American Sign Language instructors
Shirley Applebee Shirley Applebee
- Teaching specialist
- 612-624-1274
- apple002@umn.edu
Shirley Applebee has taught American Sign Language classes at University of Minnesota since the ASL Program’s inception in 1990.

Leah Dolezal Leah Dolezal
- Senior teaching specialist
- 651-317-4157
- ldolezal@umn.edu
Leah Dolezal was born Deaf and grew up mainstreamed. She learned American Sign Language and English at the same time.

Bradley Hardin Bradley Hardin
- Senior teaching specialist
- 612-624-1274
- bhardin@umn.edu
Hello, my name is Brad Hardin. I was born and raised in North Carolina. I attended Deaf School in Greensboro and later transferred to a mainstream setting. After graduating from high school, I attended Lenoir-Rhyne College and graduated with a B.A.

Nishani McCluskey Nishani McCluskey
- Teaching specialist
- nmcclusk@umn.edu
Nishani Shamila McCluskey was born Deaf to hearing parents and has two hearing siblings. She grew up in different countries such as: India, Sweden and Sri Lanka. She is a single mother and has one Hard-of-Hearing daughter. She received her in M.A.

Bradley Neubarth Bradley Neubarth
- Teaching specialist
- neuba020@umn.edu
Bradley E. Neubarth is a native ASL signer from Minnesota. He was raised in a farming community in a hearing family. Brad has taught American Sign Language classes at the University of Minnesota since 2004.

Jonathan Penny Jonathan Penny
- Program coordinator, instructor
- 651-964-1433
- jcpenny@umn.edu
Jonathan Penny is the program coordinator and an instructor in the American Sign Language program at the University of Minnesota.
