Abraham Glasser, Ph.D., is an American computer scientist, academic, and researcher specializing in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), accessible technology, and Deaf studies. He currently serves as an Assistant Professor in the Science, Technology, Accessibility, Mathematics, and Public Health (STAMP) program at Gallaudet University.
Early Life and Education
Born and raised in Rochester, New York, Glasser developed an early interest in computing and technology[1]. He attended the Rochester Institute of Technology, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Computer Science in 2019[2]. During his undergraduate years, he was mentored by prominent researchers such as Matt Huenerfauth and participated in prestigious internships at NASA, Microsoft, and Google, where he focused on accessibility engineering and user experience[1][2].
Career and Research
Glasser joined the faculty of Gallaudet University in 2023 as part of the Master of Science in Accessible Human-Centered Computing (AHCC) program [2][3]. His research agenda is characterized by a "Deaf-centered" approach to design, arguing that technology should be built with the participation of people with disabilities from its inception rather than being retrofitted with accessibility features later[5].
His primary research interests include Sign Language-Aware Technology, Voice Assistant Accessibility, and Immersive Environments (VR/AR).
Professional Impact and Recognition
Glasser is widely recognized for his pioneering research on making voice-controlled technology and immersive environments accessible to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) community[1]. In 2023, he made history as one of the first three Deaf individuals to earn a doctoral degree from the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)[4].
Glasser is a frequent contributor to top-tier HCI conferences. His work often highlights the "Deaf perspective" in Artificial Intelligence (AI) fairness, advocating for diverse benchmarks that include Deaf-accented speech and sign language data[5][6].
Beyond his academic career, Glasser is a prominent figure in the Deaf community as a competitive chess player. He has held the title of United States Deaf Chess Champion since 2011, representing the U.S. in international competitions[1][3].
- Gallaudet Academic Affairs. (2023, August 30). Introducing Gallaudet's new faculty members for 2023-2024. https://gallaudet.edu/academic-affairs/introducing-gallaudets-new-faculty-members-for-2023-2024/
- Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). (2019, May 2). RIT/NTID provides groundwork for grads moving on to doctoral degree programs. https://www.rit.edu/accesstechnology/news/ritntid-provides-groundwork-grads-moving-doctoral-degree-programs
- Glasser, A. T. (2023). Empirical Investigations and Dataset Collection for American Sign Language-Aware Personal Assistants. Rochester Institute of Technology. https://www.proquest.com/openview/04d9ea2ed5532de214597b773148a073/1
- University of Washington - AccessComputing. (2023, July 15). AccessComputing Team Members Complete Their PhDs. https://accesscomputing.uw.edu/news-updates/accesscomputing-team-members-complete-their-phds
- Gallaudet University. (2026, April 28). Gallaudet brings Deaf-centered human-computer interaction research to CHI 2026 in Barcelona. https://gallaudet.edu/accessibility/gallaudet-brings-deaf-centered-human-computer-interaction-research-to-chi-2026-in-barcelona/
- ResearchGate. (2024). Abraham Glasser | Gallaudet University, Washington, D.C. | Research profile. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Abraham-Glasser-2
- Underline Science. (2024). Abraham Glasser Gallaudet - Speaker Profile. https://underline.io/speakers/248676-abraham
