About the Center on Deafness
Mission
The Center on Deafness is committed to preparing professionals who value and are committed to modeling, supporting, and securing equity for deaf and hard of hearing persons including those from underrepresented populations.
Vision
The Center on Deafness will be the model for preparing professionals in the field of deafness through innovative use of technology and human and fiscal resources by initiating external evaluation and by pioneering efforts in self-evaluation. COD will ensure quality in meeting the dynamic needs of its stakeholders.
History
In March, 1998, Mr. William E. Woodrick submitted a proposal to the University of Tennessee to establish the Center on Deafness. The purpose of the proposal was to enhance the visibility and integration of the federal deafness projects that were dispersed among traditional academic programs within the previous College of Education and to increase the focus toward expanding external resources that would benefit academic programs, public service, scholarship, and the research potential of the University.
The university approved and established the Center on Deafness in June, 1998. Since the Center was established, funding has increased from $1.4 million annually to over $2 million annually. In 2001, the Center went through a three-year review by the university and received approval for continuation as a university appointed Center for an additional five years. The next university review of the Center is scheduled for Spring, 2007.
Previous Directors
Integral to the success of the Center on Deafness is the foundation that was laid by the previous two Directors of the Center on Deafness, Mr. William (Bill) E. Woodrick and Mr. Donnell H. Ashmore.
Mr. William E. Woodrick, Professor & Director
June, 1998 - June, 1999
RETIRED
Prior to the establishment of the Center on Deafness, Professor Woodrick served as the Principal Investigator/Director of all federally funded deafness grants. His loyal service to the university spanned 32 years. During that time he made tremendous contributions to the university and was also responsible for establishing services at the university for students with disabilities (Disability Support Services).
Mr. Donnell H. Ashmore, Associate Professor & Director
June,
1999 - May, 2005
RETIRED
Mr. Ashmore was named the Director of the Center on Deafness in June, 1999 after Mr. Woodrick retired from the unviersity. During his tenure as Director, Mr. Ashmore pioneered efforts that brought the Center and the Department of Audiology & Speech Pathology together to apply for joint funding through the U.S. Department of Education for Literacy for Deaf and Hard of hearing children which was funded in the Fall, 2004. Mr. Ashmore's career with the university began in 1983 with the federally funded Postsecondary Education Consortium.