DeafNation: Congratulations on your selection! I’m curious, how has life changed for you since the announcement?

Dr. T. Alan Hurwitz: It has been surreal. This is something I never dreamed for, especially after almost 40 wonderful years in Rochester. I expected to finish my career at NTID/RIT  until I was contacted by Gallaudet’s Presidential Search Advisory Committee (PSAC). After the fourth time they contacted me, I submitted my curriculum vitae. I became fascinated with the possibility of moving to Washington, DC after I was interviewed by the PSAC and met with the Board of Trustees. I believe that with my experience, I can contribute to Gallaudet and thus entertained the possibility of a career change. Everyday since the announcement, I still wonder  if this is for real.

DN: Before we talk about your presidency, can you tell me more about your educational background?

Hurwitz: I grew up at the Central Institute for the Deaf in St. Louis, Missouri. When I was 13, I moved back home to Sioux City, Iowa, where I was mainstreamed in the Dark Ages – without an interpreter. I went from being with 6 students in my class at CID to 40 students in high school. I was overwhelmed, but having a deaf family at home helped me get through high school. I had strong study skills and was involved in sports.

DN: What were your parents like?

Hurwitz: My deaf father was first employed as a linotype printer for 4 years, a skill he picked up at the Iowa School for the Deaf. After the printing job, he worked at a bakery except for a few years when he worked in upholstery. My deaf mother also worked. . We were poor and she worked odd jobs, such as sewing, when I was away at school in St. Louis. I was an only child and when I returned home for the summer, she left her job to stay at home with me until I returned to schoolin the Fall when she would get a new job. . She did this for ten years untilI moved back home and she became employed by Wincharger (a Zenith radio manufacturing company) as a quality tester for 25 years. Several times she tapplied for a new job at Wincharger and being deaf, she was not paid attention to; however,  after not hearing back from the company, she decided to show up at the office at 8 a.m. She stayed there all day until 5 in the evening, she was finally noticed and told to go home.  Insteadshe offered to work two weeks for free and then was quickly hired.

DN: What did you originally want to be when you were a young boy?

Hurwitz: Believe it or not, I remembered only recently that when I was 8 or 9 years old, I wanted to be a president. Of what, I wasn’t sure at the time, but something. My mother, who is my role model, always talked about successful Deaf people and told me I could do anything. Growing up, I had a lot of exposure to deaf people who were working and earning a successful living. As my mother always told me, “why not?”

DN: What was the turning point that made you decide to become a candidate for the presidency of Gallaudet University?

Hurwitz: The PSAC had contacted me three times already, but by the fourth time, I had a good talk with the search consultants and, eventually, with the PSAC chair. I was told it was not just the presidency of a university, but truly a call to national service. That impacted me, having been former president of the National Association of the Deaf. Gallaudet has a rich history and I’ve always been familiar with the university.

DN: You are the only one out of the four final candidates that did not graduate from Gallaudet. How does that influence or not influence your presidency?

Hurwitz: That is one reason I originally resisted the application. From discussions with the PSAC, the ideal person for the presidency is someone who will bring fresh energy and perspective to the University. I’ve done a lot of work in the deaf community and been to Gallaudet many times so it is dear to my heart.

DN: Let’s talk about the transition from Dr. Davila to you. How is that occurring?

Hurwitz: The Presidential Transition Advisory Committee (PTAC) is comprised of representatives from different departments, including students and staff members. They identify critical issues that are essential to the future of Gallaudet, such as the momentum for the Long Range Strategic Plan. I also have the assistance of Debby DeStefano, the liaison between the Board of Trustees, PTAC and the office of the President. The transition has been very smooth and Dr. Davila’s support is wonderful.

DN: What will your first step as President be?

Hurwitz: The people are the most important thing. I will get to know them by walking around campus and showing them that I am an accessible President. Since Alumni chapters play a key role of the community, one of my goals is to strenghthen the relationship between the President’s office and the Alumni Association. I will also introduce myself to members of Congress and the Department of Education as well as to donors and friends of the university.

DN: What will Gallaudet look like five years from now?

Hurwitz: Gallaudet will be viewed as the premier liberal arts university for the deaf, with a strong career focus and a collaborative partnership with the Washington Consortium of Colleges and Universities in the D.C. area as well as other colleges and universities. The campus will be less isolated from the community and evolve with the neighborhood, especially with the 6^th Street neighborhood project. The partnership with the community will be healthy and provide opportunities for our students to see more of our own neighborhood.

DN: I know your wife Vicki is a big part of your life. What will she be like as a first lady?

Hurwitz: Vicki is a very accessible and visible person, and will be so as a first lady. Her passion lies in volunteerism. In Rochester, she taught Deaf Women Studies for 12 years, co-founded Deaf Women of Rochester, and Advocacy Services for Abused Deaf Victims and was also worked in the Student Life Team. She will be seen around campus interacting with the community, and volunteering for different causes.

DN: Do you have a message for our worldwide viewers at DeafNation.com?

Hurwitz: The opportunity for the future is larger than ever before. There is no stopping you from grabbing new opportunities. Education plays a large part in growth and development, and can open doors for you if you pursue your dreams.

DN: Thank you! I look forward to our next interview in January!