Research Interests
With my colleagues
Terry Janzen and Sherman Wilcox, I am currently researching the grammaticization of signed languages, including an exploration of the gestural origins of signed languages. I am also interested in the expression of modal notions in signed languages.
I am also conducting a study of the acquisition of markers of modality among Deaf children from Deaf families. This work is expected to lead to further studies of the linguistic and cognitive development of Deaf children. Specifically, I am hoping this work will lead to a better understanding of the interaction of Theory of Mind emergence and the acquisition of topic marking in American Sign Language.
I am also interested in the preparation of signed language interpreters. I hold the
Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf Certificate of Interpreting and Certificate of Transliterating (CI/CT) and the National Association of the Deaf Level-V Master Certificate.

Academic Profile
I received my Ph.D in Educational Linguistics (2000) from the University of New Mexico and my M.A in Education of the Deaf (1990) from Gallaudet University. I teach courses in Signed Language Interpreting (Consecutive Interpretation, Simultaneous Interpretation, Practicum in Signed Language Interpreting).