Welcome to a new academic year at RIT/NTID! August always brings renewed energy to our campus as students arrive, families say their goodbyes, and faculty and staff prepare for the meaningful work ahead. Whether you are returning to campus or joining our community for the first time, I am grateful for the many ways you contribute to making NTID a place of belonging, discovery, and opportunity.
As I complete my first year as president of NTID, I do so with deep appreciation for the people who make this college extraordinary. I have spent this first year listening, learning, and witnessing the strength of our community—our students’ ambition, our faculty and staff’s dedication, our alumni’s pride, and our partners’ commitment to opening doors. Those experiences make me even more optimistic and excited about the year ahead.
As we prepare to move forward with the NTID Strategic Journey, which will guide our college in the years ahead, I am hosting the NTID State of the Institute Address for staff and faculty 1:00–2:00 p.m. on Friday, September 11, 2026, in Panara Theatre. This session will provide information about NTID’s strategic focus, including the process and timeline. There will be an opportunity for you to ask questions and offer input during the session and throughout the process.
The NTID AI Taskforce has been hard at work exploring AI’s impact on teaching, learning, accessibility, curriculum, workforce readiness, and student success. The group developed preliminary recommendations that promote ethical, accessible AI use to enhance—not replace—critical thinking while positioning NTID as a leader in AI innovation for deaf and hard-of-hearing learners. We will share more information about this work soon.
Begun in the spring, NTID’s college-wide student retention initiative continues to bring together interdisciplinary teams to identify barriers to student success and implement strategies to improve persistence and graduation outcomes. The initiative continued with a keynote presentation by Dr. Carrie Lou Bloom of the National Deaf Center at NTID’s Welcome Event on August 20 and will be an important focus for our entire community this academic year.
As we look forward, I encourage each of you to continue building connections across our community, celebrating the achievements of our students and colleagues, and sharing the stories that show the impact of NTID and RIT. Thank you for all you do to support our students and one another. I am excited for what we will accomplish together this year.
Warmly,
Carrie
