Whitney Renee Weirick, PhD (she/her) is a nationally certified interpreter (American Sign Language-English) and associate professor in the Deaf Studies and Educational Interpreting Program at the University of Arizona.
As a practitioner-researcher, Dr. Weirick (“WHY-Rick”) is focused on advancing educational equity for Deaf and hard of hearing K-12 students through critical examinations of how educational leadership and policy interact to help or hinder the professionalization of ASL interpreting in schools. Her current research explores interpreter supervision and coaching models that better center the needs of diverse Deaf students.
Dr. Weirick’s work as an interpreter, educator and scholar is firmly rooted in respect for Deaf Communities at home and abroad. As a Mestiza person of mixed ancestry (Irish/English, Indigenous, Spanish), she seeks to recruit and welcome more linguistically and culturally diverse people into the ASL interpreting profession to better represent the communities we serve.
Dr. Weirick is a proud 3x Wildcat alum. She earned her bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate (U.S. Office of Special Education Programs Fellow in Special Education- Deaf and Hard of Hearing) at the University of Arizona. She is also a proud community college transfer student, parent and partner.