I am an Associate Instructional Professor at the University of Chicago, a native American Sign Language user, and a Deaf of Deaf educator and scholar. Originally from Ontario, Canada, I grew up in a Deaf family and am a proud product of Deaf schools and Deaf education. Immersed in ASL and Deaf culture from birth, I developed a lifelong appreciation for the visual-spatial richness of signed languages, which directly grounds my dedication to language pedagogy, cultural preservation, and community advocacy.
My academic and professional journey bridges visual design, theater, and linguistic education. I earned a Bachelor of Science in Visual Communications from Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) and a Master of Arts in Sign Language Education from Gallaudet University. Prior to teaching, I worked as a freelance visual communication consultant and designer, and collaborated with Chicago’s performing arts community as Director of ASL for productions at Steppenwolf Theatre and Victory Gardens Theater. In 2026, I was honored with recognition from the Mayor of Chicago for my involvement in establishing a new ASL interpreting program at City Colleges of Chicago, expanding accessible educational pathways across the city.
Prior to joining the faculty at the University of Chicago in 2025, I taught in an ASL interpreting program. At UChicago, I teach across the ASL sequence and lead specialized Deaf Studies courses, including interdisciplinary offerings such as Deaf Representations in the Media. In the classroom, I emphasize full immersion and cultural context, creating an environment where students build communicative proficiency while engaging deeply with Deaf perspectives. Alongside teaching, I actively collaborate on curriculum design, language assessment, and academic program development.
Since beginning my scholarly pursuit in 2025, my work aims to transform both ASL and Deaf education through intentional technology use and community advocacy. My research focuses on L1 and L2 sign language pedagogy, Deaf Aesthetics within the framework for technology integration in Deaf education, and the Deaf Queer experience. As a doctoral candidate in Deaf Studies and Deaf Education at Lamar University, I examine how visual design and emerging digital tools can enrich sign language learning while centering Deaf epistemologies.
Beyond research and instruction, I am committed to advancing the profession through organizational leadership. I currently serve as President of the American Sign Language Teachers Association (ASLTA) and co-founded the World Sign Language Teachers Coalition, working to advance pedagogical standards and foster cross-cultural collaboration for sign language educators worldwide.