NTID Department of Liberal Studies at RIT

08/28/2026

🍎🎉 TODAY IS APPLEFEST! 🎉🍎

Come stop by our booth and say HI to our amazing DLS faculty! 👋✨

Curious about the LEAD Program or Deaf Cultural Studies Program? 🤟📚 We’ll have lots of fantastic information about our programs, courses, and opportunities!

🍏 Have questions?
🍏 Curious about our courses?
🍏 Want to learn more?

Come find us at AppleFest! We’d love to meet you, chat, and share what DLS has to offer! 💙

See you there! 🍎🤟✨

Come celebrate the start of the school year with our 29th annual Applefest! Come meet RIT/NTID clubs, organizations, departments, and each other! Fall Treats and Drinks, Games, Music, and a vibrant community to connect with! Don't miss out!

📅August 28, 2026 at Student Development Center and Frisina Quad. 3 p.m.-5 p.m.

Register here at CampusGroups: https://cglink.me/2d1/r2329928

Any questions? Shoot us a message here, email us, or stop by our SLT office!

[ID: Brown and orange flyer themed with fall leaves and apple baskets. All the information including the QR code for CampusGroup registration is centered on the flyer. Event details on the flyer is written out above this paragraph.]

08/24/2026

🐯WELCOME BACK, TIGERS! 🎉

The campus is buzzing, and we are SO excited to see it filled with our students again! Today is the FIRST DAY OF CLASSES, and the adventure starts now!📚✨

Still need to register for a course, check your schedule, make a change, or connect with your advisor? You still have time! Make sure everything is in place before the Add/Drop deadline on Monday August 31.

Let's make this semester unforgettable! 🐾🔥

Good luck, tigers! 🐯 You've got this!💪🎓

[ID: A light cream background featuring a playful collage of orange backpacks and orange fall leaves, creating a warm and inviting autumn vibes. In the center, a brown rectangular box features the white text, 'Welcome Back Tigers! Classes Start Monday, August 24.' The RIT/DLS logo is positioned at the bottom of the flyer. \End ID].

06/18/2026

Watch this video featuring our student Janeva Mosher, a graduate of the Community Development and Inclusive Leadership (LEAD) Program. If you would like to learn more about the program, please contact Denise Kavin at [email protected] for additional information.

05/10/2026

DLS is taking a social media break to recharge, spark fresh ideas for the upcoming academic year, and most importantly, enjoy the sunny, warm days of summer! ☀️

We can’t wait to reconnect with you in the fall with exciting news, updates, and announcements. Until then, have a wonderful and safe summer!

[ID: The flyer features a relaxing beach scene, with brown sand at the bottom and sparkling blue water. Black text overlays the image with the announcement. The RIT/DLS logo is positioned at the bottom of the flyer. /End ID

05/10/2026

Happy Summer Birthdays!

As we head into summer and DLS social media takes a short break, we're delighted to celebrate these incredible DLS members - wishing them the happiest, most joyful birthdays filled with laughter and celebration! 🎂🥳

[ID: The flyer features summer citrus fruits scattered around the edges, along with polka dots. Dark blue text reads, "Happy Birthday to the DLS members born in the summer." Three overlapping Polaroid-style frames - in yellow, light green and lime - display the summer months June, July, and August, each with a list of DLS members and their birthdays. Inside the June frame is an image of a white birthday cake topped with assorted sliced fruit and three lit candles. The RIT/DLS logo is positioned at the bottom of the flyer. /END ID].

05/10/2026

Congratulations, LEAD-BS and APPLA-AS graduates! DLS is proud of you! Go out and make a difference in the world! Good luck!

First photo: Chair, Dr. Katie Schmitz with the graduates: Janeva Mosher
Allie Aleman, Donna Melena, Academic Advisor, Vicki Liggera, and DLS faculty, Dr. Janine Butler.

Second photo: Chair, Dr. Katie Schmitz with the graduates: Allie Aleman; APPLA-AS, Donna Melena; LEAD-BS,
Janeva Mosher; LEAD-BS, Danik Soudakoff; double major CJ and Sociology/Anthropology, Sarah Appel; SOIS BS summa cm laude, Arif Cajic; SOIS BS cm laude, River Stutzman; SOIS, and Zhavia Aurora; SOIS MS summa cm laude.

[ID: First photo: Three graduates and three faculty/staff, dressed in black regalia and caps, standing and smiling at the camera, with black curtain in the background.

Second photo: faculty and students, in their black regalia and caps, lined up on the stairs, posing and smiling at the camera. \END ID].

05/08/2026

To the Class of 2026: Congratulations.

Today, we celebrate more than degrees and diplomas. We celebrate your resilience, your growth, your late nights, your friendships, your breakthroughs, and every challenge you overcame to reach this moment.

You’ve helped shape the spirit of RIT/NTID through your creativity, leadership, passion, and community. Whether you’re continuing your education, starting a career, chasing a dream, or still figuring out what comes next, know this: you will always have a place here.

Once a Tiger, always a Tiger. We can’t wait to see where life takes you next.

Congrats, grads! 🧡


📸: Matthew Sluka

05/08/2026

DLS is thrilled to congratulate our incredible students in the APPLA-AS and LEAD-BS programs on their graduation at the 2026 Commencement! We wish them all the best as they continue their journey toward even greater success. Kudos to all!

[ID: The graduation announcement poster features a black background with an orange ribbon oval border, with a white overlay containing text. Flying graduation caps and gold confetti appear throughout. Black text reads, "Congratulations, Graduates!"

A list of graduates from the DLS programs is displayed in black text: Applied Liberal Arts (Associate in Science) and Community Development and Inclusive Leadership (LEAD, BS), highlighted in orange text. The Bachelor of Science graduate, Shanelly Nunez, is also recognized as the DLS Social Media Student Worker.

At the bottom, “DLS is incredibly proud of you!” appears alongside the RIT/DLS logo. /End ID].

05/07/2026

Look who will be the NTID Commencement Presenter this year! How amazing is that?!

Meet your 2026 NTID Commencement Presenter, Troy Kotsur.

An Academy Award-winning actor and trailblazer in the entertainment industry, Troy Kotsur has broken barriers and elevated Deaf representation on screen and stage. Best known for his historic Oscar-winning performance in CODA, his work continues to inspire audiences around the world.

In recognition of his impact and contributions, Kotsur will also receive an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from RIT.

We’re honored to welcome him to this year’s commencement as he shares his story and celebrates the achievements of our graduates.

05/07/2026

This semester, RIT/NTID student Tanner Ketchum completed his Capstone project in DHSS-03: Media Narrative, taught by Professor Tom Dooley.

The assignment required students to develop a multimedia storytelling project that combined narrative, digital media, and audience engagement. Tanner focused on the lasting impact of Alexander Graham Bell on deaf education, especially oralism, language deprivation, and how these historical ideas continue to influences the Deaf community today.

As part of his project, Tanner interviewed four DLS faculty: Denise Kavin, Matthew Annis, Ben Jarashow, and Deirdre Schlehofer. His project is titled "The Lasting Impact of Bell: Alexander Graham Bell, Oralism, and the Deaf Community."

The Capstone project includes:
A documentary-style website
Expert interviews with faculty and researchers
An interactive historical timeline
An experiential activity about language
Educational curriculum materials for classrooms
A "Take Action" section with Deaf-related resources

Tanner's goal for the project is to raise awareness about Deaf history, communication access, and the importance of language inclusion.

Check the website: www.beyondthetelephone.com