Janae Pierce, '16
Being a part of Kent State鈥檚 ASL/English Interpreting program set a strong foundation for my career as an ASL/English Interpreter. In the program, I learned not only the skills I would need to work as an interpreter, but also the importance of professionalism, flexibility, persistence, and, most importantly, understanding the interpreter鈥檚 role within the D/deaf and Hard-of-Hearing community as an ally to the people we are privileged to work with everyday. The practicums and hands-on experience were key in helping me decide the career path I wanted to take once I had graduated. I was able to experience many different settings and types of interpreting in my time at Kent. The professors and the mentors that partnered with Kent State and the interpreting program challenged me to step out of my comfort zone and provided valuable feedback to develop my skills.
It was my final practicum with Kent that opened the door to obtaining my first jobs in the field, which in turn allowed me to start working immediately after graduation. These jobs led to many other amazing opportunities, and ultimately to my current position as co-owner of RJP Interpreting, an agency serving Central and Northwest Ohio. Each position I have been in has given me the opportunity to work alongside other Kent State interpreting students and graduates as a practicum cooperating interpreter, peer, colleague, and employer. In each setting, the students and graduates have been an absolute pleasure to work with and reflect the values and principles of their program well. I continue to enjoy watching the ASEI Program grow, change and innovate to continue to graduate incredible interpreters.