Kathy Jankowski

Kathy Jankowski grew up in Michigan, home of the five great lakes. A native user of American Sign Language (ASL), she attended public schools back in the days when interpreters were still a novelty and not provided. After graduation, she attended Gallaudet University, a college for Deaf students where communication in ASL created a level playing field. She then went to graduate school, earning a master’s degree from the University of Arizona and eventually to the University of Maryland for her doctorate. Career wise, Kathy has been an ASL instructor, school counselor, program manager at an advocacy organization, and a communications professor. She has also had the distinction of being the first Deaf and first female superintendent at the Central North Carolina School for the Deaf, then later at the Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf. She went on to become dean of the Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center at Gallaudet University. Now retired, she enjoys writing, taking long walks and traveling.