Gallaudet Turns to Alumnus to Fill Interim President Post

WASHINGTON (AP) - Gallaudet University has turned to former student with national credentials to lead the school until a permanent president can be selected.

The school's board of trustees has announced that Robert Davila will serve as interim president beginning Jan. 2, when Irving King Jordan steps down after 19 years.

Davila, who graduated from Gallaudet in 1953, says he worried about getting into Gallaudet while attending the California School for the Deaf as a 12-year-old boy.

He taught at Galluadet for 17 years beginning in 1972. He also served as vice president of the National Technical Institute for the Deaf at Rochester, New York for eight years ending in 2004.

Davila used American Sign Language to speak with faculty, staff and students at Gallaudet on Sunday after his appointment was announced by board of trustees chairwoman Pamela Holmes.

He promised to work with staff, faculty and students to strengthen communications at the school.

Caption: Robert Davila graduated from Gallaudet in 1953. (Darci Marchese/WTOP Radio)

1 posted on 12/10/2006 5:20:47 PM PST by COBOL2Java

i do hope the students and administration can
peacefully determine the new president.

2 posted on 12/10/2006 5:25:01 PM PST by leda (Life is always what you make it!)

Dr. Davila seems like a good choice. He's been a very successful educator, but at 70 he may be only a caretaker until they elect a permanent president. Notwithstanding, I wish him well.

3 posted on 12/10/2006 5:28:24 PM PST by COBOL2Java ("No stronger retrograde force exists in the world" - Winston Churchill on Islam)

Is this the college that riots every time a non-hearing impaired candidate for president is proposed?

Children of a lesser god and all that.

4 posted on 12/10/2006 6:25:10 PM PST by elcid1970

yes, there have been several protests when presidents were
chosen. i don't think the only determining factor was whether
the person could hear or not though.

5 posted on 12/10/2006 6:30:33 PM PST by leda (Life is always what you make it!)

it seems he is to be an interim president.
not sure if he will become permanent at the
post though. do wish them all well. it's an
impressive school.

6 posted on 12/10/2006 6:32:28 PM PST by leda (Life is always what you make it!)

I never knew the deaf could be so hateful and violent until I learned of Gallaudet.

You say you WANT your unborn children to be deaf? Then you're a moron!

7 posted on 12/11/2006 11:38:29 AM PST by -=SoylentSquirrel=- (I'm boycotting Best Buy, so yay for me.)

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