We hope you enjoy this series where we meet and get to know employees from across campus. Would you like to be featured? Contact us at campusnews@csufresno.edu.

Name: Serena Johnson
Title: Associate Professor
Department: Communicative Sciences and Deaf Studies
Academic Degree(s):

• B. A. Deaf Education, Baylor University
• M.Ed., Southern Methodist University
• Ph.D. Higher Education, University of North Texas

How long have you worked at Fresno State and which offices have you worked in?
I've worked here since July 2015 and been in the CSDS office the entire time. I teach students how to be translators and interpreters between American Sign Language and English. I also do some interpreting on the side.

Are you a Valley native? If not, what brought you to the area? And Fresno State.
I'm a Texas native. I came here for the job.

Do you have a campus mentor or someone who has helped you in your career?
Dr. Dawn Lewis, Dr. Alica Becton, Dr. Jenelle Pitt-Parker, Dr. Monique Bell, and Dr. DeAnna Reese have been amazing mentors on my journey.

Tell us about your department and what people may not know about it.
Sign language is an amazing field to be in, and you can definitely make a career out of it. There are so many avenues. If you've always wanted to learn sign language but just never had the time, you should definitely make it a priority. It's so rewarding.

What is your most notable accomplishment in your field, and why was it important?
I'm one of the few Black nationally certified individuals (Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf RID) coordinating an interpreting program here in the U.S. It's important to have diversity in program coordinating because the Deaf community is diverse and needs interpreters that reflect them.

What are you most passionate about in your field and why?
I'm passionate about telling people how amazing Deaf people and American Sign Language are. Deaf people are capable of so many things, and I truly feel it's an honor that I get to serve as the communication bridge between those who know sign language and those who don't. Plus, in general, being bilingual is so beneficial.

What is a memorable moment you had in class?
The time my student offered me tamales. I love my students and I love tamales.

What is your teaching style?
I'd say I'm an approachable instructor.

What is the most interesting or unusual job you've ever had?
Interpreting takes you to so many interesting places. I've interpreted for professional conferences, graduations, incarcerated individuals and everything in between. Each day is a new assignment and I love that.

What do you like to do for fun in your spare time?
I love traveling. Some of my favorite places I've been to are Australia, New Zealand and Italy. Next up on my list is Turks and Caicos.

What is something interesting about you that most people don’t know?
I'd rather read the book than watch the movie.