First President of NTID Named

Rochester Institute of Technology President William W. Destler and RIT’s Board of Trustees have named T. Alan Hurwitz president of RIT’s National Technical Institute for the Deaf.

It is the first time a president has been named for NTID in its more than 40-year history.

Hurwitz, who has headed NTID since 2003 as Vice President of RIT for NTID and CEO and Dean of NTID, will retain the title of Vice President and Dean of RIT for NTID. He was appointed Dean in 1998.

“This new title reflects Dr. Hurwitz’s strong leadership of our nation’s most significant educational resource for deaf and hard-of-hearing students interested in pursuing technical careers,” Destler said. “I am confident he will continue to be a strong leader for RIT and NTID.”

As president, Hurwitz will continue his comprehensive role with NTID’s external relations, such as working with the U.S. Department of Education, members of Congress and their staffs, development and alumni relations, and maintaining an active connection with national and international organizations serving deaf and hard-of-hearing people.

In addition, Hurwitz will continue his internal NTID responsibilities including academic affairs, student affairs, access services, enrollment management, outreach, and facilities management.

Hurwitz has been associated with NTID since 1970 in numerous roles including deanship since 1998. As its first president, he will continue to oversee NTID’s more than $80 million annual budget, as well as 568 staff and faculty members and approximately 1,200 students who are deaf and hard of hearing, as well as approximately 175 hearing students in undergraduate Interpreting Education and graduate Teacher Education programs.

“I am honored and humbled to receive such a prestigious title,” said Hurwitz. “I am as proud of the wonderful work being done at RIT/NTID today as I was in 1970. I will continue to be an enthusiastic ambassador for RIT and NTID and its students.”

Hurwitz, who holds two degrees in electrical engineering from Washington University at St. Louis and St. Louis University, received a doctorate degree in curriculum and teaching from the University of Rochester. He is former president of the National Association of the Deaf and former president of the World Organization of Jewish Deaf. He is also a frequent lecturer at educational institutions and conferences across the U.S. and abroad.

Created by Congress with the Education of the Deaf Act, one of the longest federally supported education programs, 6,100 deaf or hard-of-hearing students - as well as hearing students enrolled in NTID’s interpreting program and graduate program in Teacher Education - have graduated from NTID.

RIT is internationally recognized as a leader in computing, engineering, imaging technology, fine and applied arts, and for providing unparalleled access and support services for students with hearing loss. NTID, one of RIT’s eight colleges, enables its deaf and hard-of-hearing college students from around the world to study, live and socialize with 14,400 hearing students. U.S. News and World Report has consistently ranked RIT among the nation’s leading comprehensive universities. Visit www.rit.edu/NTID/newsroom for more NTID news.