EDUCATION
University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI
Master of Science in Adult Education, May 2009
University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI
Bachelor of Science in Exceptional Education, December 2000
University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI
Interpreter Training Certificate, May 1999
Gallaudet University, Washington DC
6-week Intensive ASL Coursework, Summer 1997
Milwaukee Area Technical College, Milwaukee, WI
Associate Degree in Graphic Design, May 1996
CERTIFICATIONS Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf
Certificate of Transliterating, Summer 2001 Certificate of Interpreting, Fall 2002
ACCOMPLISHMENTS Curriculum Development
Revamped the UC SLI Clinical Practice series: Clinical Practice Prep and Portfolio, Clinical Practice I and Clinical Practice II, by:
• Built a service learning component into the second-semester professional cohort sequence;
• Established partnerships with more than 8 sites for full-time internships, including Procter & Gamble, Communication Services for the Deaf, Northern Kentucky Services for the Deaf, Deaf Choice, Kentucky and Ohio Offices of Vocational Rehabilitation and Oak Hills, Hamilton County and Dayton School districts; • Collaborated with the UC Career Development Center to provide students in their third semester of the
professional cohort sequence an opportunity to participate in three mock interviews to practice interviewing and presentation skills; and
• Implemented an exit interview panel of experts in student’s final semester.
Created new course, ASL 3003 “American Sign Language Linguistics” for implementation in Fall 2013. Co-wrote proposal and all related course descriptions and learning outcomes for a Graduate Certificate in Deaf Education for implementation in Summer 2013.
• ASL 6001 “Beginning ASL I for Teachers” • ASL 6002 “Beginning ASL II for Teachers” • ASL 6020 “Education of the Deaf I” • ASL 6021 “Education of the Deaf II”
Received approval and support for UC Forward grant proposal, including course descriptions and learning outcomes for trans-disciplinary course with Deaf Studies, Signed Language Interpreting, School of Criminal Justice, and College of Law – ASL 6050 “Deaf Populations in Legal and Justice Systems” to be implemented in Fall 2013.
Built courses, ASL 1992, 1993, 2992, 2993 “Bridge Course for Beginning II, III and Intermediate I, II” to assure students successful transfer into semester conversion.
Served as primary contributor on the Kenyan Ministry of Education’s curriculum development committee to write the country’s national curriculum for Interpreter Education.
[email protected] Wrote curriculum for teaching Zambian Sign Language as a second language.
Served as advisor to and trainer of the Ethiopian Sign Language and Deaf Culture Bachelor’s degree program curriculum.
Developed course content and taught eight courses in the new Ethiopian Sign Language and Deaf Culture Bachelor’s degree program. Created all supporting course materials and trained fellow colleagues on course content and teaching methodology: “Advanced Interpreting and Translation”, “Contemporary Issues in Deafness”, “Curriculum Design”, “Deaf Culture”, “Introduction to Ethiopian Sign Language”, “Non-Verbal Communication”, “Sociology of the Signing Family” and “Fundamentals of Interpreting”.
Developed course content and taught two courses and one short-course for the Zambia Institute of Special Education Deaf Education department. Created all supporting course materials and trained fellow colleagues on course content and teaching methodology in: “Deaf Education I and II Methodology” and “Zambian Sign Language” short course.
Served as an advisor to the curriculum development team who wrote the American Sign Language Studies Bachelor’s degree curriculum at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee.
Analyzed the Interpreter Education programs run in the state of Wisconsin as a Master’s degree final project. Writing recommendations for program revisions that would allow 2-year Associate Degree completers to obtain their Bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee.
Program Development
Increased enrollment and program capacity through recruitment and faculty development. Hired and trained 7 new adjunct faculty, including adding 4 new annual adjunct appointments.
Hosted “Teach ASL Better” professional development workshop on September 7-8, 2012 for University of Cincinnati and Cincinnati State ASL instructors.
Developed a strategic approach to working with an adjunct-heavy program, including:
• Setting program standards and values (Communication, Quality, Consistency, Reflective Practice, Community, Visibility),
• Hosting quarterly staff meetings, • Developing a handbook (in progress), • Establishing evaluation requirements,
• Creating teacher mentoring through co-teaching opportunities, and • Providing professional development opportunities.
Co-Taught ASL 3001 “Advanced ASL I” and ASL 3002 “Advanced ASL II” as a teacher mentor.
Teaching & Technology
Took a “Course Redesign” seminar from UC’s Center for Enhanced Teaching & Learning to convert SLI 3013 “Critical Analysis for Interpreters” into an online environment. Built template in Blackboard with enhanced teaching
methodologies, including improved assessments, activities and lecture formats.
Co-presented "Mentoring & Technology" workshop at the Australian Sign Language Interpreter Association Conference from a distance.
Co-wrote proposal to the University of Essex Instructional Technology department to create an application for iPad that incorporates several technologies into one program that walks students through the Discourse Analysis framework. Created course templates in Blackboard for all ASL related courses, including rewriting course descriptions, student learning outcomes, activities, assessments and lesson plans.
Mentored students and practicing-interpreters in the USA, Kenya and Ethiopia.
Interpreter Educator at the university and college level for more than seven years in the USA, Kenya, Zambia and Ethiopia. Offered several interpreter education workshops in Kenya and Ethiopia, including, “Sign Language
Interpreting: Theory Into Practice”, “On-the-Job Skill Building for Interpreters at the Machakos Teacher’s College” and “Ethical Decision Making for Sign Language Interpreters: Five Day training for Interpreters Working in Schools and Organizations in Addis Ababa”.
Community-Based Involvement
Hosted an “unConference” on October 27-28, 2012 as a form of a community needs assessment. The unConference informed the UC SLI program for a greater offerings in specialized trainings for practicing interpreters in medical, legal and education arenas. The development of the UC Forward proposal for ASL 6050 “Deaf Populations in the Legal and Justice System” and the Graduate Certificate in Deaf Education are both direct results of the unConference.
Celebrated International Deaf Awareness Week on UC Main campus with several events, including: • Deaf Family Day
• Deaf History Chalk Walk • ASL Club Information Booth • ASL Idol
• Flash Mob
• Homecoming National Anthem in ASL
RID nationally-certified interpreter for the past ten years in a variety of countries and contexts, including; educational (primary to post-graduate), medical, vocational, religious, political, theatrical and musical.
Grant Writing
Positive track record for writing project proposals that are successfully carried out from needs assessment to implementation, including the following:
• UC Forward Request for Funding of ASL 6050 “Deaf Populations in Legal and Justice System”. • Request to the Ministry of Education to build a residential school for the deaf in rural western Kenya, • “Materials Production for the Teaching of Zambian Sign Language”,
• “Advancing the Training of Sign Language Interpreters in Kenya” and
• “Ethical Decision Making for Sign Language Interpreters: Five Day Training for Interpreters Working in Schools and Organizations in Addis Ababa”.
International Initiatives
Investigated several study abroad opportunities for student-interpreters and student-teachers in Tanzania, which has had its first successful implementation in October 2012; Jamaica, which is in progress, but potentially inviting students in Summer 2013; and Italy with an articulation pending approval.
Applied and awaiting approval to Discovering Deaf Worlds: Empower Community Cross‐Cultural Exchange Program sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State Professional Fellows Empower Program.
Conducted a comparative linguistic study of Zambian Sign Language and American Sign Language and documented approximately 1,000 signs of Zambian Sign Language in a DVD dictionary.
[email protected] WORK HISTORY
Faculty, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
September 2011-Present
As Faculty in the Signed Language Interpreting program, I am responsible for teaching courses in the field of interpreting, program and course development, coordinating field placements, collaborating with practicum sites, supervising, observing and mentoring student-interpreters.
As Coordinator of the Deaf Studies program, I am responsible for overseeing program development, staff training, scheduling, hiring, promotion and recruitment, quality measurement and evaluation. The Deaf Studies program requires the coordination of more than seventeen adjunct professors and course offerings for more than 1700 students per academic year.
Community-Based Interpreter, Communication Services of the Deaf, Cincinnati, OH
September 2011-Present
Interpret on a freelance basis in various settings, including educational, medical, vocational, religious, political, theatrical and musical.
Consultant, Johns Hopkins University, Port au Prince, Haiti
January 2011
Collaborated with Johns Hopkins University partners - Project Concern International and IDEJEN – to assist in a multi-national research project to assess the quality of humanitarian aid in post-disaster areas. Assisted with the translation of the survey tool into Haitian Creole and revised questionnaire based on appropriateness to the Haitian context, oversaw the data-management team and conducted quality checks of data entry.
Lecturer, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
September 2009-November 2010
Organized and conducted five-day training for 25 practicing interpreters on “Ethical Decision Making for Sign Language Interpreters: Five Day training for Interpreters Working in Schools and Organizations in Addis Ababa”. Facilitated discussions about the establishment of a professional association for interpreters.
Established a two-semester mentorship program for practicing interpreters at AAU; teaching principles of interpreting and observing their work in the field on a weekly basis.
Revised the existing four-year program curriculum to reflect an outcome-based approach to educating Ethiopia’s teachers of the deaf, sign language interpreters, linguistic researchers and teachers of Ethiopian Sign Language (EthSL). Volunteer, Zambia Institute of Special Education, Lusaka, Zambia
United States Peace Corps—Zambia May 2008-May 2009
Conducted a needs assessment that demonstrated a demand for better Zambian Sign Language competencies from college graduates. Collaborated with several key stakeholder agencies, including US Peace Corps/Zambia, US
President’s Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), Zambia Institute for Special Education and Zambia National Association of the Deaf, to participate in a strategic plan.
Lead a comparative study of Zambian Sign Language to American Sign Language, facilitated a focus group to determine the content, developed a curriculum based on these two sources for teaching Zambian Sign Language as a second language, created a teaching manual and an electronic dictionary on DVD of more than 1,000 Zambian signs. Taught a 12-week short course of Zambian Sign Language to civil servants and medical professionals using the new teaching manual and dictionary. Lead staff trainings in ZSL. Managed the ZSL Student Club.
[email protected] Volunteer, Nina Primary School, Siaya, Kenya
United States Peace Corps—Kenya September 2006-January 2008
Served as a primary school teacher in a rural village in western Kenya, taught several subjects from the Kenyan primary school curriculum to approximately 20 deaf children in first to third grades. Tutored upper-primary students in an after-school program. Managed a peer-to-peer after-after-school language program.
Adjunct Lecturer, University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI
Spring 2005, Fall 2006, Spring 2006
Taught two courses per term in the Interpreter Training Program. Field-based courses, Fieldwork I, II, III, IV, required on-site observation and evaluation of student-interpreters and in-class discussion groups. Skills-based courses, included, Sign to Voice I and III.
Academic Advisor / Interpreter / Grant Manager, University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI
September 2001-2006
A full-time staff position that divided my responsibilities into three components:
As Academic Advisor, provided active and prospective students with information about Department undergraduate and post-baccalaureate programs, including troubleshooting, career counseling, updating program materials, website development, coordinating recruitment and orientation sessions and managing databases.
As Interpreter, provided on-call interpreting services for three full-time deaf professors and ten adjunct professors to meet all of their communication needs on campus.
As Grant Manager of a government-funded distance-education research grant of over $1,000,000, oversaw student admissions, budget coordination and event planning.
Sign Language Interpreter, University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI
September 2001-2006
Interpreted Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD level courses each term for deaf students on campus on a freelance basis. Community-Based Interpreter, Professional Interpreting Enterprise, Milwaukee, WI
September 2001-2006
Interpreted on a freelance basis in various settings, including educational, medical, vocational, religious, political, theatrical and musical.
TEACHING
SPED 312 Critical Analysis for Interpreters
SLI 3013 Critical Analysis for Interpreters (Online and Face-to-Face formats) SPED 404 Professionalism and Ethics for Interpreters
SPED 323 Community Interpreting and Transliterating Skills SPED 311 Advanced Interpreting and Transliterating Skills (Online) SLI 3017 Clinical Practice Prep
SLI 4001 Clinical Practice I SLI 4002 Clinical Practice II SPED 413 Clinical Practice II ASL 193 Beginning ASL III ASL 3001 Advanced ASL I ASL 3002 Advanced ASL II
At the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, I taught field-based courses, Fieldwork I, II, III, IV, and skills-based courses, including, Sign to Voice I and III.
[email protected] SERVICE
University of Cincinnati
Innovation Council, Participant, 2012/2013
Truman Scholarship Committee, Member, 2012/2013 Leadership Council, Representative, 2011-Present Dean Johnson’s BBQ, Volunteer, September 14, 2012 Junior Faculty Support Group, Participant, 2011-Present All Faculty Meetings, Participant, 2011-Present
CECH Annual Fund, Contributor, 2012/2013
Search Committee for Deaf Studies Field Service Position, Chairperson, 2012-2013 Deaf Studies Quarterly Staff Meetings, Host, 2011-Present
Literacy & Second Language Studies Department Meetings, Participant, 2011-Present Teacher Education Practicum Meetings, Participant, Spring 2013
Signed Language Interpreting Department Meetings, Participant, 2011-Present Deaf Health Fair, Volunteer, March 17, 2012
Deaf Health Fair, Volunteer, May 18, 2013
Communication Services for the Deaf "Deaf Zoo Day 2012", Volunteer, October 6, 2012 “Empowering Yourself through Technology” Workshop, Volunteer, November 15, 2012 Cincinnati Area Return Peace Corps Volunteers, Member, 2001-Present
Mentorships
Interpreter Mentor, Spring 2012 Interpreter Mentor, Fall 2011-Present
Interpreter Mentor, Spring 2013-Present
Teacher Mentor, Fall 2012-Present Teacher Mentor, Fall 2012-Present Faculty Mentee, Fall 2012-Present International Initiatives
Tanzania Study Abroad, Principal Investigator, October 8-22, 2011 Jamaica Study Abroad, Principal Investigator, May 14-20, 2012
Italy Study Abroad, Principal Investigator, June 30-July 9, 2012 and November 11-14, 2012
AWARDS & HONORS
UC Forward Interdisciplinary Course Development Grant, Recipient, 2013-2015 Golden Apple Teaching Excellence Award, Recipient 2012/2013
Golden Apple Teaching Excellence Award, Recipient 2011/2012 UC International Grant Award, Recipient, 2011/2012
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS Interpreting & Sign Language Resource Project, Committee Member, 2011-Present
Junior Faculty Support Group, Participant, 2011-Present
World Association of Sign Language Interpreters, Task Force Member, 2009-Present Conference of Interpreter Trainers, Newsletter Editor-Global Section, 2007
[email protected] MEMBERSHIPS
American Association of Deaf-Blind (AADB)
American Sign Language Teacher’s Association (ASLTA) Conference of Interpreter Trainers (CIT)
Interpreting & Sign Language Resource Center (ISLR) National Alliance of Black Interpreters (NAOBI) National Association of the Deaf (NAD)
National Interpreter Education Center (NIEC) Outcomes Circle Ohio American Sign Language Teacher’s Association (OASLTA) Ohio Chapter – Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (OCRID) Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID)
Wisconsin Registry of Interpreter for the Deaf (WisRID) World Association of Sign Language Interpreters (WASLI)
LANGUAGES
Native Proficiency English
Native-like Proficiency American Sign Language (SCPI, “Advanced Plus”) Advanced Proficiency of Kenyan Sign Language
Advanced Proficiency of Zambian Sign Language Conversational Proficiency of Ethiopian Sign Language
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Presentations
• Interpreting & Sign Language Resource Newsletter, “ITP Corner”, Winter 2012
• Australian Sign Language Interpreter Association Conference, "Mentoring & Technology", August 15, 2012 • Village Life Outreach Project, "Cultural Mediation and the Role of an Interpreter", August 21, 2012
• UC School of Nursing, "How to Work with an Interpreter", August 29, 2012 • UC Education Foundations, "Culture of Tanzania", October 10, 2012
• UC Study Abroad Initiatives, "Signed Language and Deaf Culture Opportunities", February 8, 2013 Workshops & Conferences
• “Basics of Demand Control Schema” Online Course with Robyn Dean, January 4 – February 28, 2010 • Video Relay Service Interpreting Institute, "Interpreter and Language Mentoring", November 3-5, 2011 • Northeastern University, "The CCIE Process: A Panel Discussion" Webinar, December 12, 2011 • Instructional Technology Seminar, December 13, 2011
• UC International, "Leadership Training", February 9, 2012 and May 1, 2012 • SmartBoard Training, February 20, 2012
• Video Relay Service Interpreting Institute, "Interpreter Educator Symposium", March 7-11, 2012 • UC Honors Programs, April 3, 2012
• Gallaudet University, "African Lessons on Language and Citizenship", April 18-20, 2012 • UC CET&L, "Creating a Semester Teaching Syllabus", April 26, 2012
• Ohio Chapter Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf Conference, Columbus, OH, May 4-6, 2012 • Ohio ASL Teachers Association, "Navigating Different Aspects of ASL", September 18-19, 2012 • Conference of Interpreter Trainers Conference, Charlotte, North Carolina, October 17-21, 2012 • NCIEC, "Infusing Deaf-Blind into the Curriculum" Webinar, November 15, 2012
• NCIEC, "Mentoring Toolkit" Webinar, February 11, 2013
• Video Relay Service Interpreting Institute, “Interpreter Educator Symposium”, March 7-10, 2013 Coursework
• “Course Redesign” Seminar, University of Cincinnati CET&L, Winter 2012 • FRENCH101 – Beginning French I, Winter 2012
