NTID Department of Liberal Studies at RIT

05/10/2026

DLS is taking a social media break to recharge, spark fresh ideas for the upcoming academic year, and most importantly, enjoy the sunny, warm days of summer! ☀️

We can’t wait to reconnect with you in the fall with exciting news, updates, and announcements. Until then, have a wonderful and safe summer!

[ID: The flyer features a relaxing beach scene, with brown sand at the bottom and sparkling blue water. Black text overlays the image with the announcement. The RIT/DLS logo is positioned at the bottom of the flyer. /End ID

05/10/2026

Happy Summer Birthdays!

As we head into summer and DLS social media takes a short break, we're delighted to celebrate these incredible DLS members - wishing them the happiest, most joyful birthdays filled with laughter and celebration! 🎂🥳

[ID: The flyer features summer citrus fruits scattered around the edges, along with polka dots. Dark blue text reads, "Happy Birthday to the DLS members born in the summer." Three overlapping Polaroid-style frames - in yellow, light green and lime - display the summer months June, July, and August, each with a list of DLS members and their birthdays. Inside the June frame is an image of a white birthday cake topped with assorted sliced fruit and three lit candles. The RIT/DLS logo is positioned at the bottom of the flyer. /END ID].

05/10/2026

Congratulations, LEAD-BS and APPLA-AS graduates! DLS is proud of you! Go out and make a difference in the world! Good luck!

First photo: Chair, Dr. Katie Schmitz with the graduates: Janeva Mosher
Allie Aleman, Donna Melena, Academic Advisor, Vicki Liggera, and DLS faculty, Dr. Janine Butler.

Second photo: Chair, Dr. Katie Schmitz with the graduates: Allie Aleman; APPLA-AS, Donna Melena; LEAD-BS,
Janeva Mosher; LEAD-BS, Danik Soudakoff; double major CJ and Sociology/Anthropology, Sarah Appel; SOIS BS summa cm laude, Arif Cajic; SOIS BS cm laude, River Stutzman; SOIS, and Zhavia Aurora; SOIS MS summa cm laude.

[ID: First photo: Three graduates and three faculty/staff, dressed in black regalia and caps, standing and smiling at the camera, with black curtain in the background.

Second photo: faculty and students, in their black regalia and caps, lined up on the stairs, posing and smiling at the camera. \END ID].

05/08/2026

To the Class of 2026: Congratulations.

Today, we celebrate more than degrees and diplomas. We celebrate your resilience, your growth, your late nights, your friendships, your breakthroughs, and every challenge you overcame to reach this moment.

You’ve helped shape the spirit of RIT/NTID through your creativity, leadership, passion, and community. Whether you’re continuing your education, starting a career, chasing a dream, or still figuring out what comes next, know this: you will always have a place here.

Once a Tiger, always a Tiger. We can’t wait to see where life takes you next.

Congrats, grads! 🧡


📸: Matthew Sluka

05/08/2026

DLS is thrilled to congratulate our incredible students in the APPLA-AS and LEAD-BS programs on their graduation at the 2026 Commencement! We wish them all the best as they continue their journey toward even greater success. Kudos to all!

[ID: The graduation announcement poster features a black background with an orange ribbon oval border, with a white overlay containing text. Flying graduation caps and gold confetti appear throughout. Black text reads, "Congratulations, Graduates!"

A list of graduates from the DLS programs is displayed in black text: Applied Liberal Arts (Associate in Science) and Community Development and Inclusive Leadership (LEAD, BS), highlighted in orange text. The Bachelor of Science graduate, Shanelly Nunez, is also recognized as the DLS Social Media Student Worker.

At the bottom, “DLS is incredibly proud of you!” appears alongside the RIT/DLS logo. /End ID].

05/07/2026

Look who will be the NTID Commencement Presenter this year! How amazing is that?!

Meet your 2026 NTID Commencement Presenter, Troy Kotsur.

An Academy Award-winning actor and trailblazer in the entertainment industry, Troy Kotsur has broken barriers and elevated Deaf representation on screen and stage. Best known for his historic Oscar-winning performance in CODA, his work continues to inspire audiences around the world.

In recognition of his impact and contributions, Kotsur will also receive an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from RIT.

We’re honored to welcome him to this year’s commencement as he shares his story and celebrates the achievements of our graduates.

05/07/2026

This semester, RIT/NTID student Tanner Ketchum completed his Capstone project in DHSS-03: Media Narrative, taught by Professor Tom Dooley.

The assignment required students to develop a multimedia storytelling project that combined narrative, digital media, and audience engagement. Tanner focused on the lasting impact of Alexander Graham Bell on deaf education, especially oralism, language deprivation, and how these historical ideas continue to influences the Deaf community today.

As part of his project, Tanner interviewed four DLS faculty: Denise Kavin, Matthew Annis, Ben Jarashow, and Deirdre Schlehofer. His project is titled "The Lasting Impact of Bell: Alexander Graham Bell, Oralism, and the Deaf Community."

The Capstone project includes:
A documentary-style website
Expert interviews with faculty and researchers
An interactive historical timeline
An experiential activity about language
Educational curriculum materials for classrooms
A "Take Action" section with Deaf-related resources

Tanner's goal for the project is to raise awareness about Deaf history, communication access, and the importance of language inclusion.

Check the website: www.beyondthetelephone.com

05/05/2026

Sending the happiest birthday wishes to our wonderful DLS members Denise Kavin, Clifton Langdon, and Rachel Mazique! May your special day be filled with joy, laughter, and celebration. If you see them around, be sure to share some birthday cheer. Sending lots of birthday joy your way! 🎉🎂 Happy Birthday!

[ID: The flyer features a pale green background with light tortoise, pale blue, and pink flowers in full bloom arranged along the top and bottom. Green text reads, “Happy Birthday,” with pink text below stating, “To the DLS members born in May.” Additional green text lists: “Denise Kavin – Faculty, Clifton Langdon – Faculty, and Rachel Mazique – Faculty.” The RIT/DLS logo is positioned at the bottom of the flyer. /End ID].

05/01/2026

🎉 DLS is pleased to announce that this year’s Scouten Endowed Internship in English Literacy has been awarded to Tony Nicolalde!

Tony is a high school teacher of the Deaf at Oswego High School in Illinois. Now in his first year as a classroom teacher, he previously served four years as an itinerant teacher in the district. A CODA, Tony also recently earned his master’s degree from Gallaudet University.

During his week-long internship, Tony observed DLS’ NENG and UWRT classes, met with NTID President Carrie Solomon and Interim Dean of NTID Gary Behm, and connected with professionals across multiple departments at NTID. He leaves with valuable tools and strategies and hopes to help strengthen his students’ reading and writing skills.

Congratulations, Tony! 🏆

If you know anyone who teaches deaf students English Language Arts at the middle or high school level and has two to five years of teaching experience, please share this opportunity for next year: https://www.rit.edu/ntid/scouten



[ID: A photo of four people standing and smiling for the camera: Scouten Search Committee members Jeanne Yamonaco, CJ Ide, and Matthew Annis, along with Scouten Endowed Internship recipient Tony Nicolalde, who is holding a plaque award. They are standing in front of a wooden art display with decorative lighting on a brick wall background. /END ID].

04/30/2026

DLS is excited to announce that our Deaf Cultural Studies faculty, Dr. Corinna Hill, and her research team have launched Instagram page, "ourdeafhistory", to share Deaf history through research, student work, archival find, and community stories.

The Signing History Project videos are now live and available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ourdeafhistory/

Check it out and feel free to share!

Account managed by Corinna S. Hill and research team. Questions and comments can be directed to [email protected].

04/30/2026

While students are currently taking final exams, DLS is pleased to share a recent highlight.

Dr. Janine Butler's digital book, Visualizing Captions and Subtitles: The Embodiment of Accessible Multimodal Communication, was released in February 2026. The work explores the value of captions and subtitles in the creation of videos through examples from online social media videos, popular television shows, and other videos that meaningfully incorporate captions and subtitles on screen. These examples show how captions and subtitles are not simply 'add-ons' or afterthoughts, rather, they are valuable elements of communication online, in media, and across different spaces.

Go to the link for full access: https://www.ccdigitalpress.org/book/visualizing-captions