Interpreter Educator | Scholar | Coach
I’m an Assistant Professor of ASL-English Interpreting at Oklahoma State University, where I direct the ATLAS Research Lab and coordinate the ASL degree programs.
My mission is to increase equity and access for Deaf and hard of hearing communities by advancing teaching, learning, and faculty development in ASL and Interpreter Education.
As director of the ATLAS Research Lab (Advancing Teaching, Learning in ASL & Interpreting Studies), I lead research initiatives focused on:
I teach introductory through advanced courses in Oklahoma State’s BA in ASL Studies program and the ASL-English Interpreting option. I work to create learning environments where students develop both technical skills and critical thinking about their future roles in the Deaf community.
I provide consulting services to interpreter education programs and institutions, and offer faculty coaching through FacultySuccessCoach.com.
My work bridges my experiences as a professional interpreter, academic researcher, and certified coach (ICF Associate Certified Coach, 2024).
My path to academia was anything but linear. I started as a professional ASL-English interpreter, earning my BA in Signed Language Interpreting from Maryville College—the first four-year interpreting program in the U.S.—and achieving both NAD and RID certification (CI, CT) in the early 2000s.
The desire to deepen my interpreting competency led me to an MA in Linguistics at the University of South Carolina. In 2007, I made the leap to academia, starting as contingent faculty at Eastern Kentucky University and working my way to tenured Associate Professor. Along the way, I earned my doctorate (2012) in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies with a focus on higher education.
That professional-to-academic transition wasn’t easy. The struggles I experienced fueled my passion for understanding how faculty succeed—or don’t—in higher education. This curiosity has shaped both my research agenda and my commitment to supporting other faculty members navigating similar paths.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
Want the full academic details? See my CV here.