Schawn Hardesty

Staff

Director of IRIS

Email roschawn.hardesty@unco.edu
Address University of Northern Colorado IRIS Project c/o Department of ASL & Interpreting Studies Campus Box Campus Box 106 Greeley, CO 80639
A portrait of Schawn Hardesty.

Education

  • Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership in progress, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO (expected 2028)
  • M.A. in Teaching ASL, University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO
  • Certificate in ASL, Northeastern University, Boston, MA
  • B.A. in Sociology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA

Professional Experience & Affiliations

  • Director of Operations, UNC-Project CLIMB, 2019-2021
  • Committee and volunteer service on several local and statewide professional development and conference steering committees
  • Nationally certified ASL-English Interpreter through the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (CI, CT, NIC Advanced, & SC:Legal)
  • Contributor, RID White Paper on Legal Interpreting work group
  • Co-founder, Spokane Interpreter Mentorship Program
  • Two-term Board Director, Washington State Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf Board of Directors
  • Interpreter Coordinator, Eastern Washington Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in Spokane, WA
  • Administrative Support Manager, D.E.A.F., Inc in Allston, Massachusetts

Research Expertise & Interests

  • Essential foundations of ASL interpreter education and collaboration with educators from heritage signing backgrounds
  • Lifelong learning
  • Social equity
  • Language access as a human right and social justice issue
  • Microcredentials

Publications

Selected Conference Presentations and Publications

  • Decker, K.L., Hardesty, S., et al. “A Journey Through Innovative RSA Grant Resources for Interpreter Education.” Conference of Interpreter Trainers. In-person national conference. Berkeley, CA. 14 November 2024.
  • Decker, K.L & Hardesty, S. (2024) “The Current Rural Sign Language Interpreter Landscape: Examining the Fields’ Collective Accountability,” International Journal of Interpreter Education, Vol. 15: Iss. 1, Article 11. Available at: https://open.clemson.edu/ijie/vol15/iss1/1
  • Hardesty, S. & Decker, K. “Improving Rural Interpreter Skill (IRIS) Project: Blooming in Rural America.” Conference of Interpreter Trainers. In-person national conference. King of Prussia, PA. 20 September 2022.
  • Decker, K., Hardesty, S., West Oyedele, E. & Williamson, A. “Reflecting on Project CLIMB: Lessons Learned.” Conference of Interpreter Trainers. In-person national conference. King of Prussia, PA. 20 September 2022.
  • Hardesty, S. & Decker, K. (2022). Improving Rural Interpreter Skill (IRIS) Project. New from NCRTM, 67. https://us13.campaign-archive.com/?u=83a76dceb96b8a6237e50deeb&id=6f1421f9d1#ImprovingRuralInterpreter.
  • Decker, K. & Hardesty, S., West Oyedele, E. & Williamson, A. (2021). Project CLIMB curriculum and facilitator guide. PDF handbook.  National Clearinghouse of Rehabilitation Training Materials. https://ncrtm.ed.gov/library/detail/project-climb-cultivating-legal-interpreters-minority-backgrounds-project-summary.
  • Prusac, J., Wohlmuth, A. & Hardesty, S. “Deaf/Coda/hearing Teams in Legal Settings.” Online Webinar.  20 September, 2021.
  • Tester, C., Greenfield, J., & Hardesty, S. “Remote Teaming and Preparation for Legal Settings.” Online Webinar. 17 September, 2021.
  • Decker, K. & Hardesty, S. “Project CLIMB Shareshop: Keeping the Momentum Going.” Project CLIMB Legal Interpreter Training, Online Webinar. 17 November 2021.
  • Hardesty, S., West Oyedele, E. & Williamson, A. “The Future of Legal/Court Credentialing.” Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf National Conference, Online Webinar. 10 July 2021.
  • Decker, K., Hardesty, S., & West Oyedele, E. “Reaching New Heights in Interpreter Education with Project CLIMB.” Sorenson Communications, Online Workshop. 23 February 2021.
  • Decker, K., Hardesty, S., West Oyedele, E. & Williamson, A. “Spotlight: Project CLIMB.” Online webinar. January-February, 2021
  • Decker, K. & Hardesty, S. “What are the avenues of entry into the legal system for Deaf, DeafDisabled, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing individuals and how does it impact my VR work?” Online webinar. https://www.unco.edu/project-climb/resources/webinars/project-climb.aspx. 5 January 2021.
  • Detore, A. & Hardesty, S. “Universal Design in a Veterinary Medicine Context: Case Studies and an ASL Lesson.” 2020 Western Regional Iverson Bell Summit, Pullman, WA. 17-10 April 2020. In-person conference canceled due to COVID-19.
  • Williams, R. & Hardesty, S. “Collusion or Collision: Where Mental Health and Legal Interpreting Intersect.” Online webinar. https://www.unco.edu/project-climb/resources/webinars/project-climb.aspx. 20 January, 2020.
  • Detore, A. & Hardesty, S. “Faculty/Staff, Navigating the World of Academia with a Disability.” Washington State University Disability Awareness Summit. In-person conference. Pullman, WA. 29 March 2018.
  • Hardesty, S. and Seramur, S. “Creating a Deaf Friendly Culture in a Veterinary Practice.” WSU Vet-Med Club Lunch Lecture. 12 April 2017.