Photo: Dr. Philip Bravin, fourth from left, became the first deaf person to chair Gallaudet’s Board of Trustees.
On March 6, Gallaudet University in Washington, DC hosted the first of three events to celebrate the 30th anniversary of “Deaf President Now” (DPN),
Among the key leaders involved was Dr. Phil Bravin, one of four deaf members of Gallaudet’s Board of Trustees who became the intermediary between student leaders and the board during protest students led against the board’s decision to hire a hearing person as its next president.
Information on this protest in 1988 which lasted eight days is available on a special 30th anniversary website at www.gallaudet.edu/about/history-and-traditions/deaf-president-now/the-issues
The protest resulted in the appointment of Dr. I. King Jordan as the first deaf president of Gallaudet University, and appointment of Dr. Philip Bravin to be the first deaf person to chair the Board of Trustees.
Source: Gallaudet University announcements
