Alexander Van Hook named to RIT/NTID Alumni Association

Alexander Van Hook has been named to the board of the Rochester Institute of Technology/National Technical Institute for the Deaf’s Alumni Association.

Van Hook is a staff attorney at the National Association of the Deaf, and admitted to the District of Columbia Bar. He is from Upper Black Eddy, Pennsylvania. He self-identifies as a person with cross-disabilities (deaf wheelchair user). He was born in California and grew up in Pennsylvania, north of Philadelphia. He earned his bachelor of science degree in political science at Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, New York, in 2016; and both his master of public administration degree (2018) and juris doctor (law) degree (2022) at American University in Washington, D.C.

He specializes in disability rights as he strives to contribute to a more accessible and inclusive society for all.

“I look forward to supporting the NTID's efforts in the NTID student, alumni, faculty, and staff community, which holds a special place in my heart,” Van Hook said.  

In his spare time, Van Hook enjoys building LEGO models, travel and exploring, playing video games, going to movies, museums, and socializing with friends. He has a corgi, golden retriever, and two cats with his parents.

Established by the U.S. Congress in 1965, the National Technical Institute for the Deaf is the first and largest technological college in the world for deaf and hard-of-hearing students. NTID offers associate degree programs for deaf and hard-of-hearing students and provides support and access services for deaf and hard-of-hearing students who study in the other eight colleges of RIT. NTID also offers a certificate in healthcare interpretation, bachelor’s degree programs in sign language interpreting, and community development and inclusive leadership, and master’s degrees in healthcare interpretation and secondary education for individuals interested in teaching deaf and hard-of-hearing students. Deaf and hard-of-hearing students come from all over the United States and around the world to take advantage of the opportunities available to them at RIT/NTID. Go to www.rit.edu/ntid

Rochester Institute of Technology is home to leading creators, entrepreneurs, innovators, and researchers. Founded in 1829, RIT enrolls more than 20,500 students in 200 career-oriented and professional programs, making it among the largest private universities in the U.S.

With 145,000 alumni worldwide, the university is internationally recognized and ranked for its leadership in technology, the arts, and design. RIT also offers unparalleled support services for deaf and hard-of-hearing students. The cooperative education program is one of the oldest and largest in the nation. Global partnerships include campuses in China, Croatia, Dubai, and Kosovo. 

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This story originally appeared in RIT News.