College of Education and Human Development

Department of Educational Psychology

American Sign Language instructors

Shirley Applebee Shirley Applebee

Shirley Applebee has taught American Sign Language classes at University of Minnesota since the ASL program’s inception in 1990.

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Shirley Applebee headshot

Leah Dolezal Leah Dolezal

Leah Dolezal was born Deaf and grew up mainstreamed. She learned American Sign Language and English at the same time.

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Leah Dolezal headshot

Bradley Hardin Bradley Hardin

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.

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Bradley Hardin headshot

Nishani McCluskey Nishani McCluskey

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.

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Nishani McCluskey headshot

Bradley Neubarth Bradley Neubarth

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.

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Bradley Neubarth headshot

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.

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Jonathan Penny headshot