Workshop Title:
“Roots in Equity”
Workshop Description:
This study examines how faculty in Interpreter Education Programs (IEPs) accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Interpreter Education (CCIE) incorporate race‐conscious and culturally responsive teaching practices into their courses. Interpreter education plays an important role in preparing future interpreters to work with Deaf communities from many racial and cultural backgrounds, yet little is known about how faculty choose and develop course materials that address issues of race, equity, and representation. To better understand current practices, faculty were invited to complete a confidential online survey that asks about their
professional background and their confidence in the cultural responsiveness of the materials they use in their classes. The survey uses a validated assessment tool to measure how well course content reflects diverse perspectives and addresses issues of power and systemic inequity.
Responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics and group comparisons to explore patterns related to faculty experience and institutional support. The presentation will discuss the findings
to identify strengths and gaps in current curricula so that IEPs can better support diverse learners and improve the preparation of future interpreters.
Educational Objectives:
By the conclusion of this presentation, participants will be able to:
1) Identify race-conscious teaching practices and class materials.
2) Summarize current teaching practices of the Commission on Collegiate Interpreter Education-accredited universities and colleges.
3) Determine if the curriculum integrates race-conscious material using the
culturally responsive curriculum tool.
Bio:
Kierstin Delk is a RIT/NTID graduate with a B.S. in ASL–English Interpreting. During her time at RIT, she has served on the executive board of the Student Interpreting Association and the Honors Program Council. She has also worked as a research assistant in the NTID SPaCE Center, a resident advisor, a learning assistant, and a student interpreter at the RIT Department of Access Services.
Kierstin is a recipient of the Community Impact Award, Excellence in Student Life, NTID Outstanding Interpreting Student, and Student Beacon Award. In all her roles, she has strived to build and strengthen the campus community. She has supported programs and advocated for positive change, particularly on behalf of underrepresented students. Her learning extends beyond the classroom, where she conducted an independent study mentored by Jeni Rodrigues on race-conscious and culturally relevant teaching practices in interpreter education programs.
Jeni Rodrigues, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of ASL and Interpreting Education at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf at Rochester Institute of Technology, where she also
coordinates the Certificate in Healthcare Interpreting program. With over 25 years of interpreting practice, including a decade of specialization in healthcare settings, Jeni brings both practitioner expertise and scholarly inquiry to her teaching. She earned her master’s in Interpreting Pedagogy from Northeastern University (2011) and her PhD in Interpreting from Gallaudet University (2022).
Her research explores access barriers deaf patients encounter in healthcare settings, best practices in ASL-English healthcare interpreting education, and the experiences of neurodivergent interpreters. Committed to equity in interpreter education, Jeni actively mentors emerging scholars, including supervising student research on race-conscious teaching practices, reflecting her broader investment in anti-racist and anti-ableist pedagogy.
RID CEUs Offered: .15