, we will offer the following services:

  • Consultative review of content to ensure that messaging is consistent across divisions, and that timing of the release is in alignment with other messaging across the University, and for style and tone.
  • Communication distribution management, including determining the method of delivery and the various channels.
  • Resources for copyediting, graphic design, and video production as needed, including ASL/English translation services.

If it does not, we will offer you options for other levels of review, support, and resources.

Gallaudet Brand Book

The most important resource is one that each of us is responsible for: the Gallaudet Brand Book. By downloading, reviewing and implementing the guidelines, you will be strengthening the Gallaudet brand and story.

Download Brand Book

Social Media

Each of us can amplify the many stories of Gallaudet by following us on all our social media channels, and sharing the posts and stories.

Subscribe

Subscribe to our various publications and email digests by signing up here.

Subscribe

Media inquiries

For information, to find a faculty expert or any other media inquiry, please contact us.

Contact us

Meet the Team

Brandi Rarus

Chief Communications and Admissions Officer

Courtney Cannon

Traffic and Production Coordinator

Shara Winesburg

Strategic Communications Manager

Robert Weinstock

Senior Public Relations Manager

Information

FAQs

Common Questions

Students, faculty, and staff have a great deal of expertise and insight to share with members of the media. However, before responding to a media representative, members of the campus community should contact University Communications. University Communications is the source for the media regarding any official information about the University.
If you would like Communications and Public Relations to cover an event or news in our other publications, complete the news submission form at least two weeks in advance. If you have a preference on the publication in which it should be covered, please note that in the appropriate field on the form.
Due to limited staff resources and space limitations in certain publications, we are not able to honor all coverage requests. Priority will be given to those events that support the goals of the Gallaudet Strategic Plan.
For On the Green and Gallaudet Today magazine or newsletter, you should fill out the Photo Request Form. You should let us know two weeks in advance of the event, provide all the relevant information (day, time, location, contact person). You may accompany the story with a photo. For the Featured Photo, which appears in Daily Digest, please send:
  • A high-resolution photo (see details below)
  • A description of what is happening and who is pictured
  • The name of the photographer
Want a copy of photos from your event? The office is pleased to send digital photos upon request. Photo submissions: Any photos submitted for print must be in JPG format and be high resolution (300 dpi or greater). Photos for Daily Digest announcements must be cropped or resized to 848 pixels wide by 477 pixels high
If you believe your event may be worth coverage in newspapers, magazines, television programs, or other external media, please contact the Office of University Communications directly to meet with a media relations representative. The event must support the goals of the Gallaudet Strategic Plan and have a wider appeal to a broad audience.
  • The Daily Digest is an online daily newsletter that highlights recent news, events and a photo of the day.
  • The Calendar is an online calendar of events
  • The slide show that appears on the my.Gallaudet.edu home page highlights Gallaudet news and events.
  • On The Green is Gallaudet’s online magazine that publishes feature articles and columns such as “Among Ourselves” which highlights recent news of individual staff and faculty.
  • The Gallaudet Today magazine and Gallaudet Today newsletter are printed publications that are each published twice a year. They primarily cover alumni events but also offer features of interest to the campus community at large.

Contact Us

University Communications

Chapel Hall 102

202-657-0268

Monday
9:00 am-5:00 pm
Tuesday
9:00 am-5:00 pm
Wednesday
9:00 am-5:00 pm
Thursday
9:00 am-5:00 pm
Friday
9:00 am-5:00 pm

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