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Leala Holcomb, PhD

Research Assistant Professor, Deaf Studies

Biography

Leala Holcomb, PhD, is a Research Assistant Professor and the principal investigator of an NIH grant-funded project examining the impact of teacher training on ASL/English literacy instruction and student outcomes. Their instructional framework, known as strategic and interactive signing/writing instruction, centers on promoting effective ASL/English literacy practices. Leala has authored over a dozen peer-reviewed articles on deaf-centric pedagogy, focusing on topics such as research methodologies with deaf populations, assessments used with deaf students, literacy instruction, translanguaging, ASL rhyme and rhythm, and ASL phonological awareness. Their work has been featured in these journals: The Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education, Bilingual Research Journal, Languages, Sign Language Studies, Psychology in the Schools, and Children. Leala served as editor for a special issue on translanguaging in deaf communities for the Languages journal and currently serves as an associate editor for The Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education. Leala earned their PhD in Education from the University of Tennessee. Prior to their doctoral career, they taught deaf students for several years. They hold a master’s degree from National University and a bachelor’s degree from Gallaudet University. Leala is also a proud alum of California School for the Deaf, Fremont.


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