NTID names first Deaf woman dean

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Rochester Institute of Technology’s National Technical Institute for the Deaf has selected Flavia S. Fleischer as its next dean, marking a historic milestone as the first Deaf woman to lead the college. 

The appointment, announced by Caroline Solomon, NTID president, and Prabu David, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at RIT, follows a national search. Fleischer will assume the role on Aug. 1. 

Fleischer joins NTID from California State University, Northridge, where she served as chair and professor of the Department of Deaf Studies. Her career also includes leadership positions at Utah Valley University, College of the Canyons and Saddleback College, where she helped shape American Sign Language and Deaf Studies programs. 

“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 in announcing the appointment. She said Fleischer’s leadership will help NTID continue evolving its academic programs to meet changing workforce demands while preparing students with both technical skills and leadership capabilities. 

David said Fleischer’s focus on faculty empowerment and academic excellence will help ensure NTID remains a leader in preparing deaf and hard-of-hearing students for career success. 

A respected scholar in Deaf education, Fleischer has authored numerous publications and presented nationally on issues affecting Deaf learners. She also serves as co-principal investigator on a $1.25 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education Office of Special Education Programs focused on developing a pipeline of educators for Deaf students. 

Her leadership experience extends beyond academia. Fleischer previously served as vice president of the California Association of the Deaf and as a commissioner 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,” Fleischer said. “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 earned both her doctoral and master’s degrees in ASL linguistics from Gallaudet University. She also holds a master’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from California State University, Northridge, and a bachelor’s degree in history from Gallaudet. 

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