NTID's Next President

From RIT President Bill Sanders and President Emeritus David Munson

The image features a person with curly hair dressed in a black outfit standing in front of a plain grey background. She is making a greeting gesture in ASL.

Dear RIT community:

It gives us great pleasure to announce that after a nationwide search, Caroline M. Solomon has been named president of RIT’s National Technical Institute for the Deaf and vice president at RIT. She will begin her tenure at RIT/NTID on Aug. 18.

Dr. Solomon joins us from Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., where she is dean of faculty. She succeeds Gerry Buckley, who has served as president of NTID for 15 years and will retire Aug. 17. 

Caroline, who will become the first woman to lead the college, was raised in Delaware and is the daughter of a former professor at the University of Delaware. She earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental science and public policy from Harvard University and a master’s degree in biological oceanography from University of Washington’s School of Oceanography. She earned a doctorate in marine, environmental and estuarine sciences from University of Maryland.

She joined the faculty of Gallaudet University as a biology instructor in 2000 and rose to the rank of professor in 2011. She was appointed the dean of faculty in 2024. 

Throughout her career, Caroline, a renowned scientist and researcher, has devoted herself to encouraging and nurturing deaf and hard-of-hearing students in STEM fields, and she has developed a database of science-based technical signs in American Sign Language. No stranger to our campus, she has presented on several science-related topics at NTID throughout the years. 

Caroline is a past participant in the Deaflympics as a swimmer and was inducted into the Deaflympics Hall of Fame in 2020. 

In her new role, Caroline will serve as chief executive of RIT/NTID, providing leadership in developing and executing the college’s vision and strategic plan, and is responsible for NTID’s financial operations and budget, enrollment management, academic programs, external and federal relations, and fundraising.

We would like to personally thank the search committee led by Gary Behm, NTID interim dean, and Matt Huenerfauth, dean of RIT’s Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences, and composed of faculty, staff, and students of RIT and NTID.

Watch for more information as we welcome Dr. Caroline Solomon to the university community and for news on her formal induction as RIT/NTID’s president this fall. 

Thank you, and Go Tigers!

Bill Sanders
RIT President

David Munson
RIT President Emeritus

Fast Facts About RIT/NTID's President, Dr. Caroline M. Solomon

  •  First woman to lead RIT/NTID
  •  Begins August 18, 2025
  •  Dean of Faculty at Gallaudet University
  •  Academic background:
    • Harvard University: Bachelor’s degree in environmental science and public policy
    • University of Washington: Master’s degree in biological oceanography
    • University of Maryland: Ph.D. in marine, environmental and estuarine sciences
  •  Developed a database of STEM-based technical signs in American Sign Language
  •  Inducted into the Deaflympics Hall of Fame (swimming)

Message from Dr. Caroline M. Solomon

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As a Deaf scientist, I’m deeply honored to join the vibrant NTID and RIT community—longstanding national leaders in advancing STEM education for Deaf and hard-of-hearing students. I look forward to working with President Sanders and collaborating with students, faculty, and staff to expand pathways in education, employment, and leadership. Together, we will ensure that every student has the opportunity to thrive, lead, and drive innovation across every sector of society.

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Messages from RIT Leadership

Bill Sanders headshot

Dr. Solomon brings a deep understanding and appreciation for NTID’s distinctive culture. She has the vision to champion NTID’s legacy while moving it forward for the next generation of students. I look forward to partnering with Dr. Solomon as we continue to advance NTID’s mission and ensure that the college remains a leader for deaf and hard-of-hearing students, both nationally and globally.”

 

Bill Sanders
RIT President

Dave Munson headshot

Caroline brings an extraordinary blend of academic leadership, scientific and technical expertise, and a lifelong commitment to advancing access and equity in education. Her distinguished career at Gallaudet University and her well recognized work in STEM education for deaf and hard-of-hearing students make her superbly qualified to guide NTID into its next chapter.”

 

David Munson
RIT President Emeritus

Gerry Buckley headshot

Dr. Solomon brings with her an outstanding academic and STEM research record and wealth of higher education knowledge and experience. I’m so pleased that she will lead NTID into the future, and know NTID is in highly capable hands. Judy and I look forward to welcoming Dr. Solomon and her family to Rochester and the NTID community in the months ahead.”

 

Gerry Buckley
NTID President (retiring August 17, 2025)

The Search

The search for NTID’s new president began following the announcement of Gerry Buckley’s retirement in November 2024, and a robust pool of candidates quickly expressed interest in the role. 

Working in partnership with executive search firm Isaacson, Miller and Innivee Strategies, a Deaf-owned and led national executive search firm, the 18-member search committee composed of students, faculty, staff, alumni, and administrators narrowed the pool of candidates before final selection by RIT President Emeritus David Munson in consultation with RIT President Bill Sanders. 

The committee was co-chaired by NTID Interim Dean Gary Behm and RIT College of Computing and Information Sciences Dean Matt Huenerfauth.

The NTID President’s Role

RIT sought an inspiring, visionary, and student-centered leader to serve as NTID’s next president—a compelling opportunity for an experienced leader and advocate for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community to lead a preeminent higher education institution into the future.

NTID is an international model for educating and preparing deaf and hard-of-hearing students for future professions across sectors, from the arts, to healthcare, to technology-related careers. In a rapidly changing global environment, NTID’s primary mission is to provide deaf and hard-of-hearing students with outstanding state-of-the-art technical and professional education programs, complemented by a strong arts and sciences curriculum. The college also prepares both hearing and deaf and hard-of-hearing professionals to work in fields related to deafness, undertakes a program of applied research designed to enhance the social, economic, and educational accessibility for deaf and hard-of-hearing people, and is committed to sharing its knowledge and expertise through global outreach and information dissemination programs.

NTID’s new president joins RIT alongside the university’s new president, Dr. Bill Sanders. At this important moment, the new NTID president will develop the strategic vision for the future of a pioneering institution that has been at the forefront of Deaf education since its establishment in 1968. The president will collaboratively engage senior leadership, students, faculty, staff, and alumni around institutional priorities for the next chapter of NTID’s distinguished legacy for impact. Enhancing student recruitment and retention, fostering collaboration between NTID and RIT, and advocating for the importance of NTID’s mission on local, national, and global stages will all feature as objectives for the new president.

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