“It’s not easy navigating a world where hearing is often the default.”
Alex Lynch
Senior Lecturer
Program Director of American Sign Language (ASL)/Deaf Studies
Alex Lynch is an integral member of the Department of Disability and Psychoeducational Studies. Directing an ASL program where classes are so popular as to have regular waiting lists of students wanting to sign up, Alex has a proven track record of exemplary curriculum design and pedagogical instruction. Students and colleagues alike have commented on his ability to create immersive learning environments in his classrooms, as well as his unique talents for developing videos to demonstrate ASL conversations and increase student engagement in online classes. He has developed over 3,400 videos; you can see Alex demonstrate how to fingerspell numbers 60 to millions here. Alex also manages a 5-year training grant program funded by the US Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP, $1.25 million) aimed at addressing the nationwide shortage of educational interpreters. Undergraduate students in this program receive financial support for tuition and stipend.
A consistent thread in Alex’s service and outreach is his passion and dedication to supporting students and the Deaf community. Alex helped found the University’s first ASL club and served as an inaugural faculty advisor for the club. In the UA ASL Dual Enrollment Program, he works closely with high school teachers to ensure curriculum alignment across ASL courses and giving high school students a head start on their ASL education once they get to UA.
“ASL is such an important language; it not only helps build genuine connections with the Deaf community, but also promotes accessibility and has many broader benefits.”
Who do you draw inspiration from and why?
I don’t have just one person I draw inspiration from, but I deeply admire many Deaf individuals who have made an impact in their fields. It’s not easy navigating a world where hearing is often the default, and seeing Deaf people succeed despite those challenges gives me something powerful to look up to. Their resilience, creativity, and leadership remind me of what’s possible.
I also look up to my parents, who taught me the importance of living fully and with purpose. They accepted me for who I am, faults and all, and believed in me even during the hardest times. Their belief gave me the strength to keep going. I look up to them for their unconditional support and the chances they gave me to grow into who I am today.
Together, these influences have shaped how I move through the world and what I strive to contribute.
What are one or two accomplishments of which you are most proud?
Two of my proudest accomplishments are, first, the opportunity to continue teaching American Sign Language to students. ASL is such an important language; it not only helps build genuine connections with the Deaf community, but also promotes accessibility and has many broader benefits. Nothing makes me prouder than seeing graduates use ASL to make a meaningful difference in their communities.
Second, I’m proud to lead our programs at the university. Being entrusted with the responsibility to guide and strengthen them has been an honor. I’m especially proud to be part of a university that offers a Deaf Studies program, along with interpreting and a minor in American Sign Language. UA is currently the only four-year college in Arizona to do so. It has been deeply fulfilling to help grow and strengthen these programs in support of our students and the communities they serve.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
If I could tell my younger self one thing, it would be this: just ask. There is real power in it. So many things I thought were out of reach, like help, support, opportunities, even kindness, were often just one question away. I used to hold back, afraid of rejection or thinking I had to do everything alone. But the truth is, when I finally asked, I was often surprised by how willing people were to say yes. Whether it was guidance, space to be honest, or something I really wanted, asking opened doors that staying silent never could. It was always better when I asked than when I did not. Even a no gave me clarity, but some of the yeses changed everything.
