06/08/2026
Dr. Flavia S. Fleischer makes history as the first deaf woman to serve as RIT/NTID dean! Her deanship will begin on August 1.
Flavia S. Fleischer makes history as the first deaf woman to serve as NTID dean.
Following a national search, NTID President Caroline M. Solomon and RIT Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Prabu David are pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Flavia S. Fleischer as the college’s new dean.
Fleischer, who is the first deaf woman to serve as NTID dean, most recently was chair and professor of the Deaf Studies Department at California State University, Northridge. Her previous experience includes coordinating the ASL and Deaf Studies program at Utah Valley University, American Sign Language Faculty and Program chair at the College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, California, and American Sign Language Faculty and Program coordinator at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, California.
“Dr. Fleischer stood out among an impressive field of candidates because of her expertise in Deaf education and her deep commitment to students,” Solomon said. “She understands that NTID’s success lies in its dedicated faculty and the vibrant, diverse student community they support. Her leadership will be instrumental in evolving our academic programs to meet the demands of a changing workforce, ensuring our students graduate with both the technical skills and the confidence to lead in their chosen fields.”
“We are delighted that Dr. Fleischer will serve as the next dean of NTID,” said David. “As the landscape of higher education evolves, her focus on faculty empowerment and academic excellence will ensure that NTID remains the gold standard for preparing deaf and hard-of-hearing students for career success.”
Fleischer is the author of numerous publications on Deaf education and has presented at conferences throughout the country on the topic. She is a co-principal investigator on a $1.25 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education Office of Special Education Programs on preparing a pipeline for educators of the Deaf.
She served as vice president of the California Association of the Deaf and commissioner of the Commission on Inclusion and Diversity Initiatives at California State University, Northridge. “I am thrilled to join RIT/NTID and serve a community I have long admired for its innovation, creativity, and academic rigor,” said Fleischer. “I look forward to working closely with our talented faculty and staff to ensure that every student has the tools, mentorship, and opportunities to turn their passions into impactful careers.”
Fleischer holds doctorate and master’s degrees in ASL linguistics from Gallaudet University, a master’s in interdisciplinary studies in linguistics, Deaf culture and special education from California State University, Northridge, and a bachelor’s degree in history from Gallaudet University.
She assumes the deanship on August 1.
Read the announcement here: https://brnw.ch/21x3blo
An ASL version of this announcement can be found here: https://brnw.ch/21x3bln
