Gallaudet: Department of Education

06/23/2026

A wonderful day at Gallaudet University’s Family Learning Vacation (FLV)! Department of Education faculty Drs. Julie Mitchiner, Christi Batamula, and Bobbie Jo Kite, alongside PhD candidate Candace Jones, led an engaging workshop on Family Language Planning for families of deaf and hard of hearing children. We were inspired by the thoughtful discussions and connections with parents from across the U.S. and Canada. Thank you to everyone who joined us and shared their stories and experiences!

Photo Description: Four presenters stand side by side in a conference room in front of a large digital presentation screen. The slide behind them reads “Family Language Planning: Supporting Your DHH Child at Home” and includes the subtitle “Practical tools for everyday language growth.” The presenters wear business-casual clothing pose together before the presentation.

06/23/2026

Study recruitment from one of our PhD students, Nicholas Norman:

Hello!

Here at Gallaudet University, we have a research lab called the Visual & Inclusive Best Practices in Education (VIBE) Lab. We are currently conducting a study focused on self-efficacy among Deaf and Hard of Hearing adults.

We are looking for individuals like you to participate in a brief survey. The survey takes less than five minutes to complete.

To be eligible, you must:
*Be Deaf or Hard of Hearing
*Have been raised in a hearing family
*Use both ASL and English (written and/or spoken)
*Currently live in the United States

If you meet these criteria and would like to participate, please click the survey link below. Your participation will help us better understand the experiences of Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals and contribute to future research and practice.

Thank you for considering participating in our study!

https://gu.live/mBxPs

06/22/2026

New Publication Alert! 🎉

Congratulations to our faculty, alumni, students and colleagues on their recent publication in the Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education titled “Expanding on Deaf Children’s Language in Early Intervention: Additional Findings”

This collaborative project brought together researchers from the Gallaudet University Department of Education, including Dr. Ashley Greene, Emily Small, and Dr. Bernice Adekeye, with colleagues from the Department of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education at Lamar University through the Cognition ’n Context Lab at Lamar University.

06/09/2026

Want to know the secret sauce to becoming a Dr.? If you ask Dr. Reggie Bess, it might start with a few life lessons, a lot of determination, and a commitment to growth.

All jokes aside, Reggie was a great PhD student. Dedicated. Driven. Always pushing for more and never satisfied with simply meeting expectations. While he remained (too) humble every step of the way, we saw the greatness in him long before the title came.

Today, we're celebrating Dr. Reggie Bess and his incredible journey from student to scholar. His story is a reminder that persistence, purpose, and hard work can take you farther than you ever imagined.

Congratulations, Dr. Bess! We're proud of you and excited to see what's next.

In the relatively short period of time since Dr. Reginald Bess, PhD ’26, joined Gallaudet’s faculty in 2022, he’s quickly become a popular math teacher

06/08/2026

How was commencement already a month ago?! We're still on Cloud 9 from seeing all of our amazing graduates walk across that stage.

Take a minute to read about Wadha Alshammari, who was our graduate commencement speaker! So proud of you!

Wadha Alshammari, G-’26, stood on the Commencement stage and smiled at the crowd. As her eyes passed over her fellow graduates, she pointed at them. “All

06/01/2026

It may be summer, but our team isn’t taking a vacation from learning and sharing!

This Saturday, Dr. Ashley Greene will be presenting at the Family Weekend Retreat at Texas School for the Deaf. Her session, Watching Language Grow: Practical Strategies for Monitoring Language Development in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children, will provide families with practical tools for supporting and tracking language development.

We love seeing our faculty share their expertise not only through academic and professional venues, but also directly with families and communities. Connecting research to real-world practice is at the heart of what we do!

05/21/2026

The 2026 Family Learning Vacation is bringing together an incredible lineup of presenters and families for a week of learning, connection, and community.

We may be a little biased, but our own Dr. Christi Batamula, Dr. Bobbie Jo Kite, Dr. Julie Mitchiner, Dr. Victoria Monroe, and PhD Candidate Candance Jones are some truly amazing people! So proud to see their support at FLV!

📍 June 20–26, 2026
📍 Info at https://gu.live/iiekE

05/19/2026

Graduation was Friday, but the learning never stops! 🎓✨

Classes officially kicked off today for many of our students, and tonight, EDU 707: Structure & Application of ASL & English Linguistics met for the very first time. Looking forward to a semester full of rich conversations, critical thinking, and growth together!


ID:

A Zoom class screenshot showing thirteen participants during the first meeting of an online graduate course. Participants are arranged in a grid layout, smiling and looking toward their cameras from a variety of home settings including bedrooms, offices, and living rooms. One participant is holding a black-and-white cat close to the camera.

05/18/2026

IT’S HERE! 🎉💙

We are so excited to officially launch Building Empathy: A Workbook for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Secondary Students!

Created specifically for Deaf and hard-of-hearing middle and high school students, this FREE resource focuses on helping students build empathy, perspective-taking, communication skills, self-awareness, and stronger peer relationships in ways that are accessible, meaningful, and visually engaging.

What’s included?
✨ Interactive student workbook
✨ Companion videos
✨ ASL glossary
✨ Printable posters
✨ Classroom-ready discussion and reflection activities

Whether you’re a teacher, counselor, TODHH, transition specialist, or family member, we hope this resource helps create more supportive and connected learning environments for DHH students.

And yes… it’s completely FREE. 🙌

Developed by:
Wadha Alshammari
Brandon Alves
Jacqueline Gonzalez
Emily Johnson
Anthony Laucevicius
Paige Newsted
Cynthia Ortega
Marie Qualls

Thank you to everyone who supported this project and believes in creating resources specifically designed for Deaf and hard-of-hearing students. 💙

All files can be accessed via https://gu.live/eVWDt or by emailing [email protected]

05/15/2026

Congratulations to the Class of 2026 Education Graduates! We are incredibly proud of your accomplishments and celebrate all that you have achieved. Your dedication, passion, and commitment to learning will make a lasting impact on the field of Deaf Education. We look forward to the meaningful contributions you will make as future educators, advocates, and leaders. Best wishes for continued success in all that lies ahead!