William EnnisView profile
Associate Professor
William Ennis is an Associate Professor in the Arts and Humanities school at Gallaudet University. He holds a B.A. in History from Gallaudet University and both an M.A. and Ph.D. in History from the University of Iowa. His teaching portfolio includes American History surveys, specialized courses on Deaf community history, and research methods in history. Ennis' research focuses on Deaf history with particular attention to eugenics, Civil War experiences of deaf individuals, archival practices, and the intersection of disability and social policy. He has served in leadership roles including Chair of the Faculty Senate (2018-2020), Committee Member for Presidential Search (2015), and Coordinator for institutional programs (2016-2017). His scholarly contributions include groundbreaking work on eugenics' impact on Deaf communities and transnational sign language loyalty networks. Ennis actively participates in professional organizations like the American Historical Association and Deaf History International. Though no lab affiliations are explicitly listed, his collaborative projects involve archival partnerships and oral history initiatives in the Mid-Atlantic region. Ennis has advised numerous independent studies and maintains an active speaking schedule at academic conferences focusing on Deaf history and historiography.












