Mark Shepard

Rochester, NY

Program Spotlight:
The National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID) Co-op and Career Center supports d/Deaf and hard-of-hearing students and alumni with their job searches, including by helping students find and complete internships (or “co-ops”), a requirement for graduation. The Rochester Institute of Technology’s (RIT’s) Office of Career Services and Cooperative Education and the NTID Co-op and Career Center (NCCC) partner with a vast network of employers, both directly and collaboratively to match qualified candidates with employment opportunities.

Employee Spotlight: 

RIT NTID student Mark Shepard’s academic journey took some unexpected twists and turns, but NCCC supported him at every step—ultimately helping him launch a successful career with an employer in its network, the New York Department of Transportation (NY DOT).

During his first three years at RIT NTID, Mark studied architectural and civil drafting technology and earned an associate’s degree in applied science. He then went on to work toward his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. But after two more years of study, he realized civil engineering was too narrow a major. Mark transferred to RIT’s School of Individual Studies, where he created his own course of study focusing on civil engineering and sustainable development.

When the time came to find his co-op, Mark turned to NCCC, which helped him apply to a few promising leads. In 2016 and 2018, he successfully completed two internships, one paid and one unpaid, with NY DOT’s Highway Design Squad. Both experiences gave him real-world experience in project management, teamwork, and feedback implementation. 

Mark finished his undergraduate work in 2020. He then continued at RIT, completing a graduate degree in architecture, environmental safety, and structural management. Mark once again turned to NCCC for help seeking permanent work. He now works full-time with the NY DOT Highway Traffic Data and Analysis team.

Mark’s responsibilities include reviewing police reports, traffic timing, and traffic reports, as well as managing email complaints and concerns related to traffic. His work improves the flow of traffic and safety on the busy roads and highways of one of the nation’s largest states.

At work, Mark has the accommodations he needs, including speech-to-text software. He has also forged positive relationships with his colleagues, though he acknowledges that relationship-building in any new job takes time and that it is not unusual to feel disconnected at the beginning. Mark started teaching a weekly American Sign Language (ASL) class at work to help connect with his colleagues and to increase understanding and internal communication.

For anyone embarking on a new career, in transportation or any new field, Mark says an important key to success is patience and the willingness to learn something new. He recommends embracing change, even when unexpected, because the journey is worth it. With critical support from NCCC, Mark leveraged a combination of education and meaningful work-based learning experiences to find the right career and he’s excited for what the future will bring, including similar opportunities for other students like him.