ATLAS Team

Director

Kimberly in a hand knit sweater.

Dr. Kimberly J. Hale, Assistant Professor in ASL & Interpreting at Oklahoma State University

Learn more about the Advancing Teaching and Learning in ASL & interpreting Studies (ATLAS).

Collaborators

Dr. Valerie Freeman, Associate Professor, Oklahoma State University

Dr. Valerie Freeman, Associate Professor, Oklahoma State University

Dr. Valerie Freeman, Associate Professor, Oklahoma State University

Tara Stevens, ABD

Associate Professor in the ASL-English Interpreting program at Eastern Kentucky University.

Rachel Hollis, Teaching Assistant Professor in the ASL Studies program at Oklahoma State University.

Rachel Hollis, Teaching Assistant Professor in ASL Studies, Oklahoma State University

Tara Stevens, ABD, Associate Professor in ASL-English Interpreting, Eastern Kentucky University

Undergraduate Research Assistants

Current Research Assistants

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 Claire Baggett, lab manager & undergraduate research assistant (Spring 2025 – )

Hi! I’m a senior majoring in Communication Sciences and Disorders and minoring in American Sign Language. I’ve loved learning more about Deaf culture and that is what originally drew me into the field of d/Deaf and interpreting research. Once I graduate in May, I’m planning on going to graduate school to get my masters degree in Speech Language Pathology. I hope to someday be a pediatric speech therapist and work with d/Deaf kids by using sign language and speech! I love contributing to this research and learning more about the interpreting and Deaf communities.  

Former Team Members & Collaborators

Bella Farrow, honors student (Spring 2025).

Hi y’all. I’m a senior here at OSU and I’m a dual degree student. I’m getting my BS in Sociology with a concentration in Social Services with an ASL minor, and my BA in Philosophy with a concentration in Ethics and Public Policy. I’m from Duncan, Oklahoma, a small town close to the Texas border. I’m super excited to get some hands-on experience in research this semester and apply some of my analytical skills! After graduation I plan on attention law school and becoming a public interest/humans right lawyer.

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Jonna Hannabass, undergraduate research assistant (Fall 2025)

As someone who is majoring in both American Sign Language Studies and Communication Sciences and Disorders, I was drawn to this project and the experience that it could give me. While I have already learned so much about the Deaf community, I’m excited to see some real-life scenarios and to learn more about what Deaf experiences are like. I plan on being an ASL interpreter, so I’m eager to see some of the variety that I don’t often see within the Deaf community and to learn some different perspectives on hearing loss, sign language, assistive technology, and more.

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Mady Hedge, Lab manager & research assistant  (2024-2025) 

I’m a senior double majoring in Communication Sciences & Disorders and American Sign Language Studies. I hail from Haskell Oklahoma, which is a small town near Tulsa. My interest in preserving and archiving history initially drew me to this research lab, and I’m eager to explore the diverse stories within the Deaf community. After graduating in May, I plan to pursue a graduate program in audiology to further my education and one day become an audiologist. I’m looking forward to contributing to our research and learning more about the rich narratives and histories of the Deaf community.

To be announced

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Jordan Landers, honors student (Spring 2025)

Hello! I am a major in American Sign Language Studies with a focus in interpreting at Oklahoma State University. I will be graduating in the Spring of 2026 and plan to take my certification exams to enter the field and begin working in the community. I have been the OSU ASL Club President for 3 years now and also tutor ASL through the LASSO center on OSU’s campus. I have a strong passion for the Deaf community, advocacy, and interpreting, so I appreciate having the opportunity to work on and support this project.

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Corinna Lawrence, undergraduate research assistant (Fall 2025)

As a senior majoring in Psychology with a minor in American Sign Language, I joined this research project to gain more experience in a field that has deeply impacted me. My time studying ASL and working with the Deaf community has profoundly shaped how I approach communication, care, and inclusion. After graduating in December, I plan to apply to graduate programs in psychology and pursue a career that supports neurodivergent and d/Deaf individuals. I’m excited for what’s ahead, and so grateful to learn and to be part of this work!

Cadie Link, AURCA research assistant (2024-2025)

I am a junior double majoring in Psychology and English. I am from Guthrie, Oklahoma, a small town not too far from Stillwater. My interest in archival projects originally comes from my previous job as a digital archivist for the Library on campus. I am really excited to do archive work in a video format for the Deaf Community. I look forward to learning the stories of so many people. After I graduate in Spring of 2026, I plan to pursue a graduate degree in Psychology or Secondary Education, as I would like to one day be a professor at a University. I look forward to working with this wonderful group to explore the stories of so many within the Deaf community.  

To be announced