Jane K. Fernandes

Age: 50.

Native of Worcester, Mass.

Attended public schools. Graduate of Trinity College (Connecticut), with a bachelor's degree in French and comparative literature, and the University of Iowa, with master's and doctorate degrees in comparative literature.

Worked for Northeastern University before coming to Gallaudet as chairman of the Department of Sign Communication. Later moved to Hawaii, where she worked at Kapi'olani Community College and served for five years as the director of the Hawaii Center for the Deaf and Blind.

Returned to Gallaudet in 1995 to become the vice president for the Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center.

Named provost of Gallaudet in 2000.

Named Gallaudet's ninth president in May; scheduled to take office in January 2007.

Married to James J. Fernandes, a former professor in Gallaudet's Department of Communication Studies. They have two children.