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’ve aspired to teach Deaf culture and ASL to students at the university level. My goal is to demonstrate for students what ASL fluency and literacy looks like through technology.

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.

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, American Sign Language; 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.
