LET’S GO IN:
MY JOURNEY TO A
UNIVERSITY PRESIDENCY
T. Alan Hurwitz
Foreword by Albert J. Simone
Washington, DC (December 3, 2020)—T. Alan Hurwitz’s new memoir shares his experiences with leadership, family life, and advocacy as a Deaf individual. Let’sGo In: My Journey to a University Presidency is his personal story of turning points and life lessons that will guide younger generations of deaf people and encourage them to aim for their highest goals.
Alan Hurwitz ascended the ranks of academia to become the president of not one, but two, universities—National Technical Institute for the Deaf at Rochester Institute of Technology and Gallaudet University. Hurwitz discusses the challenges he experienced as a Deaf person throughout his life and how he created opportunities for himself through hard work and building relationships. His Deaf parents instilled in him the value of a strong work ethic and active community life, which empowered him to not only lift himself up, but to lift others up through his work in education and advocacy. He describes the steadfast support of his wife of fifty-five years, Vicki, who upon their arrival at Gallaudet dispelled all doubts about pursuing this next opportunity by proclaiming, “Let’s go in!”
Hurwitz recounts his professional journey and demonstrates the importance of building a strong foundation for progressive leadership roles in higher education. He provides insights into the decision-making and outreach required of a university president, covering topics such as community collaboration, budget management, and networking with public policy leaders. As he reflects on a career committed to service in higher education, Hurwitz offers important takeaways on the issues, challenges, and opportunities faced by deaf and hard of hearing people.
In addition to the paperback and ebook editions, a multimedia online edition brings Hurwitz’s story to life by featuring original video content of Hurwitz sharing experiences and advice, as well as archival video footage, additional photographs, and supplemental texts. This Manifold edition will be available free for all users through May 2021 at gallaudetupress.manifoldapp.org/projects/let-s-go-in.
Let’s Go In: My Journey to a University Presidency | T. Alan Hurwitz | November 18, 2020
$29.95 | Paperback Original | Memoir, Deaf Studies, Deaf History
Print ISBN 978-1-944838-62-1 | Ebook ISBN 978-1-944838-63-8 | Manifold ISBN 978-1-944838-80-5
6 x 9 | 222 pages | 29 photographs
T. Alan Hurwitz is President Emeritus of Gallaudet University, and President and Dean Emeritus of the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID) at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). Hurwitz also served as vice president and dean of RIT. An electrical engineer by training, Hurwitz’s career at RIT/NTID began in 1970 when he was hired as an educational specialist in RIT’s College of Engineering. During the course of his career, he has served in leadership positions in a variety of professional and deaf advocacy organizations. Among the many awards he has received, he holds an honorary doctorate from California State University at Fresno.
Advance Praise:
“Educator, leader, role model—T. Alan Hurwitz has been both a witness to and participant in historic changes in education, technology, and law that have revolutionized life for Deaf people. Hurwitz reveals how he rose above many challenges to achieve not just personal victories, but victories for the Deaf community.”—Paul Ogden, Professor Emeritus at California State University, Fresno
“In this well-detailed journal of his movements through a career marked by success at every stop and capped with his appointment as president of Gallaudet University, Alan Hurwitz gives the reader a glimpse of the ups and downs in his long and productive life. His impressive career mirrors the progress that deaf people are still making to improve the quality of their lives.”—Robert R. Davila, President Emeritus, Gallaudet University
“Let’s Go In is a testament to Alan Hurwitz’s perseverance, patience, balance, resiliency, and devotion to removing barriers by improving access and opportunities for deaf individuals in America and around the world.”—Christine M. Licata, Vice Provost, Rochester Institute of Technology
“One need only look around to find Alan Hurwitz’s fingerprints everywhere: congressional testimony, scholarly journals, the National Association of the Deaf, the World Federation of the Deaf, the World Federation of the Jewish Deaf, Gallaudet, and NTID. While some seek glory, Alan seeks to do good.” —James J. DeCaro, Professor and Dean Emeritus, National Technical Institute for the Deaf
“This memoir takes the reader on a journey through his life, a life full of challenges and joy, of perseverance and grit in the face of adversity, and of desire to give back to society in gratitude for what life gave him.”—Irene W. Leigh, Professor Emerita, Department of Psychology, Gallaudet University
“An inspirational read, particularly for both deaf and hearing young people who aspire to create positive change in education and society. The story of Alan’s life and work is a story of self-advocacy in an era largely unfamiliar with the notion of transformative Deaf leadership.”—Harry Lang, Professor Emeritus, National Technical Institute for the Deaf
Gallaudet University Press is a nonprofit scholarly publisher that shares knowledge by and about deaf people with the world. Our publications support Gallaudet University’s reputation as an international thought leader for deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind people.
Source: Angela Leppig, Gallaudet University
