Jane Fernandes
Encyclopedia
Jane Kelleher Fernandes is a deaf
educator and is the Provost
and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at the University of North Carolina Asheville as of July 1, 2008. Dr. Fernandes was the former President Designate of Gallaudet University
. On 29 October 2006, the board of trustees of Gallaudet University voted to terminate the appointment of Fernandes, who had been the subject of protests.
, meaning her education focused on teaching her to speak. Her parents were also Deaf and raised orally. When Fernandes grew older she made the decision to learn American Sign Language
(ASL) and develop her involvement with the deaf community.
Fernandes attended Trinity College
, earning a B.A. degree in French
and comparative literature
, and the University of Iowa
, where she earned her M.A. and Ph. D., both in comparative literature.
before coming to Gallaudet as chair of Sign Communication. Her next move was to Hawaii
where she established an Interpreter Training Program and served for five years as the director of the Hawaii Center for the Deaf and the Blind. In 1995 she returned to Gallaudet to become the vice president for the Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center. In 2000, she was named provost
of the University by President I. King Jordan
, who appointed her without consulting the faculty, a move which Jordan called "a terrible mistake".
. Some students also criticized Fernandes for not having warm relations with students." Opponents of Fernandes claim that the Washington Post article (and, in general, much of the media coverage), were unable to figure out the real reasons for their opposition, although a frequently published reason was that she was "not deaf enough." This reason for opposition is debunked by most observers today, due to the excessive public relations campaign around a "sound bite" that sought to define the opposition incorrectly. Fernandes also attracted opposition due to a perception that she was insufficiently committed to addressing the problem of audism
(discrimination against or persecution of anyone based on hearing status). Allegations of racism
in appointing Fernandes, who is white, were also raised. Notably, organizations of students of color had protested the failure to choose as finalist the long-time Board of Trustee Chairman Glenn Anderson, a black Deaf man. The student paper took polls a few days before the selection. Of those faculty members who responded, 36% gave Fernandes an "acceptable" rating, compared to 53% and 64% for the two other finalists.
On October 13, 2006, dubbed "Black Friday" by the campus community, Jordan ordered mass arrests which detained up to 134 students protesting Fernandes' selection. This set off even a larger protest which had 1,000 alumni, faculty, students and staff members the following day.
On October 29, 2006, the Board of Trustees of Gallaudet University rescinded her contract to be the ninth President of Gallaudet and terminated her in her position as President-designate.
Hearing impairment
-Definition:Deafness is the inability for the ear to interpret certain or all frequencies of sound.-Environmental Situations:Deafness can be caused by environmental situations such as noise, trauma, or other ear defections...
educator and is the Provost
Provost (education)
A provost is the senior academic administrator at many institutions of higher education in the United States, Canada and Australia, the equivalent of a pro-vice-chancellor at some institutions in the United Kingdom and Ireland....
and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at the University of North Carolina Asheville as of July 1, 2008. Dr. Fernandes was the former President Designate of Gallaudet University
Gallaudet University
Gallaudet University is a federally-chartered university for the education of the deaf and hard of hearing, located in the District of Columbia, U.S...
. On 29 October 2006, the board of trustees of Gallaudet University voted to terminate the appointment of Fernandes, who had been the subject of protests.
Early life
Fernandes was raised in Worcester and is the daughter of Richard Paul and Mary Kathleen (Cosgrove) Kelleher. Her family chose to raise her in an oral education programOralism
Oralism is the education of deaf students through spoken language by using lip reading, speech, and mimicking the mouth shapes and breathing patterns of speech instead of using sign language within the classroom...
, meaning her education focused on teaching her to speak. Her parents were also Deaf and raised orally. When Fernandes grew older she made the decision to learn American Sign Language
American Sign Language
American Sign Language, or ASL, for a time also called Ameslan, is the dominant sign language of Deaf Americans, including deaf communities in the United States, in the English-speaking parts of Canada, and in some regions of Mexico...
(ASL) and develop her involvement with the deaf community.
Fernandes attended Trinity College
Trinity College (Connecticut)
Trinity College is a private, liberal arts college in Hartford, Connecticut. Founded in 1823, it is the second-oldest college in the state of Connecticut after Yale University. The college enrolls 2,300 students and has been coeducational since 1969. Trinity offers 38 majors and 26 minors, and has...
, earning a B.A. degree in French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
and comparative literature
Comparative literature
Comparative literature is an academic field dealing with the literature of two or more different linguistic, cultural or national groups...
, and the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
, where she earned her M.A. and Ph. D., both in comparative literature.
Early career and involvement at Gallaudet University
After graduating from Iowa, she worked for Northeastern UniversityNortheastern University, Boston
Northeastern University , is a private, secular, coeducational research university in Boston, Massachusetts. Northeastern has eight colleges and offers undergraduate majors in 65 departments...
before coming to Gallaudet as chair of Sign Communication. Her next move was to Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
where she established an Interpreter Training Program and served for five years as the director of the Hawaii Center for the Deaf and the Blind. In 1995 she returned to Gallaudet to become the vice president for the Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center. In 2000, she was named provost
Provost (education)
A provost is the senior academic administrator at many institutions of higher education in the United States, Canada and Australia, the equivalent of a pro-vice-chancellor at some institutions in the United Kingdom and Ireland....
of the University by President I. King Jordan
I. King Jordan
Irving King Jordan became, in 1988, the first deaf president of Gallaudet University, the world's only university with all programs and services designed specifically for students who are deaf and hard of hearing...
, who appointed her without consulting the faculty, a move which Jordan called "a terrible mistake".
Application for Presidency of Gallaudet University
Fernandes in her application wrote:Viewpoint of Fernandes Supporters
Immediately after the announcement of the appointment of Dr. Jane Fernandes, scores of students protested against her appointment. According to The Washington Post, "Students objected to the appointment of Jane Fernandes, who is deaf and is currently the university's provost, because she did not grow up using American Sign LanguageAmerican Sign Language
American Sign Language, or ASL, for a time also called Ameslan, is the dominant sign language of Deaf Americans, including deaf communities in the United States, in the English-speaking parts of Canada, and in some regions of Mexico...
. Some students also criticized Fernandes for not having warm relations with students." Opponents of Fernandes claim that the Washington Post article (and, in general, much of the media coverage), were unable to figure out the real reasons for their opposition, although a frequently published reason was that she was "not deaf enough." This reason for opposition is debunked by most observers today, due to the excessive public relations campaign around a "sound bite" that sought to define the opposition incorrectly. Fernandes also attracted opposition due to a perception that she was insufficiently committed to addressing the problem of audism
Audism
Audism is a term typically used to describe discrimination against deaf or hard of hearing people, although it could also be expanded to include anyone with a difference in hearing ability. This discrimination can occur in a number of forms in a range that includes both physical, cultural, and...
(discrimination against or persecution of anyone based on hearing status). Allegations of racism
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
in appointing Fernandes, who is white, were also raised. Notably, organizations of students of color had protested the failure to choose as finalist the long-time Board of Trustee Chairman Glenn Anderson, a black Deaf man. The student paper took polls a few days before the selection. Of those faculty members who responded, 36% gave Fernandes an "acceptable" rating, compared to 53% and 64% for the two other finalists.
Viewpoint of Fernandes Opponents
The protesters pointed to her past managerial actions that they felt were questionable and did not reflect qualities of a solid leader. In November 2006, shortly after the protests, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education declared the university's accreditation in jeopardy. Fernandes's opponents pointed out that her selection was supported - and may have been outright encouraged - by Dr. I. King Jordan, and that to have allowed Fernandes to become president would have meant a continuation of leadership by an ineffective administration.On October 13, 2006, dubbed "Black Friday" by the campus community, Jordan ordered mass arrests which detained up to 134 students protesting Fernandes' selection. This set off even a larger protest which had 1,000 alumni, faculty, students and staff members the following day.
On October 29, 2006, the Board of Trustees of Gallaudet University rescinded her contract to be the ninth President of Gallaudet and terminated her in her position as President-designate.
Personal life
Fernandes is married to James John Fernandes and has two children, Sean William and Erin Frances.External links
- Dr. Fernandes' appointment
- Washington post coverage of the controversy: May 2 May 3 May 5 May 10 May 15
- Gallyprotest (another protest site)
- The GU Private Investigator (other documents and essays)
- Letter from Clerc Center Staff members under Dr. Jane Fernandes' supervision
- June 2, 2006 dean's memo in response to allegations of illegitimate award of tenure to Fernandes at Gallaudet
- HLAA Interviews Jane Fernandes
- Reason magazine, The Radical Deaf