This document provides an introduction to deaf identity for higher education professionals. It begins with introductions and outlines the session goals of checking in with participants, discussing the conceptual framework, and covering terms and concepts related to deaf identity and implications for higher education. The conceptual framework draws on social constructivism and symbolic interactionism theory to understand identity development within deaf and hearing contexts from a bilingual, multicultural perspective. Key terms are defined, such as the difference between deafness and Deaf, and perspectives on deaf identities are discussed. The implications of deaf identity for optimizing equity and inclusion in higher education are also covered.