“So many deaf people are left out of the story of their own lives,” says Khadijat Rashid, SIS/PhD ’04, provost of Gallaudet University in Washington, DC, and a former White House fellow. Chartered by Abraham Lincoln in 1864, Gallaudet is the only liberal arts university for the deaf and hard of hearing. Rashid, an advocate for people with disabilities, says she owes much to her students, to their “unwillingness to accept the status quo” and their “determination to change the world.”
1967: Is born one of eight in Zaria, Nigeria.
1971: Begins reading picture books with her parents. “They weren’t rich, but it was clear what their values were. Our home was always full of books.”
1976: Immerses herself in the work of Agatha Christie and Isaac Asimov, the mystery and science fiction writers.
1979: Enrolls in a public high school in Nigeria with a unit dedicated to students who are deaf or hard of hearing. One of her teachers, Ben Ola Afolabi, is particularly inspiring. “I loved his stories about Nigerian and African history—the pride in ourselves and our history that he instilled.”
1982: Loses her father in a car accident. A brother dies seven years later. “That was so hard. I didn’t feel like I could go on.”
Considers quitting school but remembers her father, who “believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself.”
1986: Moves to the United States by herself to begin her undergraduate studies in economics and accounting at Gallaudet University, where the instructors use American Sign Language. “So many of my professors were deaf. Seeing how passionate they were about their jobs really had an impact on me.”
1987: Travels to France, Italy, Greece, and Monaco, meeting people with disabilities along the way. “The experience of being deaf in a hearing world binds all of us together.”
Marvels at the artwork in the Louvre and the Uffizi. “I just soaked it all up. I guess I’m fundamentally a nerd.”
1994: Earns her MBA from the University of Maryland, College Park, and begins teaching economics and management at Gallaudet.
1995: Enrolls in the School of International Service’s doctoral program in international relations. “From the moment I stepped foot on the campus, it just felt so warm and welcoming.”
Is assigned an interpreter at AU, who accompanies her to social events with classmates. “That was such a blessing because it meant I could join in when they went out to dinner or to a coffee shop. I never felt left out.”
Leads two classes as part of her degree requirements. “That taught me that I enjoy teaching and could teach both hearing and deaf students.”
2004: Earns her PhD in international relations. “[My father] told me I was going to be a doctor. I ended up one, just not the kind he envisioned!”
2010: Is named a White House fellow—the first deaf person selected for the position. “I got a call from the White House after the third round of interviews, and I actually ignored it at first, sure it was a scam.”
Works with the Small Business Administration to review and interpret regulations; meets with cabinet secretaries and Fortune 500 CEOs; and develops close friendships with the dozen fellows in her cohort. “I often found myself wondering how I fit into such a distinguished group. Impostor syndrome is very real.”
2012: Delivers remarks at the World Bank in Washington, DC, on international development and the impact of people with disabilities on the global economy.
2017: Presents at the United Nations in New York City about her work as a professor and the importance of inclusivity. Speaks again at the UN in New York and Bonn, Germany, the following year.
2023: Is appointed Gallaudet’s provost. “It feels surreal. The idea that I’m shepherding the next generation of students—just blows my mind.”
2025: Receives AU’s Neil Kerwin Alumni Achievement Award for her work on behalf of deaf and hard-of-hearing students. American was “such a warm and welcoming environment. Now, as provost at Gallaudet, I strive to replicate that feeling of belonging for our students.”