Gallaudet’s Presidential Search Criteria and Fernandes’ Failures to Meet Them

PI is proud to present the following criteria that Gallaudet had issued as desirable for its next president and how Fernandes has already failed to meet most of them.

Bring deep roots in deaf culture with knowledge, appreciation and understanding of deaf/hard of hearing/hearing communities;

FAILED. Fernandes has stated on numerous occasions that she simply does not understand the nature of deaf culture, especially with those who are protesting against her. She certainly does not appreciate nor understand deaf/hoh communities by her actions in conducting frequent radio interviews, knowing full well that the deaf/hoh communities would not find them accessible, much to her relief.

Serve as a role model for deaf and hard of hearing individuals worldwide;

FAILED. There’s no question that she has been completely rejected as a role model for deaf/hoh individuals worldwide.

Provide bold vision in assisting Gallaudet to adapt to the rapid technological, global and opportunity advancements for deaf and hard of hearing individuals;

FAILED. As Provost, Fernandes has indisputably caused the university to fail to adapt needed curriculum changes which resulted, under her tenure, a significant decrease in the number of student obtaining advanced degrees or employment within a year after graduation. Such failure was remarkably overlooked by the Board of Trustees; either that, or the Board simply did not know of her failure in this critical area.

Be fluent in American Sign Language and English;

INCOMPLETE. I’ll be polite here and take the reported comments that Fernandes signs like a “third grader” with a grain of salt. However, repeated viewings of many of her videos do indicate an inability to separate SimCom from ASL.

Build community through open, responsive and visible communication that encourages reciprocal trust both internal and external to Gallaudet;

FAILED. As stated earlier, her decision to conduct radio interviews was a mind boggling insult to the deaf everywhere. Fernandes’ community building since May has been virtually non-existent, unless one considers calling protestors as being engaged in “anarchy and terrorism” to be community building. Reciprocal trust? I don’t really have to get into the complete lack of trust that existed between Fernandes and the faculty while she was Provost and the complete lack of trust that exists between her and everyone else on campus, do I?

Encourage collaboration at all levels in order to ensure the best teaching and services possible for Gallaudet students;

FAILED. Fernandes track record for flunking this criteria goes way back, judging by the recent comments made by those who served under her at the Laurent Clerc National Deaf Center (Kendall/MSSD) and by those who served under her as Provost. Why the Board of Trustees failed to acknowledge this during their evaluations remains open to question but it does make one wonder just how much information they were given other than those “on paper?”

Understand and support the missions of deaf education at the elementary, secondary and higher education levels;

PASSED/FAILED. Fernandes should undoubtedly know the missions of deaf ed at the K-12/Secondary/Post-Secondary levels, so she gets a passing mark here. However, she also fails because it is widely known that Fernandes did not seriously consider valid recommendations given to her by those who served her. Instead, Fernandes took on the “My way or the highway” approach, thus alienating many of those who served under her at the K-12/Secondary/Post-Secondary levels.

Be intentional in addressing diversity and ensure a respectful campus environment that welcomes diversity and promotes inclusiveness of all kinds and at all levels;

FAILED. Fernandes, as Provost, had YEARS to prepare a diversity plan and it was only recently did she begin to trumpet such a plan through the media. What good is it to treat the patient when the cancer of campus racism has already become practically terminal due to her apathy?

Also, Fernandes’ application letter to the presidential committee smacked of racism by her references to herself as being white as well as generations of her family being white, giving the implication that she was making an effort to put forth that there was no “taint” of other races in her bloodlines and thus she was “pure” white. Purposeful or not, her statement was still extremely unsettling and deserve further review.

Demonstrate skills in fiscal management and the support and continuation of strategic planning with focused implementation of goals;

FAILED. As Provost, Fernandes failed to implement effective strategic plans on a timely basis with proper input from the faculty and staff.

Enhance Gallaudet’s faculty and staff through excellent hiring, mentoring and development opportunities;

FAILED. Fernandes, even back during her tenure at the Clerc Center, already began exhibiting a pattern of behavior known as Management by Intimidation, where she reportedly laid off an employee who was only one week away from retiring with full and immediate benefits. This kind of behavior is not one that inspires staff or faculty.

Secure appropriate Congressional funding and cultivate new resources for program development, research and student scholarships;

FAILED. Fernandes claimed to have been instrumental in obtaining funding for Gallaudet programs, namely a recent donation for diversity planning. However, it was shown that she was mostly nothing more than a figurehead or a greeter when it came to donor “meet and greets.” Based on Fernandes’ persona, she would definitely not be the person you’d want to plead your case before Congress. She’d be liable to threaten senators and representatives with a congressional ethics inquiry or label them anarchists or terrorists if they dare disagree with her.

Inspire others, both within and outside the Gallaudet community, to become engaged in the University’s mission and work;

FAILED. Do I really need to get into how she fails to inspire others?

Lead the entire Gallaudet community and its students (K-12 and college level) through times of crisis and challenge;

PASSED/FAILED. With full respect to Eric Plunkett’s family, they truly believe that Fernandes handled well the heinous circumstances of their son’s death. However, this was not the entire Gallaudet community. Fernandes was widely criticized for her premature celebration when the wrong person was accused of the crime and should have handled it far more professionally. Also, her lack of actions as president-designate showed her inability to step up to plate and take charge.

Had Fernandes came out in May and said, with humility and respect to the students, staff, and faculty, “I understand there are many of you who do not want me as president. What can I do now to prove to you that I can be a good president for you?” things might have been arguably different.

Instead, she chose to jetset to Asia during the summer to hobnob with the Thailand princess, alienated attendees at the National Association of the Deaf conferece, and has made ego-centric statements such as ”I am the only one who can lead. . .” This is not indicative of a person who can lead the Gallaudet community through times of crisis. 

Model integrity, enthusiasm and moral values for the extended Gallaudet community which are integral to successful leadership. 

FAILED. The only enthusiasm Fernandes has shown is her stubborn refusal to resign. Her email to the Board of Trustees, while giving the appearance of only being suggestive, nonetheless belied a threatening tone to the very same people that she is accountable to.

This is how a relationship between a president and the board that oversees the position starts off?

Fernandes also wildly exaggerated the potential of violence on campus by referring to anarchy, terrorism, and gun threats in order to drum up sympathy and support to where even the Board Chair says their upcoming meeting is tentative pending security issues. By purposely and repeatedly misleading the public and the Board of Trustees, Fernandes has failed to show the intergrity and moral values needed for the Gallaudet presidency.

And this is the very same person that the Board has chosen to lead Gallaudet?

Criteria reproduced from: http://pr.gallaudet.edu/presidentalsearch/?ID=8140