ASL program offers performance series, welcomes new faculty

The American Sign Language program in the Department of Linguistics is welcoming a new lecturer this year and offering three performances this semester.

“The students in my classes are really motivated,” said Lisa Sunde, who has been teaching ASL for more than 25 years and moved to Ithaca from New Mexico to join Cornell’s ASL team this fall. “The opportunity to teach here offers new growth for me and the chance to take on the challenge of working with a new group of students, which is my passion.”

Sunde previously taught at Front Range Community College; the University of Colorado, Boulder; and Santa Fe Community College, where she led the ASL Program. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communication studies from Gallaudet University and a master’s in teaching American Sign Language from the University of Northern Colorado.

This semester, Sunde is teaching the introductory sign language class, as well ASL III, for more advanced students.

“By this point in the semester, my ASL I students know more than 100 signs and can have conversations with each other,” Sunde said, adding that students in the class study deaf culture as well as language. “It’s fascinating to watch them acquire this new language.”

Students in her ASL III class will also focus on language, but delve more deeply into cultural discussions. One of those students, Sunde said, plans to go into medicine and wants to know ASL in case the student encounters a person with hearing loss.

“I’m thrilled for her to be in class because in the medical field there aren’t a lot of doctors who know sign language, and accessibility is so important,” Sunde said.

Sunde also helps to advise the American Sign Language club and manages the weekly ASL conversation hour in the Language Resource Center, which takes place on Wednesdays at 4 p.m. and is open to students of every level.

“We play games, review signs and practice finger spelling,” Sunde said. “It’s an opportunity to chat more casually.”

The Linguistics department is also offering three events this semester as part of its ASL Performance Series, with ASL and English interpretation provided at each. Jeremy Lee Stone visited Oct. 3 and upcoming performances include:

• Evelina Gaina, “No Name Yet Show,” 6 p.m. Oct. 24, McGraw Hall 165
• Ian Sanborn, “The Wonders of Nature,” 6 p.m. Nov. 7, Goldwin Smith Hall Room G76

More information on the series and other ASL activities at Cornell is available on the Linguistics Department website.