Timothy Mackey: 2020-21 EKU Critical Thinking Teaching Award Recipient

Timothy W. Mackey was recently awarded the 2020-21 Eastern Kentucky University Critical Thinking Teaching Award. He is passionate about teaching ASL and bridging the communication gap between the hearing and the Deaf communities.  

Mackey, adjunct faculty in EKU’s American Sign Language and Interpreter Education Department, teaches ASL 101: American Sign Language Level 1, an introductory course in EKU’s nationally recognized American Sign Language Interpreter Program. His classes have a wide variety of students. Some are completely new learners of ASL and have never met a Deaf person. Other students have taken ASL classes in high school or some have Deaf relatives or friends. All are eager to learn sign language.  

Mackey enjoys encouraging students to understand the Deaf people in the community and their culture. Students critically analyze videos of how Deaf people and hearing people interact so they can understand how Deaf people experience oppression and language deprivation. Students also write a research paper about audism, a term used to describe a negative attitude toward deaf or hard of hearing people.  

In the past year because of Covid-19 limitations, Mackey’s class was conducted in a virtual classroom. Mackey took the time to meet with his students in person, one at a time, to ensure they were comprehending the class material.   

Mackey also serves as an American Sign Language Association (ASLA) Board Advisor and on various committees in his department. He is proud of the participation of his EKU students in the American Sign Language Honor Society and the American Sign Language Teacher Association.

Vicki Brashear, chair of EKU’s American Sign Language and Interpreter Education Department, said “Timothy is hard-working, passionate about teaching, and a very likable professor. He is an asset to our ASLIE team. His contributions to the department, the students, and the college are immeasurable.”

Published on April 12, 2021