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Inside Gallaudet - Gallaudet University
Six Gallaudet students recently benefited from a memorable week of networking and training by attending the Collegiate Black Deaf Student Leadership Institute at the 25th Anniversary National Black Deaf Advocates (NBDA) Conference in St. Louis, Mo.
Anquinette Kimble, Serge Okogo, Ismella Saul, Nkiruka Akunwafor, Gizelle Gilbert, and Matthew Maxey met successful black deaf leaders, studied ways to empower others, discovered little known facts about black deaf history, and learned that whatever obstacles they may face, the key is to never give up.
Dr. Laurene Simms, associate professor in the Department of Education, was the director of the Leadership Institute, with Gallaudet alumnus Dorian Fletcher serving as assistant director.
The students, who were chosen to attend based on academic standing and recommendations, found inspiration in presenters and other participants.
“The conference has truly inspired me,” said Kimble, who has served as vice president and secretary of Gallaudet’s Black Deaf Student Union (BDSU). She cited the motivating professionals and future leaders from other universities including RIT; CSUN; and North Carolina State University as well as the new knowledge and skills she hopes to pass on to black deaf youth. She also applauded Simms and Fletcher for their work in making the program possible.
Okogo, who has been a deaf community leader and advocate in his home country of Gabon in west central Africa, said hearing the stories of older leaders made a big impression on him. Many of these leaders described challenges and frustrations from earlier times that seemed insurmountable. When others would have given up, they worked through the difficulties to become the influential, successful people they are today.
Seeing black deaf people in careers that some would think are off limits to them also made a lasting impression. “When I saw the first black deaf pilot [Edgar Thompson], my jaw dropped,” Okogo recalled. “Where I come from, that just doesn’t exist.” He pointed out that Darian Burwell, presidential assistant for diversity relations, was to thank for selecting him and the other students to attend the program and conference. The Office of Admissions and Student Affairs provided the funding for the students’ airfare and hotel arrangements.
The NBDA conference title, “Today's Vision is Tomorrow's Reality: Celebrating 25 Years of Progress," tied directly into the leadership institute. Members of the Gallaudet contingent are sure to use their training to help visions become reality back on campus and beyond.
The Institute offered a time to articulate questions and form those visions. Saul, a past president of Gallaudet’s Black Deaf Student Union and a participant in the Calibere leadership program, hopes to address the question, “Why aren't enough black folks graduating with B.A. and M.A. degrees?” Akunwafor, who herself left college and came back several years later, is concerned about this issue. She was also startled by the untold past. “It was surprising to me how much I did not know because I love history and had deaf history down pat,” she said.
The next step is to address these issues, and the participants clearly feel a sense of duty to do so. “As a graduate of the leadership institute, I have a responsibility to Gallaudet University and the community in general (black deaf, deaf, and the community beyond Kendall Green)” said Gilbert, whose leadership experience includes serving as a student ambassador for Gallaudet’s National Academic Bowl competition and an open house for prospective students.
“It was important for our students to meet other deaf leaders and alumni of Gallaudet,” said Burwell.
Gilbert agreed. “Every one of us had something unique about ourselves that we contributed to the institute,”
she said. “Some of us came together as strangers, but we departed one big family.”
Maxey, who has been involved with the Alpha Phi Alpha leadership program and the Morehouse College Upward Bound program, felt that the week of training was just the beginning. “I will definitely stay in touch with the students from RIT and CSUN,” he said, “because we built a strong bond, and together I believe that we can set a new trend as leaders.”
Caption: The six Gallaudet students selected to attend the Black Deaf Leadership Institute pose with other participants. The Institute, which was held during the 25th Annual National Black Deaf Advocates Conference, dovetailed with the title of the gathering: “Today's Vision is Tomorrow's Reality: Celebrating 25 Years of Progress."
Six Gallaudet students recently benefited from a memorable week of networking and training by attending the Collegiate Black Deaf Student Leadership Institute at the 25th Anniversary National Black Deaf Advocates (NBDA) Conference in St. Louis, Mo.
Anquinette Kimble, Serge Okogo, Ismella Saul, Nkiruka Akunwafor, Gizelle Gilbert, and Matthew Maxey met successful black deaf leaders, studied ways to empower others, discovered little known facts about black deaf history, and learned that whatever obstacles they may face, the key is to never give up.
Dr. Laurene Simms, associate professor in the Department of Education, was the director of the Leadership Institute, with Gallaudet alumnus Dorian Fletcher serving as assistant director.
The students, who were chosen to attend based on academic standing and recommendations, found inspiration in presenters and other participants.
“The conference has truly inspired me,” said Kimble, who has served as vice president and secretary of Gallaudet’s Black Deaf Student Union (BDSU). She cited the motivating professionals and future leaders from other universities including RIT; CSUN; and North Carolina State University as well as the new knowledge and skills she hopes to pass on to black deaf youth. She also applauded Simms and Fletcher for their work in making the program possible.
Okogo, who has been a deaf community leader and advocate in his home country of Gabon in west central Africa, said hearing the stories of older leaders made a big impression on him. Many of these leaders described challenges and frustrations from earlier times that seemed insurmountable. When others would have given up, they worked through the difficulties to become the influential, successful people they are today.
Seeing black deaf people in careers that some would think are off limits to them also made a lasting impression. “When I saw the first black deaf pilot [Edgar Thompson], my jaw dropped,” Okogo recalled. “Where I come from, that just doesn’t exist.” He pointed out that Darian Burwell, presidential assistant for diversity relations, was to thank for selecting him and the other students to attend the program and conference. The Office of Admissions and Student Affairs provided the funding for the students’ airfare and hotel arrangements.
The NBDA conference title, “Today's Vision is Tomorrow's Reality: Celebrating 25 Years of Progress," tied directly into the leadership institute. Members of the Gallaudet contingent are sure to use their training to help visions become reality back on campus and beyond.
The Institute offered a time to articulate questions and form those visions. Saul, a past president of Gallaudet’s Black Deaf Student Union and a participant in the Calibere leadership program, hopes to address the question, “Why aren't enough black folks graduating with B.A. and M.A. degrees?” Akunwafor, who herself left college and came back several years later, is concerned about this issue. She was also startled by the untold past. “It was surprising to me how much I did not know because I love history and had deaf history down pat,” she said.
The next step is to address these issues, and the participants clearly feel a sense of duty to do so. “As a graduate of the leadership institute, I have a responsibility to Gallaudet University and the community in general (black deaf, deaf, and the community beyond Kendall Green)” said Gilbert, whose leadership experience includes serving as a student ambassador for Gallaudet’s National Academic Bowl competition and an open house for prospective students.
“It was important for our students to meet other deaf leaders and alumni of Gallaudet,” said Burwell.
Gilbert agreed. “Every one of us had something unique about ourselves that we contributed to the institute,”
she said. “Some of us came together as strangers, but we departed one big family.”
Maxey, who has been involved with the Alpha Phi Alpha leadership program and the Morehouse College Upward Bound program, felt that the week of training was just the beginning. “I will definitely stay in touch with the students from RIT and CSUN,” he said, “because we built a strong bond, and together I believe that we can set a new trend as leaders.”
Caption: The six Gallaudet students selected to attend the Black Deaf Leadership Institute pose with other participants. The Institute, which was held during the 25th Annual National Black Deaf Advocates Conference, dovetailed with the title of the gathering: “Today's Vision is Tomorrow's Reality: Celebrating 25 Years of Progress."