Cheryl L. Shahan is a clinical assistant professor in Deaf Studies in the Department of Theory and Practice in Teacher Education at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and supervisor of the Deaf Studies internship program.

Shahan received a PhD degree in Deaf Education with a focus in sex-gender equity. Her dissertation, titled “An Elementary Deaf Teacher’s Interactions with Deaf Girls and Deaf Boys”, explored classroom interactions based on students’ sex. A key part of Shahan’s research was the development of an observation system that can be used in tandem with other teacher assessment tools. She aims to provide information and knowledge about equities and social justice with University of Tennessee’s students and interns as future teachers of Deaf students. She also looks at ways to provide user-friendly observation system for students, as well as expanding the teacher assessment tools.

Shahan has experience teaching at the New Mexico School for the Deaf (NMSD), Buea School for the Deaf (BSD) in Cameroon, McDaniel College, Gallaudet University, and as a Volunteer in Service to America (VISTA).