Coyer Believed to be First Culturally Deaf Professor to Earn Tenure in Kentucky

When Nina Coyer was an undergraduate student at EKU two decades ago, she felt "very isolated" as the only deaf person on campus.

Now, believed to be the first "culturally Deaf" professor in the Commonwealth to earn tenure, Coyer is a role model for deaf and hearing students alike at her alma mater. And, as part of a growing deaf community at EKU, she's far from alone.

Coyer, an assistant professor in EKU's acclaimed Interpreter Training Program, didn't realize the significance of the achievement when she earned tenure earlier this year.

"When I became full-time (in 1997), I understood that I would have to work hard toward tenure," Coyer said, " but I didn't realize I would be the first. It's an incredible honor, but I was too busy just trying to do it."

Any individual who uses American Sign Language and interpreters and moves within and identifies with the deaf community is defined as "culturally Deaf."

Deaf since birth, Coyer grew up in California, where she was educated in public schools. While in school, she took extensive speech training and communicated by reading lips and speaking to the best of her ability. It wasn't until she was 19 that she learned American Sign Language. She now uses ASL almost exclusively "because I'm more comfortable with that."

After receiving a baccalaureate degree in deaf education K-12 and elementary education, Coyer returned to Eastern, where she became the first Deaf person to earn a master's degree in deaf education in 1985. She taught full-time at the Kentucky School for the Deaf for 12 years and part-time at EKU for nine years.

"It's always a challenge for me, teaching new students who have no knowledge of sign language, deafness or deaf people," Coyer said. "My goal is for them to be able to communicate with other deaf people. I enjoy that a lot."

As a Deaf professor at a University that has about 40 students with varying degrees of deafness, Coyer relishes her "role model" status.

"I'm sure several deaf students here look up to me," she said. "I try to encourage them to be successful."

Coyer brings "perspective and experiences that hearing people do not have," said Dr. Laurence Hayes, director of EKU's four-year Interpreter Training Program. "She can share things with students that I have never been through. She can educate students, faculty and staff because, coming from her as a Deaf professional, it has a different meaning and impact. Nina is a real asset to our program."

Interpreting services also are available to Coyer whenever she attends departmental, College of Education and University functions.

"The College of Education is trying very hard to work with me and my deafness," she said. "I don't feel I have to stay in the Interpreter Training Program. I can go outside the Department, be more assertive and expose people more to deafness."

Coyer is thankful that she's considered an "equal partner" in EKU's Department of Special Education. "Faculty and staff are respectful, and there are a lot of other places not like this. A lot of people tell me, 'Nina, you are so lucky.' That's why I love my job."