Interpreter Educator | Scholar | Coach
I am passionate about advancing education, research, and support in ASL & Interpreter education.
My journey has led me from professional interpreting to academia, where I now focus on improving educational practices and outcomes for both students and faculty.
I earned a BA in Signed Language Interpreting from Maryville college, the first 4-year degree program for ASL interpreting in the US. I have worked as a professional interpreter ever since. I earned NAD as well as RID (CI, CT) certification in the early 2000s.
With a desire to increase my competency as an interpreter I earned a MA in Linguistics from the University of South Carolina.
In January 2007, I started my first full-time faculty position at Eastern Kentucky University. I worked my way from a contingent position up to tenured associate professor.
While working at Eastern Kentucky University, I also earned my doctorate (2012) in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, with a focus on higher education.
I love digging deeper into the faculty experience. I’ve spent over a decade trying to figure out how working and learning in higher education works – or doesn’t.
I knew the struggles I experienced as a professional-turned-academic, and I wanted to make that process easier for my fellow faculty members.
That led me to pursue International Coaching Federation Certification. I have over 120 hours of Higher-Ed focused coach training. I achieved the Associate Certified Coach credential in January 2024.
As the director of the ATLAS Research Lab (Advancing Teaching, Learning in ASL & Interpreting Studies), I lead initiatives aimed at:
Oklahoma State University recently approved a BA in ASL Studies and a new option (aka concentration) in ASL-English Interpreting.
I teach introductory to advanced courses in the program
Drawing from my experiences as a professional interpreter turned academic, I also work as a Faculty Success Coach. In this role, I offer a range of courses, workshops, and services to support faculty members, particularly those transitioning from professional careers.