Meet the First Black Deaf Person to Receive a Ph.D. in Canada

In 2020, Dr. Jenelle Rouse made history by becoming the first known Black Deaf person in Canada to earn a Ph.D. She achieved this remarkable milestone by obtaining her Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Western Ontario.

Dr. Rouse’s academic journey began with her completion of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Teacher Education Program at York University in 2008. She furthered her education by earning a Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics in Education from the University of Western Ontario in 2016, and ultimately, her Ph.D. in 2020.

Reflecting on her motivation, Dr. Rouse often cites her immigrant parents’ sacrifices as a significant driving force behind her accomplishments. “My true motivation was my parents, my immigrant parents,” she shared. “I know they didn’t have the opportunity to do this, so when I had the opportunity, I just took it and ran with it.”

For over a decade, Dr. Rouse has dedicated herself to education, working as a teacher at a bilingual school for the deaf in Ontario. Her commitment to her students extends beyond the classroom as she advocates passionately for the acquisition of American Sign Language (ASL) by every deaf child. She believes that having a solid foundation in sign language is crucial for their development and success.

In addition to her work in education, Dr. Rouse is also an accomplished applied linguistics researcher and a body-movement dance artist. She uses contemporary dance to tell stories, combining her linguistic expertise with her artistic talents to create powerful performances. Her short dance film, “Perceptions,” released in 2015, is one of several projects through which she has showcased her unique approach to storytelling.

Dr. Rouse’s achievements have not gone unnoticed. Her friend Abigail Danquah celebrated her success on social media, stating, “This is beyond proof of anything possible to break the stigma/stereotype that people think Black Deaf persons can’t do anything, especially in education. If she can do it, then you can do it. Anything is possible when dreams come true.”

In her professional endeavors, Dr. Rouse has also been involved with various arts-related sectors in Ontario, taking on roles as an artist, facilitator, co-researcher, and consultant. She runs her own project, Multi-Lens, which further explores the intersection of art, education, and advocacy.

Dr. Rouse’s pioneering achievement has set a precedent for the Black Deaf community in Canada and beyond. She joins a small but growing list of Black Deaf scholars, including Dr. Alesia Allen, Dr. Opeoluwa Sotonwa, Dr. Onudeah Nicolarakis, Dr. Rezenet Moges-Riedel, and Dr. Slemo Warigon. In the United States, Shirley Allen became the first Black Deaf woman to earn a doctorate in 1992, paving the way for future scholars like Dr. Rouse.

Through her dedication to education, advocacy, and the arts, Dr. Jenelle Rouse continues to inspire and empower others, demonstrating that with perseverance and support, barriers can be broken, and dreams can indeed become reality.

Adrian Ottah, a 17-year-old African American student from Newark, New Jersey, has accomplished an extraordinary feat by graduating with both a high school diploma and a college degree in the same year. This impressive achievement is a testament to his hard work, dedication, and the support of his community and family.

Adrian attends University High School in Newark, where a unique program allows a select group of students to take college-level courses taught by professors. This opportunity enabled him to earn 60 college credits, putting him on track to potentially earn a bachelor’s degree by the age of 19.

Adrian’s motivation stems from his Nigerian immigrant parents, who moved to the United States seeking better opportunities. “My true motivation was my parents, my immigrant parents,” Adrian shared. “I know they didn’t have the opportunity to do this, so when I had the opportunity, I just took it and ran with it.”

Balancing high school and college coursework was challenging. Adrian often stayed late after school to complete his college assignments, juggling his responsibilities with remarkable success. Despite the rigorous schedule, he maintained over a 3.0 GPA in his college classes and a 3.5 GPA in high school. More about Adrian can be found here.

Back To Top