National Technical Institute for the Deaf

Stephen Aldersley, an educator and administrator at RIT/NTID for 32 years, has been named NTID associate vice president for academic affairs, responsible for all academic programs and services at NTID and the academic support services provided to deaf and hard-of-hearing students in the other eight colleges of RIT.

He will have budget and planning responsibility for 260 faculty and staff members.

NTID President Gerry Buckley announced the appointment following a national search.

Aldersley’s appointment is effective Jan. 1. He replaces Laurie Brewer, who is stepping down as she prepares to retire.

Aldersley has served as associate dean for academic administration since 2008. He served as Department Chair of English and of Liberal Studies from 1991 until 2008. He has conducted research related to how deaf students learn English, curriculum and assessment of English language development among deaf students, the history of organizations serving deaf people, the application of special education law in court cases involving deaf children, and the evolution of comprehensive institutions of higher education into doctoral-granting institutions.

He holds a doctoral degree in education from the University of Rochester and has served as an Impartial Hearing Officer for the State of New York.

Prior to his arrival at NTID, Aldersley taught middle school in his native England.

“I love being around and working with young people,” he says. “And I very much enjoy higher education administration. I’ve enjoyed being a chair, an associate dean, and I’m looking forward to exciting new challenges in this position as we implement NTID’s new strategic plan and prepare for the conversion from a quarter-based calendar to a semester system.”

Aldersley says he "feels blessed to have been able to spend the majority of my career at RIT/NTID, which offers unique opportunities for deaf and hard-of-hearing students. “Working with them and seeing them succeed is a privilege. It’s a wonderful place to work.”