DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, & MATHEMATICS KENDALL GREEN

(202) 651-5385(V/TTY) 800 FLORIDA AVE. NE

(202) 651-5521 (FAX) WASHINGTON, DC 20002-3695

October 20, 2017

Dr. Matthew Bakke

Department of Hearing, Speech & Language Sciences
Gallaudet University
800 Florida Avenue, NE Washington, DC 20002

Dear Dr. Bakke:

I am pleased to write this letter of support for Dr. Larry Medwetskys application for tenure based
on my observations of him in the Faculty Senate.

Dr. Medwetsky is an very involved and committed member of the Faculty Senate. He has proved
to be a very valued member of the Senate because he asks thoughtful and important questions
about different issues. We often get Senators who do not read through the materials throughouly
before the meeting and do not have questions. The Senate is responsible for oversight of
curriculum and policy decisions so if we do not scruitize what is brought to us then we are not
being accountable.

Dr. Medwetsky, as a new signer, a hard-of-hearing individual, a member of HSLS, who has not
been at Gallaudet as long as many of the Senators, has not been afraid to ask questions to fully
understand and to bring newer perspectives to an issue. I have observed him as as a Senator and
member of the Executive Committee of the Senate under Dr. Rashids term as Faculty Senate
Chair, and I appreciated his insights as they were instrumental for discussing many matters
related to the faculty. Because of this, as a newly elected Faculty Senate Chair, I asked Dr.
Medwetsky to continue to serve on the Executive Committee of the Senate and he accepted
without any reservations in AY 2016-2017. He continues to serve on the Senate as a valued
member this year (AY 2017-2018).

Dr. Medwetsky, fully aware that he is not as informed about deaf culture as some of his
colleagues, has not hestitated to seek ways to learn and improve his understanding so that he can
best serve Gallaudet and his department. I encouraged him to start signing for himself in the
Senate meetings last year (but did keep interpreting services so that he would be sure not to miss
what others were saying) as I told him that his emotions would show much better through his own
expression of his thoughts which meant more to us. He appreciated the encouragement and did
that at meetings. This year, he wholeheartedly accepted my suggestion that he use a CDI rather
than a voice interpreter so that he could emerge himself more and work on improving his ASL
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skills. In the same vein, he has been working hard as department chair and clinical director this
year to make HSLS more visible and connected with the rest of the campus community.

Also, Dr. Medwetsky is always willing to serve in different capacities to support the university.
He took on the role of department chair even if he had not been at Gallaudet very long. He is
currently serving on the University Bilingual Framework Task Force, and served on the Faculty
Bilingual Task Force.

Dr. Medwetsky, as a well-respected individual by his peers for his different perspectives, offer
valuable and generative insights on faculty issues. Because of this, Gallaudet is fortunate to have
an individual like Dr. Medwetsky who has passion for service to the University Faculty.

Respectfully yours,

Dr. Caroline Solomon

Professor, Biology