Robert R. Davila

Dr. Robert Davila served as the ninth president of Gallaudet University,^[1][2] the world's only university in which all programs and services are specifically designed to accommodate deaf and hard of hearing students. His appointment came after the wake of the Unity for Gallaudet Movement protests of 2006,^[3] when many students, staff, and alumni objected to the initial choice of Jane Fernandes as the intended next president.^[4][5] It was originally intended that he serve only 18–24 months as an interim-president, but the Board dropped the interim designation and then extended his contract to 36 months.

Early life

Robert Davila was born in southern California to Mexican-American parents who worked in fields and orchards. At age eight, he contracted spinal meningitis and became deaf. When his mother learned about a school for the deaf in northern California, she sent him alone on a journey to the California School for the Deaf in Berkeley (which later moved to California School for the Deaf, Fremont).

Education

Davila graduated from Gallaudet University, with a Bachelor's in Education. He then went to Hunter College with a Master's in Special Education. To complete his education, he attended and graduated from Syracuse University with a Ph.D. in Educational Technology. He also has received honorary degrees from Gallaudet, RIT, Stonehill College, and Hunter College.^[2][6]

Professional career

Davila served as Assistant Secretary for the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services of the US Department of Education from 1989 to 1993 during the administration of George H.W. Bush.^[7][6] Educationally, Dr. Davila has experience teaching high school math, being an assistant principal, serving as a K-12 superintendent. He worked as professor, a college administrator and Vice President of Gallaudet University in the 1970s and '80s. He was headmaster of the New York School for the Deaf at White Plains 1993 to 1996 as well as CEO of the National Technical Institute for the Deaf 1996 from 2006.^[6] On December 10, 2006, Davila was named the ninth President of Gallaudet,^[8] enacted at the start of 2007.^[2][8] He stepped down as president on December 31, 2009 and was succeeded by Dr. T. Alan Hurwitz.

Speeches and Interviews

Davila, Robert R., Acceptance speech upon being selected President of Gallaudet University, 2006. (Download text of speech: http://saveourdeafschools.org/robert_davila_acceptance_speech_2006.pdf)

Davila, Robert R., Installation speech as Gallaudet's Ninth President, 2007. (Download text of speech: http://saveourdeafschools.org/robert_davila_installation_speech_2007.pdf)

Davila, Robert R., Address at Gallaudet's 140th Commencement, May 15, 2009. (Download text of speech: http://saveourdeafschools.org/robert_davila_commencement_address_2009.pdf)

Davila, Robert R., Keynote Address at National Association of the Deaf convention in Denver, Colorado, 1992. (Download text of speech: http://saveourdeafschools.org/davila_keynote_NAD_denver_1992.pdf)

Davila, Robert R., Plenary Address at PEPnet 2002: Biennial Conference on Postsecondary Education for Persons who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. (Download text of speech: http://saveourdeafschools.org/robert_davila_2002.pdf)

Davila, Robert R., Interview on Deaf Mosaic, 1989. (Link: http://videocatalog.gallaudet.edu/player.cfm?video=1695, beginning at 23:30.)

See also

• Deaf Culture
• Deaf President Now (1988)

References

1. ^ Presidents & Terms - Gallaudet University
2. ^ ^{a b c} About Dr. Robert R. Davila - Gallaudet University
3. ^ Inside Gallaudet - Gallaudet University
4. ^ No-Confidence Vote for Gallaudet Leader
5. ^ NPR: Fernandes Vows to Fight for Presidency of Gallaudet
6. ^ ^{a b c} Robert Davila
7. ^ "Davila fills Department of Education post," Gallaudet Today, Fall 1989, pp. 35-36.
8. ^ ^{a b} Gallaudet University

External links

• Biographical information from NTID
• Excerpt from "Triumph of the Spirit," by Angel Ramos
• Robert Davila--Miscellaneous Congressional testimony
• DeafLife November 1990
• DeafLife January 2008

Political offices
Preceded by Madeleine Will	Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services 1989–1993	Succeeded by Judith Heumann
Academic offices
Preceded by William E. Castle	Vice President of RIT for the National Technical Institute for the Deaf 1996–2003	Succeeded by T. Alan Hurwitz
Preceded by I. King Jordan	President of Gallaudet University January 1, 2007 – December 31, 2009	Succeeded by T. Alan Hurwitz

Persondata
Name	Davila, Robert R.
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Date of birth	1932
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Date of death
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