From the time Gallaudet admitted its first international student to the dynamic partnerships abroad it engages in today, 160 years after its founding, the University鈥檚 global influence has made it the nucleus of education, advocacy, and proponent of signed languages for deaf and hard of hearing people the world over. 

For the past seven years, the Office of International Affairs (OIA) has hosted the Global Gallaudet Fair (GGF). This year marked the inaugural Global Gallaudet Celebration (GGC), a four-day event that expanded on GGF to honor Gallaudet鈥檚 160-year legacy of global impact and highlight new opportunities to integrate global learning into the curriculum. Attendance for the week indicated that the GGC was a great success 鈥�  the events drew a total of 460 individuals.

The GGC kicked off on November 12 with a keynote address by Dr. Charles Reilly, the University鈥檚 senior international officer, who shared highlights of Gallaudet鈥檚 positive influence around the world between its founding in 1864, to the present.

Reilly, who also serves as executive director of OIA, first became acquainted with Gallaudet in 1976 as an exchange student from Oberlin College and Conservatory, Oberlin, Ohio. Over the ensuing three years, he volunteered with such notable faculty in the field of sign language research and advocacy as Dr. William Stokoe, MJ Bienvenu, and Dr. Yerker Andersson. Reilly described these three, and many others, as 鈥渃onnectors鈥� and internationally-minded individuals, fighting for the recognition of sign language around the world.

Today, thanks to the leadership of President Roberta Cordano and Provost Khadijat K. Rashid, ’90, Reilly said Gallaudet is expanding the scope of its tagline: Connect. Discover. Influence. This year alone, formal agreements are in place with like-minded institutions in Bulgaria, Australia, The Philippines, Italy, Norway, India, Ethiopia, and Japan. In addition, expanding opportunities for 鈥済lobal learning for all鈥� 鈥� the nucleus of a global Gallaudet 鈥� with a growing number of study abroad and internship sites, and international scholars on campus teaching and conducting research. To illustrate his point, Reilly paused in his presentation while a five-minute montage of video clips showed Gallaudet鈥檚 influence throughout the world.

Reilly ended his presentation by announcing that, as 鈥渁 current generation of global leaders is emerging,鈥� a new Global Gallaudet Award has been established to recognize their work. Fiona Grugan, manager of Education Abroad and International Fellowships, announced one faculty member and two students as inaugural award winners.

A faculty member who truly exemplifies Global Learning for All by making significant contributions to advancing global education and fostering Deaf culture is Dr. Joseph Murray, a professor in the Deaf Studies program and president of the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD). Murray was nominated for the award by Dr. Brian Greenwald, ’96, director of the Drs. John S. and Betty J. Schuchman Deaf Documentary Center. Greenwald cited Murray for his outstanding work in deaf studies and advocacy for linguistic and cultural rights for Deaf communities worldwide. Greenwald鈥檚 nomination states that Murray has been 鈥渋nstrumental in promoting policies that support the recognition and protection of sign languages and Deaf culture on an international scale. His research and activism emphasize the importance of accessibility, inclusivity, and respect for diversity, advocating for the rights of Deaf people in education, employment, and public life. Dr. Murray鈥檚 global engagement efforts have helped bridge divides between Deaf and hearing communities, fostering a more inclusive and informed understanding of Deaf culture across borders.鈥�

Students receiving the award were undergraduate Jeffrey Levitt, nominated by Dr. Pilar Pi帽ar, a professor in the World Languages and Cultures program, and undergraduate student Christopher Arguello; and graduate student Tashinalynn Sanders, in the International Development Master鈥檚 program, nominated by Dr. Audrey Cooper. Levitt was chosen for his enthusiasm, 鈥渟eizing every international opportunity to learn new languages and explore new cultures,鈥� and for his work as a teaching assistant in the English Language Institute. Sanders was selected for her passion in working on disability rights and emergency preparedness, including the Disability-Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction and Emergency Planning Program Summer Institute in Japan last summer.

A Dynamic Fair and Global Learning

A perennially popular event, the Global Gallaudet Fair (GGF) took place on November 13. The fair shares international fellowship and study abroad opportunities with the University community, to harness the power of global learning, including study abroad programs, scholarships, fellowships, and global internships.

Reflecting on the event, Tracy Dunlap, Education Abroad Coordinator, who coordinated and managed the fair with the Education Abroad team鈥檚 support, remarked: “The Global Gallaudet Fair breaks down barriers and opens doors for the Deaf community to thrive globally. It鈥檚 a powerful reminder that the world is full of opportunities waiting to be embraced, and Gallaudet is here to ensure those opportunities are accessible to everyone.”

The day began with a welcome by Neal Murata, deputy director of the U.S. Department of State鈥檚 (DOS) Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, Office of East Asian and Pacific Affairs. For more than 16 years, Murata has been dedicated to exchange programs and other initiatives to engage Deaf communities globally. He spoke of the 鈥減ower of study abroad,鈥� and the strong relationship between the University and the DOS, one of the vendors at the fair. 鈥淕allaudet is the breeding ground for the next generation of deaf leaders,鈥� said Murata, and mentioned as an example DOS鈥檚 recent Deaf Diplomacy at State, an initiative that is strongly supported by President Cordano, which addresses implications of meaningful inclusion of deaf and hard of hearing people in diplomacy. 

Celebrating Global Engagement and Artistic Contributions

This year, the Education Abroad and International Fellowships Office unveiled a new design symbolizing Gallaudet鈥檚 global reach. The artwork, featuring a bison whose face merges with a painted globe (shown here), was created by Santiago Paiva, a 2024 study abroad alumnus from the Spanish Sign Language (LSE) program in Madrid, Spain. This unique design represents Gallaudet鈥檚 commitment to global engagement and the unity of cultures worldwide.

The bison, a symbol of strength and resilience, now reflects our international reach and spirit of exploration. Vinyl stickers of this design were printed and distributed throughout the week, marking it as the office鈥檚 new emblem for international education. Be sure to grab one and celebrate our vibrant global community!

In addition, several study abroad and international internship alumni, International Visiting Scholars (IVS), international student alumni, and students who attended international conferences shared their experiences through posters displayed in the Hall Memorial Building鈥檚 first-floor halls. This exhibit offered the Gallaudet community an inspiring view of global learning opportunities and the personal growth fostered through these experiences.

The extended celebration featured a variety of events, including the annual Global Fair, Opening Ceremony, IDMA Panel, Siena Workshop, and International Sign Language Demonstration.

Dunlap summarized the event鈥檚 significance: “In celebration of Gallaudet鈥檚 160 years of global impact, this year鈥檚 Global Gallaudet Celebration was bigger than ever. We wanted our student body to experience what it truly means to be a global university鈥攏ot just hear about it but see it in action.”