Name: Kari Sween

Position: Assistant Professor – American Sign Language and American Sign Language Coordinator 

Education

• Doctorate in Education, Winona State University, anticipated 2028
• M.S. in Teaching and Learning, Minnesota State University, Mankato, 2022
• B.A. in Education, Minnesota State University, Mankato, 2008
• Sign Language Proficiency Interview: Superior Plus Rating 

Teaching

 Teaching American Sign Language goes beyond sharing a language; it is about opening hearts and doors to connection. Kari is passionate about creating a safe, welcoming space where students feel empowered to communicate comfortably with Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing individuals. She believes understanding the barriers these communities navigate goes hand in hand with language, and hopes her students leave as culturally aware communicators and allies.

Current Courses

• CDIS 205: Beginning American Sign Language - Level I
• CDIS 307: Advanced American Sign Language – Level III
• CDIS 308: Conversations in ASL 
• CDIS 404: Deaf Studies: Deaf Culture, History, and Social Justice
• CDIS 407: Advanced American Sign Language – Level IV
• CDIS 541: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Speech-Language Pathology

Areas of Interest

• Dismantling communication barriers for Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing individuals
• Addressing audism and overt and covert systemic discrimination
• Social justice and legal advocacy within the Deaf, DeafBlind, Hard of Hearing, and nonspeaking children within speech-language pathology and audiology fields
• Promoting ASL education and public awareness
• Early intervention for D/HH children within speech-language pathology and audiology field.

Presentations (selected)

• Sween, K. (2026, March). Communication barriers in the audiology field. University of Minnesota.
• Sween, K., & Kinney, J. (2025, November). Cultivating cultural competency in ASL education. American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Annual Convention.
• Sween, K. (2025, March). Communication barriers in the audiology field. Upper Midwest Academy of Audiology Conference.
• Oeding, K., & Sween, K. (2025, April). Advancing person-centered care in Deaf and Hard of Hearing patients. Minnesota Speech-Language Hearing Association Presentation.
• Kinney, J., & Sween, K. (2024, June). Dismantling communication barriers for Deaf and Hard of Hearing people and Children of Deaf Adults (CODA). Southwest Metro Equity Summit.
• Oeding, K., & Sween, K. (2024, April). Culturally responsive practices with Deaf and Hard of Hearing patients and students. Minnesota Speech-Language Hearing Association Poster Presentation.
• Sween, K. (2024, March). Teaching Deaf and Hard of Hearing students in post-secondary education. Disability Affinity Alliance.
• Sween, K. (2024, January). Communication barriers in the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community. Scholars at Work Conference.
• Sween, K. (2023, March). Healthcare access for Deaf and Hard of Hearing patients. College of Allied Health and Nursing.
• Sween, K., & Sween, J. (2023, February). Cultural Humility Series (1). College of Allied Health and Nursing.
• Sween, K. (2023, February). Communicating with Deaf and Hard of Hearing people in law enforcement. College of Humanities and Social Science (Law Enforcement)