Gardner-Webb’s American Sign Language Program First in North Carolina

For More Than Four Decades, GWU Graduates, Like the Team of Educators at Central Piedmont, Have Pursued Careers to Serve the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—As the first college in North Carolina to offer a Bachelor of Arts program in American Sign Language (ASL), Gardner-Webb University is an established leader in the field. For more than four decades, the ASL faculty have helped students pursue their goals to serve as interpreters and educators or use their skills in various other ways, such as interpreting for concerts and plays or serving as missionaries.

Alumnus Kyle Kiser, of Shelby, N.C., praises the GWU faculty for giving him a solid foundation and the confidence to begin his career and open his own business. Kiser is the interpreter program chair and ASL instructor at Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, N.C. He earned his bachelor’s in ASL from Gardner-Webb in 2006, and proudly shares that all the instructors in his department are Gardner-Webb alumni.

“GWU alumni are often recognized for their adaptability and willingness to embrace new approaches, whether that’s incorporating technology into teaching or engaging in innovative practices within their professions,” Kiser assessed. “We leave GWU not just with a degree, but with a sense of purpose and a passion for lifelong learning.”

In 2011, Kiser earned his Master of Science in deaf education and deaf studies from Lamar University, Beaumont, Texas. After teaching ASL for nine years, he started his own interpreting agency, Clarity Language Access, which provides interpreting services for ASL, Spanish and 200 other languages.

Teaching with Kiser at Central Piedmont are: 

• Kimberly Young Hendrix, of Shelby, ASL Instructor, 2006 alumna, Master of Science in bicultural/bilingual education and teaching ASL from Lamar University.
• Kate “Carlin” Durkee, of Gastonia, N.C., Interpreter Education Instructor, 2012 alumna.
• Katie Linker-Boylan, of Concord, N.C., ASL Instructor, 2020 alumna, Master of Education from Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., and K-12 foreign language education certification from UNC-Charlotte.
• Javonda Adams, of Gastonia, N.C., ASL Instructor, 2022 alumna, Master of Arts in Teaching American Sign Language from the University of Northern Colorado.

Kiser and his team agree that Gardner-Webb’s program exceeds others because of the faculty’s emphasis on teaching Deaf culture along with ASL. “The ASL program at Gardner-Webb introduced me to a world I hadn’t encountered before,” Kiser related. “Growing up using Pidgin Signed English (PSE), I didn’t fully understand the concept of American Sign Language (ASL) as a distinct language. Taking ASL courses at GWU helped me understand the differences between various signing systems and languages in ways I had never imagined. Beyond language, the program opened my eyes to Deaf and Hard of Hearing (HOH) cultural norms that I hadn’t been aware of.”

He continued, “The knowledge and expertise of educators like Keith Cagle and Mary High, both now retired, provided a truly one-of-a-kind educational experience at Gardner-Webb University. Their approach was unlike anything offered at other colleges or universities. Even today, many of us continue to apply what they taught us in our own programs, enhancing their lessons with modern 21st-century techniques. Their impact has been lasting, shaping the way we teach and connect with others in the field. That legacy continues today with outstanding educators like Robert Moore, Russ Gribble, and Jessica Grant leading the program.”

Kiser and his colleagues chose to attend Gardner-Webb, because it was one of the few colleges that offered a bachelor’s degree in ASL, and the people they met on campus were genuine in their welcome. “I valued the strong sense of community at GWU—everyone knew everyone,” Linker-Boylan observed. “The moment I stepped outside of my dorm, I always saw a familiar face, and that made me feel like I truly belonged. The many campus events created unforgettable memories that I will carry with me for a lifetime. The professors were another highlight. They not only knew their subjects well but also genuinely cared for their students. They did not have a ‘9-to-5’ attitude—I often saw them around campus and in the Tucker Student Center, interacting with students and being part of the community.”

“We leave GWU not just with a degree, but with a sense of purpose and a passion for lifelong learning.” — Kyle Kiser

Hendrix also described how she was impacted by the support of friends and the faculty. “I value my professors and the education they made possible for me,” she asserted. “I also made many lifelong friends with whom I still am in touch with today. There were other deaf students, which gave me a sense of belonging. I also value how the school made me feel—like I was important, that my education was important, that they were cheering me on, and wanted to see me graduate! GWU was a beautiful learning environment that will forever be instilled in my memories.”

Durkee noted that her approach to teaching is modeled after her Gardner-Webb instructors. “Often people fall in love with the language first and say things like, ‘Oh, it’s just so beautiful! I want to learn sign language,’” she explained. “This perspective sits at a superficial level and leaves the owners of the language out of the equation. To succeed in actually learning ASL fluently and becoming an interpreter, if that is your goal, you have to ‘fall in love’ with deaf people. The experience of being Deaf in a hearing world is what informs the language and culture. My time at GWU helped me begin to work backwards and unravel that. Now, I work to propel my interpreting students to begin their work of unraveling and understanding the deeper complexities of Deaf culture and to foster a love and passion for Deaf people.”

As the most recent alumna of the Central Piedmont team, Adams is also grateful for the experience she gained at Gardner-Webb. “The program not only provided me with a solid foundation in the language itself but also immersed me in the cultural nuances of the Deaf community—an essential component for using ASL professionally and meaningfully,” she affirmed. “What truly stood out to me was the faculty’s deep knowledge and passion for both the language and the culture. The professors created a classroom environment where immersion wasn’t just encouraged; it was central to the learning process. Thanks to their expertise and commitment, I left the program not just with the technical skills to communicate in ASL, but with a deeper understanding of Deaf culture that has been invaluable in my current work. The confidence I gained through immersion and hands-on learning continues to shape the way I approach my professional interactions today.”

History of GWU ASL Program

Provided by former Gardner-Webb Associate Professor and Director of the ASL program, Dr. Mary High

• In 1984, the University established an Associate of Arts in Interpreter Training through a grant provided by the Kate B. Reynolds Foundation. Gardner-Webb also had a well-established Program for the Deaf, which began in 1977.

• In the fall of 1995, the Interpreter Training Program underwent a radical change: The ASL courses were expanded to create a Bachelor of Arts degree in ASL, and the interpreting courses were retained to create a minor in ASL/English Interpretation. In addition to being the first four-year ASL program in North Carolina, the ASL Studies Program at Gardner-Webb was one of only a few such programs in the United States.

• In 2008, Gardner-Webb became the first University in North Carolina to provide training toward N.C. teaching licensure in ASL.

Gardner-Webb University is North Carolina’s recognized leader in private, Christian higher education. A Carnegie-Classified Doctoral/Professional University, GWU is home to nine colleges and schools, more than 80 undergraduate and graduate majors, and a world-class faculty. Located on a beautiful 225-acre campus in Boiling Springs, N.C., Gardner-Webb prepares graduates to impact their chosen professions, equips them with the skills to advance the frontiers of knowledge, and inspires them to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others. Ignite your future at Gardner-Webb.edu.