(sponsored and co-sponsored by the UVA ASL Program)
Since 1993, the UVA ASL and Deaf Culture Lecture Series has brought renowned Deaf (and some hearing) scholars and performers to the University of Virginia presenting in the areas of ASL, Linguistics, Psychology, History of the Deaf, Deaf Education, and more; and performing original and translated works of poetry, ASL poetry, comedy, drama, and even opera attracting an audience from throughout the region. Notable presenters have included Bernard Bragg, Betty G. Miller, Ben Bahan, MJ Bienvenu, Clayton Valli, Gil Eastman, Claudia Gordon, Carol Padden, Harlan Lane, Thomas Holcomb, John Lee Clark, Ted Supalla, Roslyn Rosen, Monique Holt, Ella Mae Lentz, Wayne Betz, Ben Jarashaw, Glenn Anderson, and Peter Cook to name some. We generally aim for two presentations each semester. Please keep an eye on this section for upcoming lecture events and contact the director if you want to be included on an email notification list.
-ASL and Deaf Culture Lecture Series Currently on Hiatus due to Pandemic-
We hope to resume our Lecture Series in Fall 2021
Past ASL/Deaf Culture Lecture Series Presentations
Raymond Luczak, “A Writer Between Word and Sign" (3/17/20) - Postponed due to pandemic
“Breaking the Sound Barrier” A Deaf Opera Workshop, Featuring scenes from Poulenc’s
Dialogues of the Carmelites, co-sponsored with UVA Disability Symposium (2/27/20)
Mr. Harry Wood, Educator, "STEM, Robotics, and Deaf Education" (2/11/20)
Windell Smith, Jr., Performer & CODA, An Evening with “Wink” (11/5/19)
Alim Chandani, PhD, "Advancing the Deaf Community in India" (9/19/19)
Joseph Davis, “The JD Show” The Art of ASL: Storytelling, Cinematics, & Classifiers (3/26/19)
Khadijat “Kubby” Rashid, Gallaudet University, “What it Means to Deny People with
Disabilities, Immigrants, and People of Color the Fundamental Right to Vote” (1/24/19)
Michelle McAuliffe, Artist & Gallaudet Art Professor “Salt & Pepper” (11/13/18)
Brett Shaffer, Performer & Comedian, “The Flip Side” (10/11/18)
Christopher Jon Heuer, Ph.D, Kristen Harmon, Ph.D., Tonya Stremlau, Ph.D., and Lilah Katcher, "An Evening of Fiction" (3/23/18)
Willy Conley (with two Gallaudet student actors), "A Taste of Deaf Theater" (2/22/18)
Evon Black, "Black Deaf Americans: Challenges and Successes" (1/24/18)
Panel of former ASL students at U.Va., "Using ASL in Our Professions" (4/5/17)
Jenny Witteborg & Rhonda Jennings-Arey, "LEAD-K: Language Equality and Acquisition for Deaf Kids" (2/28/17)
Madan Vasishta, Ph.D., "An Evening with the Author of Deaf in Delhi and Deaf in DC" (11/1/16)
Terry Malcolm, "The Importance of Certifiied Deaf Interpreters (CDIs)" (9/29/16)
Monique Holt, "Live! ASL Storytelling Performance" (2/18/16)
Caroline Solomon, Ph.D, "Making Waves: Engaging Deaf People in STEM Fields" (2/9/16)
Nancy Rourke, "My Journey from Deafhood to 'Artivism'" (10/20/15)
Glenn Anderson, Ph.D., "The Other Movement Inspired by Dr. King and the Civil Rights Movement" (1/23/15)
"An Evening with Deaf World Travellers" (panel discussion) (10/28/14)
Joseph J. Murray, Ph.D., "Deaf Gain: Rethinking Human Diversity" (9/16/14)
Alan Abarbanell, “The World of Abababa” (4/1/14)
Rocco DeVito, “Legendary Deaf Coaches” (11/19/13)
Melissa Draganac-Hawk, "Diversity in the Deaf Community: My Personal Journey" (10/29/13)
Wayne Betts, Jr., "Deaf Lens: Deaf Perspectives in Filmmaking" (4/9/13)
Henry "Hank" Klopping, Ed.D., "Doing the Math to Save Schools for the Deaf" (3/19/13)
Daniel Koo, Ph.D., "Signs of Things Past: The Effect of ASL and Modality on Working Memory" (11/13/12)
Monique Holt, "Chinese Folklore and Shakespearean Sonnets in ASL" (3/27/12)
John Lee Clark, “Writing from the Margins: Deaf-Blind People in North America, 1850 to the Present” (2/21/12)
Claudia L. Gordon, "Justice Everywhere: Civil Rights and the Disability Community" (1/26/12)
"See What I'm Saying: The Deaf Entertainers Documentary" (film screening 3/22/11)
Brian Greenwald, Ph.D., "Calling A.G. Bell: Eugenics and Deaf Americans, 1883-1922" (2/22/11)
Gaurav Mathur, Ph.D., "What Makes Sign Languages Unique? Building Signs" (11/10/10)
Flying Words Project (Peter Cook and Kenny Lerner), "Live!: Poetry in Motion" (3/23/10)
"Spotlight: VSDB Virginia School for the Deaf" (film screening with Deaf director Jennifer Witteborg, 10/27/09)
Kristen Harmon, Ph.D., "Transdeaf: Hearing People Desiring Deafness" (9/29/09)
Greg Hlibok and Michael S. Stein, "Deaf People and the Law" (3/10/09)
Patti Durr, "Visual Histories: Deaf People's Experiences in the Holocaust" (10/23/08)
Mel Carter, "Looking Back: Tales of a Deaf Virginian" (9/30/08)
Benjamin Jarashow, "Live! ASL Storytelling and Poetry" (3/26/08)
Carol-lee Aquiline, "Deaf People and Human Rights: Focus on Developing Countries" (11/13/07)
Douglas C. Baynton, Ph.D., "'The Undesirability of Admitting Deaf Mutes': Deaf Immigrants and American Immigration Law, 1882-1924" (10/4/07)
Cinnie MacDougall, "Roleshifting: Uses in Signing and ASL Storytelling" (3/27/07)
"Through Deaf Eyes" (preview screening of clips from PBS documentary and discussion with Rachel Bavister, 3/13/07)
Manny Hernandez, "Live! ASL Storytelling" (10/10/06)
Derek Braun, Ph.D., and Teresa Blankmeyer Burke, "Genetics and Deafness: Science and Ethics" (4/11/06)
Deborah Meranski Sonnenstrahl, Ph.D., "Deaf Artists in America: Colonial to Contemporary" (3/25/06)
Trix Bruce, "An Evening of Improv: Whose ASL is It?" (3/14/06)
"Audism Unveiled" (film screening and discussion with H-Dirksen L. Bauman, Ph.D., 2/28/06)
Arkady Belozovsky, "The Emergence of Deaf Mafia in the Former Soviet Union" (4/8/05)
Scott K. Liddell, Ph.D., "Directional Signs and Meaning in American Sign Language" (3/18/05)
Harry G. Lang, Ph.D., "Deaf Heritage: Untold Stories" (11/4/04)
Lori Maynard, "Halloween ASL Storytelling" (10/19/04)
Mike Kemp, Ed.D.: "Travels Abroad: Deaf Communities and Sign Language Teacher Education in other Countries" (4/7/04)
Thomas K. Holcomb, Ph.D.: "Demystifying Deaf Culture" (3/17/04)
Michelle A. Banks, "Crossing Boundaries: My Journey as a Black Deaf Actress" (11/6/03)
Joseph J. Murray, "Deaf-Deaf Marriages: The Transatlantic Debate 1883-1900" (4/4/03)
John Schuchman, Ph.D.: "Deaf People in Hitler's Europe" (3/22/03)
John Schuchman, Ph.D.: "Hollywood Speaks: Deafness and the Film Entertainment Industry" (11/15/02)
Cynthia Peters, Ph.D.: "American Deaf Literature: From Carnival to the Canon" (3/23/02)
"Cochlear Implants and Deaf Pride: Possible?!?!?" (Panel discussion with Irene W. Leigh, Ph.D., 2/21/02)
Reginald Redding, Ph.D.: "A Journey through the American Deaf School System" (11/15/01)
Harlan Lane, Ph.D.: "Social Constructions of Deafness" (3/24/01)
Donalda Ammons, Ph.D.: "Deaf Education around the World" (11/9/00)
Lou Fant: "Perspectives of a CODA" (10/17/00)
Brenda Schertz: "Deaf Art: Visualizing Deaf Culture" (4/11/00)
Connie Briscoe: "An Evening of Fiction" (3/25/00)
Katherine Jankowski, Ph.D.: "Deaf Empowerment" (3/24/00)
Ella Mae Lentz: "An Evening of ASL Poetry" (10/18/99)
Betty G. Miller, Ed.D.: "Oppression is Personal: A Deaf Artist's View" (4/27/99)
Bill Ennis: "Live! Deaf Storytelling and Humor" (4/15/99)
Roslyn Rosen, Ph.D.: "Deaf Education: Today and Tomorrow" (3/1/99)
"'I Love You, But...'" (film screening and video introduction by Lawrence Fleischer, Ph.D., 4/16/98)
Dawn Skwersky: "A Deaf Filmmaker's View of Working in the Entertainment Industry" (3/24/98)
Ann Marie "Jade" Bryan: "Using Film to Create Change in Our Community" (3/2/98)
Ted Supalla, Ph.D.: "Historical Films: A Window to Deaf America in the Early 20th Century" (2/6/98)
Bernard Bragg: "Signs on Stage: A Look at Deaf Theatre" (4/22/97)
Betty G. Miller, Ed.D.: "Representing Deaf Experience: Deaf View Image Art" (3/20/97)
Peter Cook: "Avant Garde ASL Poetry: New Dimensions" (2/27/97)
Ben Bahan, Ph.D.: "ASL Literary Traditions" (4/12/96)
Carol Padden, Ph.D.: "How Sign Languages Work" (3/27/96)
Lindsay Dunn: "The Black Deaf Experience" (3/4/96)
Jack Gannon: "A Look at Deaf America" (2/15/96)
Gilbert Eastman: "ASL Storytelling" (4/11/95)
Khadijat "Kubby" Rashid: "The International Deaf Community: A Nigerian Perspective" (3/23/95)
M.J. Bienvenu: "Deaf Culture" (3/6/95)
Clayton Valli, Ph.D.: "ASL Linguistics and Poetry" (2/23/95)
Barbara Kannapell, Ph.D.: "Bilingual Education: Good for Deaf Children?" and "Gender and Deaf Culture" (11/17/93)