TRENTON New Jersey Department of Human Services' (DHS) Commissioner Jennifer Velez today announced the appointment of David C. Alexander, Ph.D., as director of the DHS' Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DDHH). Dr. Alexander has 20 years of experience in special education administration and teaching, with a specialization in hearing loss and multiple disabilities.

“Dr. Alexander's extensive academic career working with children and adults with hearing loss will be an asset to this department,” said DHS Commissioner Jennifer Velez . “His broad knowledge, and personal experience regarding hearing loss, complements the diverse interests and needs of the consumers and colleagues represented by the Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.”

Dr. Alexander has served as the principal of the Lake Drive School , Mountain Lakes ; and the Marie Katzenbach School for the Deaf, West Trenton , schools which specialize in academic programs for children with hearing loss and multiple disabilities. His experience includes working for the New Jersey Department of Education, where he provided consultation to educators, child study teams and parents related to the development of educational programs for children with hearing loss; and, as the Director of Diagnostic and Support Services for Gallaudet University, Washington D.C., where he implemented academic support services for students who have disabilities in addition to their hearing loss and planned staff development workshops to enhance the awareness of faculty members of the instructional needs of students with disabilities.

– more –

“The division has a distinguished tradition of advocating for the needs of the Deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind and late-deafened communities in New Jersey ,” said Dr. Alexander. “I look forward to working collaboratively with the respective communities to ensure their full inclusion in the mainstream of life.”

Dr. Alexander has a Ph.D., Special Education Administration, from Gallaudet University, Washington DC ; and a M.Ed., Education of the Deaf, from Western Maryland College , Westminster , Maryland . He is licensed in New Jersey as a Teacher of the Deaf, Teacher of the Handicapped, School Administrator and has a New Jersey Principal Certificate.