Calvin Farley, MS

Senior Lecturer, Deaf Studies

Biography

Calvin Farley began his career in post-secondary education in 2012 as a mentor serving college students who majored in interpreting as their future careers at Maryville College. Farley earned a bachelor’s degree in digital media: visualization from East Tennessee State University which tremendously benefits him as a mentor and instructor. During his two years as a mentor, he gained experience and skills in serving students who seek to be better signers and translators of English to American Sign Language (ASL) and vice versa.

While mentoring, he rediscovered the passion in teaching and developed an additional passion in ASL education that benefits students’ acquisition in and development of teaching skills. He returned to the University of Tennessee to earn a master’s degree in teacher education (ASL) in Spring 2016.

Farley has worked as a full-time lecturer of the Deaf Studies program since Fall 2016. He founded and moderated the Deaf-led/ASL events for college students and also it is open to the Deaf community, local community colleges and local high school that offered ASL courses. It is known as ASL POP.

In 9 years span, ASL POP had been in news and articles for several times. It held different activities - more than 50 times: Deaf Education related, ASL shows, Deaf/hard of hearing children shows, panelists, Deaf/ASL literature folklores, recreation activities, and more. ASL POP welcomed hundreds of the local Deaf community folks, several thousands of students, and 6 different collages in East Tennessee. It lasted for 9 wonderful years and then handed the responsibility to someone else in the Deaf Studies team as a service to the university. This service was one of his most proud in his career achievements.

He serves an advisor of the student organization ASL Club (ASLK) since 2020. He serves as a speaker, and has presented at various seminars and workshops across the United States, Canada, and Hong Kong.

When Calvin is not teaching, he loves to watch good crime & thriller shows and enjoys exercising, backpacking, hiking, and playing games. He enjoys collecting things such as Pokémon cards, Star Wars, and Jeff Gordon memorabilia, as well as jokes, and books!

Professional Background