The University of Texas at Austin College of Education announced on October 26 that Stephanie W. Cawthon, PhD, was appointed the first deaf editor of Perspectives on Deafness, an Oxford University Press international book series on the leading research and practices with deaf people.
Cawthon is a full professor in the college’s Educational Psychology department, with a courtesy appointment in Special Education.
The announcement notes there is a long history of deaf people being underrepresented in higher education, educational research, and research-to-practice translation. With the increase in accessibility of education and employment, deaf education researchers have the opportunity to bring both the strength of their training and the insights of direct experiences as deaf people.
College of Education Dean Charles R. Martinez, Jr., is quoted in the announcement: “Dr. Cawthon’s appointment as editor of an international book series of this caliber is a testament to her outstanding record of scholarship, teaching, and leadership in her 13 years on faculty at UT Austin. In this position, she will continue to advance educational innovation for deaf and disabled students, convey cutting-edge research into impactful practices, and reimagine education.”