Melinda Kerr
Jefferson City,TN
Summary
Seasoned university employee who is a detail-oriented team player with strong organizational skills. Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously with a high degree of accuracy while maintaining a positive attitude. Willingness to take on added responsibilities to meet team goals with a desire for a position in a dynamic fast paced environment. Passionate about fostering sociocultural, spiritual, intellectual, cultural, and social development for every unique student who is focused on building and enhancing relationships, meeting service needs and maintaining smooth administration of all department operations within the Student Activities Department.
Overview
36
36
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Adjunct Professor
Carson-Newman University
08.2019 - Current
- Develop, prepare, and implement curriculum for American Sign Language (ASL) 201 and 202, undergraduate university courses
- Implement online course material and documents via Canvas, an online automated university system for student records and reporting following university and federal guidelines
- Administer individual examinations for students two times per semester
- Contact and coordinate with fellow ASL Instructors on and off campus to ensure top-notch teaching methodology and pedagogy
- Prepare and implement daily lessons ensuring students learn to communicate via ASL
- Accountable to maintain class rolls, student grade information, and prepare automated reports to ensure continued compliance with university, federal, and financial aid requirements
- Use time management skills to ensure assignments are graded and reported in a timely manner
- Reports to the Dean of the College of Education
- Coordinates communication between student and administration personnel regarding student needs and accommodations.
- Enhanced student comprehension by employing diverse teaching methods and incorporating multimedia resources.
- Boosted class participation rates by fostering a positive and collaborative learning environment.
- Increased student retention by providing individualized support and tailored feedback on assignments.
Video Relay Interpreter
Sorenson Communications
01.2005 - Current
- Hired as Part-time Video Relay Interpreter transitioned to Full-time Video Relay Interpreter upon request of area Director
- Provide exceptional customer service as a Video Relay Interpreter position facilitates communication between the deaf community and hearing community via American Sign Language and spoken American English via use of an automated video relay system
- Served as Night and Weekend Supervisor until the position was eliminated by corporate headquarters
- Provided services as support representative as Point of Contact for local troubleshooting and personnel issues, On-boarding Trainer, Video Interpreter Provisional Lead Mentor, Product Improvement Liaison Representative, and National Roundtable Video Relay Interpreter Representative
- Performed responsibilities as Director as needed: supervisor, time-clock issues, policies/procedures, resolve center technical issues, and scheduling concerns
- Voted Interpreter of the Year for the Knoxville Center by peers and Shining Star Employee by corporate management
- Approved to work as a solo employee, an elite designation for employees who have exceptional technical skills and system expertise and have proven accountability.
- Enhanced communication access by providing accurate and efficient video relay interpreting services.
- Maintained a high level of professionalism and confidentiality when handling sensitive information during video relay calls.
- Assisted supervisors in identifying areas for interpreter skill development to enhance overall team performance.
Staff Sign Language Interpreter and Secretary
University of Tennessee Knoxville
01.1988 - Current
- Use various forms of sign language for undergraduate to doctoral level classes for students who are deaf/deaf-blind/hearing impaired to enhance communication by providing accurate and timely sign language interpretation services
- Scheduling full-time and part-time Sign Language Interpreters an average of 25 full-time students per semester
- Evaluate and monitor Interpreters' ASL skills to determine employability
- Provided leadership for contract/freelance ASL Interpreters
- Serve as Concert Coordinator: evaluate applicants and match individual skills to appropriate concert assignment and patron requesting ASL translation services
- Mentor and evaluate ASL Interpreter Training Program Students from various colleges from across the nation during internships at the University of Tennessee Knoxville campus
- Volunteer as an accountable ASL Language Mentor for students in ASL I to ASL IV providing exceptional self-management skill building exercises, time-management skills, and provide support during the process of learning how to effectively facilitate communication between students and professors in university classrooms
- Selected as a mentor for the Gallaudet University Mentoring Program
- Assisted in service provision to students with various disabilities at the university, focusing on translating printed English into braille via automated computer system
- Performed duties such as budgetary, scheduling, purchasing, reporting of time, and onboarding/outboarding in various computer programs for employee on-boarding/out-boarding via the University of Tennessee System-wide intranet
- 1994-1998 employed by the Postsecondary Education Consortium (PEC) for a Department of Education federally funded grant program housed at the University of Tennessee with outreach to 13 southern states and Puerto Rico
- Arranging travel accommodations, aided in federal grant writing, documentation, and coordination
- Coordinated and scheduled 36 Interpreters for the 1996 PEC Conference held in Knoxville, TN, and the 2004 Southeast Regional Institute for the Deaf (SERID) Conference held in Nashville, TN for keynote conference sessions and all break-out sessions
- Presenter: locally, nationally, and internationally regarding ASL, The Interpretation Process, and Concert Interpreting
- Supported classroom learning by interpreting lectures, discussions, and group activities for deaf students.
- Contributed to increased accessibility by interpreting public events, workshops, and conferences for diverse audiences and assisted clients in achieving their personal goals by providing one-on-one sign language interpretation during counseling sessions and medical appointments.
- Promoted inclusion within the community by offering sign language interpretation at local gatherings, religious services, and cultural events.
- Collaborated with educational institutions to develop appropriate accommodations for deaf students through tailored sign language interpretation strategies.
- Attended training programs to improve professional knowledge and interpretation skills.
- Reviewed, edited and proofread translated documents for accuracy including regional monthly newsletter and biennial publications distributed nationally
- Created detailed reports, maintained daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly report documents, memos and invoices
- Maintained accurate records of office expenses, assisting in budget preparation and cost control efforts
- Assisted in event planning and execution for company functions such as conferences, workshops, or social gatherings locally and regionally
- Updated spreadsheets and databases to track, analyze, and report on performance and cost analysis
- Enhanced communication for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals by providing accurate and timely sign language interpretation services.
Freelance Sign Language Interpreter
Knoxville Center for the Deaf
01.1998 - 01.2018
- Interpret for a variety of consumers in the community and various states including but not limited to: medical, mental health, educational, legal, musical, theatrical, religious, and governmental agencies, and contracts
- Enhanced communication for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals by providing accurate and timely sign language interpretation services
- Contributed to increased accessibility by interpreting public events, workshops, and conferences for diverse audiences
Freelance Sign Language Interpreter
Visual Communication Interpreting
01.2010 - 01.2017
- Interpret for a variety of consumers in the community and various locations not limited to medical, mental health, educational, legal, musical, theatrical, religious, and governmental
- Provide excellent customer service and facilitation of communication for individuals who are deaf/deaf-blind/hard of hearing and the majority culture of hearing individuals.
Education
Master of Education - Curriculum and Instruction
Carson-Newman University
Jefferson City12.2022
B.S. Education -
University of Tennessee
Knoxville12.2003
Skills
- Online Teaching
- Online Class Discussion
- Leadership Abilities
- Individualized Support
- Faculty Communication
- Conflict Resolution
- Technology Integration
- Lesson Development
- Lesson Planning
- Multimedia Integration
- Curriculum Creation
- Course Planning
Certification
- Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf Certification of Transliteration, 2002
- Registry of Interpreter for the Deaf Certification of Interpretation, 2007
Affiliations
- Tennessee Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Previous Vice President, 1998, Present
- Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, 1998, Present
Volunteer Experience
- Knoxville Police Department, Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association, 08/01/16-Present
- Tennessee Highway Patrol, Citizens Trooper Academy Alumni Association, 03/01/18- Present
- Knoxville Police Department, Volunteer In Police Service (VIPS) and Volunteer Call Back Program, Criminal Investigation Division (Property Crimes Unit), 12/01/16-Present
Timeline
Adjunct Professor
Carson-Newman University
08.2019 - Current
Freelance Sign Language Interpreter
Visual Communication Interpreting
01.2010 - 01.2017
Video Relay Interpreter
Sorenson Communications
01.2005 - Current
Freelance Sign Language Interpreter
Knoxville Center for the Deaf
01.1998 - 01.2018
Staff Sign Language Interpreter and Secretary
University of Tennessee Knoxville
01.1988 - Current
Master of Education - Curriculum and Instruction
Carson-Newman University
B.S. Education -
University of Tennessee
- Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf Certification of Transliteration, 2002
- Registry of Interpreter for the Deaf Certification of Interpretation, 2007
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