Miss-Delectable
New Member
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2004
- Messages
- 17,160
- Reaction score
- 7
http://www.idsnews.com/news/story.php?id=35896&adid=campus
New grad plans to become superintendent in deaf school
When recent IU graduate David Geeslin walked across Assembly Hall's court Saturday to accept his doctorate hood, he made history.
Accepting his Ed.D in Educational Leadership during this year's commencement ceremony, he became the first deaf student to gain that degree in the University's history.
"I have been told by my historical research friends that I am the first deaf person to graduate with a doctoral degree from IU," Geeslin said in an e-mail. "I am also the first deaf person to graduate with a doctoral degree from any Indiana college."
Geeslin, who graduated from Boston University in 1991 with a masters degree in education, credits IU for helping to foster a supportive learning environment that assisted him throughout his studies.
"We are all working in education, and I have enjoyed building friendships with educators and administrators in other specialties of education," he said. "This networking will continue to be helpful as we all serve our students and families."
Geeslin added that the "outstanding" Educational Leadership faculty was of great benefit to him as they did a great job providing accommodations for classroom participation, including "excellent" interpreters and live transcribing services.
Associate professor Robert Toutkoushian, who was Geeslin's director of his dissertation, said that while working with him on his research and analysis Geeslin showed great determination and diligence. He added that his conversations became so natural he couldn't even tell an interpreter was present.
"If he doesn't understand something, he is not afraid to come back and ask," Toutkoushian said. "I was very impressed with his commitment and perseverance."
Despite the praise from faculty members, Geeslin admitted his success did not come without its difficulties or challenges. He said he struggled at times with the level of expectations and the amount of learning necessary to satisfy many professors.
Regardless of the obstacles that presented themselves during his educational career, Geeslin said he was motivated by something stronger that kept him going.
"My motivation to be in educational leadership stems from my own frustration as a consumer of special education," he said. "As a young deaf student, I was frustrated by the systemic acceptance of low expectations for deaf students. I vowed at an early age to make a change and aim higher for deaf students."
Now that he has earned his degree, Geeslin is now awaiting approval from the governor to be named superintendent of the Indiana School for the Deaf, where he has worked during his studies at IU as an educational consultant. He was also a former elementary principal and a licensed teacher before pursuing his doctorate degree at IU.
"He has been a very promising student and has a good solid career ahead of him," Toutkoushian said. "I'm glad we were able to work with him."
As Geeslin goes on to pursue his professional career he said he hopes his accomplishments will inspire future students.
"I am thrilled with my experience at Indiana University and I hope by being (here) I might have, in some small way, paved the way for other up and coming young deaf leaders," he said.
New grad plans to become superintendent in deaf school
When recent IU graduate David Geeslin walked across Assembly Hall's court Saturday to accept his doctorate hood, he made history.
Accepting his Ed.D in Educational Leadership during this year's commencement ceremony, he became the first deaf student to gain that degree in the University's history.
"I have been told by my historical research friends that I am the first deaf person to graduate with a doctoral degree from IU," Geeslin said in an e-mail. "I am also the first deaf person to graduate with a doctoral degree from any Indiana college."
Geeslin, who graduated from Boston University in 1991 with a masters degree in education, credits IU for helping to foster a supportive learning environment that assisted him throughout his studies.
"We are all working in education, and I have enjoyed building friendships with educators and administrators in other specialties of education," he said. "This networking will continue to be helpful as we all serve our students and families."
Geeslin added that the "outstanding" Educational Leadership faculty was of great benefit to him as they did a great job providing accommodations for classroom participation, including "excellent" interpreters and live transcribing services.
Associate professor Robert Toutkoushian, who was Geeslin's director of his dissertation, said that while working with him on his research and analysis Geeslin showed great determination and diligence. He added that his conversations became so natural he couldn't even tell an interpreter was present.
"If he doesn't understand something, he is not afraid to come back and ask," Toutkoushian said. "I was very impressed with his commitment and perseverance."
Despite the praise from faculty members, Geeslin admitted his success did not come without its difficulties or challenges. He said he struggled at times with the level of expectations and the amount of learning necessary to satisfy many professors.
Regardless of the obstacles that presented themselves during his educational career, Geeslin said he was motivated by something stronger that kept him going.
"My motivation to be in educational leadership stems from my own frustration as a consumer of special education," he said. "As a young deaf student, I was frustrated by the systemic acceptance of low expectations for deaf students. I vowed at an early age to make a change and aim higher for deaf students."
Now that he has earned his degree, Geeslin is now awaiting approval from the governor to be named superintendent of the Indiana School for the Deaf, where he has worked during his studies at IU as an educational consultant. He was also a former elementary principal and a licensed teacher before pursuing his doctorate degree at IU.
"He has been a very promising student and has a good solid career ahead of him," Toutkoushian said. "I'm glad we were able to work with him."
As Geeslin goes on to pursue his professional career he said he hopes his accomplishments will inspire future students.
"I am thrilled with my experience at Indiana University and I hope by being (here) I might have, in some small way, paved the way for other up and coming young deaf leaders," he said.