Jordan, Irving King (I. King Jordan)

Born hearing at Glen Riddle, PA; deafened from head injuries suffered in a motorcycle accident about age 24 while serving in the U.S. Navy; B.A. (1970) from Gallaudet College, M.A., Ph.D. (1973) from University of Tennessee. Professor of psychology, then a dean, then eighth President and first deaf President of Gallaudet University (1988- ) after a 1988 week-long student protest movement against the appointment of his hearing predecessor, Elisabeth Ann Zinser (q.v.), as President. After a generally successful, popular, and influential 19 years as President, he retired at the end of 2006 amidst controversy and, ironically, protest movements over his alleged role in masterminding the Board of Trustees' appointment of Gallaudet University's unpopular Provost, Jane K. Fernandes (q.v.), as his successor, and over the allegedly heavy-handed way he and his administration handled the protests.