ASL Specialist III & Interpreter Outreach Team Coordinator
I came back to EKU because this place shaped me. As a 2020 alum of the ASL interpreter program, returning felt like coming home. CLASS has always been a safe, encouraging space for ASL students, and it means a lot to now help create that same environment.
EKU students bring a sincerity and determination that makes teaching a privilege. They’re curious, hardworking, and unafraid to step outside their comfort zones especially when learning a visual language like ASL. I love watching them gain confidence, one expressive story or successful conversation at a time. Their growth reminds me why education is worth the long hours and endless energy: their success becomes my joy.
There isn’t one defining project for me—it’s the collective journey of every student I’ve taught. Each breakthrough moment, each story told with clarity and pride, reminds me why this work matters. Their progress is the real project, and their growth is the part I treasure most.
People are often surprised to learn I’m a Denver, Colorado, native (and still a loyal Denver football fan). I’m also in the final stretch of completing my Master of Arts in Teaching ASL, which has deepened my appreciation for the history, culture and stories held in this language. I like to say I have “mountain-sized dedication,” and my sense of humor tends to match—I bring plenty of heart and laughter into the classroom.
Right now, I’m especially inspired as I prepare to finish my master’s degree. As a first-generation college graduate, this milestone still feels surreal. I never imagined becoming a teacher, and proving myself wrong has become part of what fuels me. If I can help even one student believe they’re capable of more than they think, then I’ve done what I came here to do.