Dr. Jill Beckman is the Director of the Division of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures, as well as the DEO of ASL and Associate Professor of Linguistics.

Rebecca is currently the Director of Undergraduate Studies for the ASL Program at the University of Iowa. She earned her MA in Deaf Cultural Studies from Gallaudet University in 2011. This experience included courses in Aal, Norway and an internship with the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD). Prior to that she studied business at the University of Iowa, graduating with a BBA in Marketing and a minor in American Sign Language. Her interests in advertising and Deaf Studies inspired her to research the varied representations of deaf individuals and signed languages in the media.

Sandra is currently a lecturer in the University of Iowa ASL Program. Her specialty is teaching ASL language courses, including: ASL I, ASL II, ASL IIII, ASL IV, ASL V, and ASL Conversation. Prior to working at Iowa, she taught ASL courses at Iowa State University. She has also taught at universities and community colleges in Minnesota. She has been teaching at the post-secondary level since 1998. In some ways she was born into the profession, teaching ASL to her family and friends since she was five years old. She loves teaching ASL and works hard to help students understand Deaf people, Deaf culture, and the Deaf community. ASL is Sandra’s primary language and English is her second language. Sandra has been Deaf since birth.

Meredith Mahy Gall is the senior academic advisor for the Division of World Literatures, Languages, and Cultures (including all world languages, International Studies, linguistics, and translation) and global health studies students.

Gabbie holds a bachelor’s degree in English. She taught English Language Learning in the Clear Creek Amana School District and worked in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Office of the Dean prior to becoming Division Administrator for the Division of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures in 2023. Her interests include building sustainable staffing and communication structures; fostering a strong multicultural community; and supporting the Division in its mission to advance interdisciplinary research, artistic creativity, global awareness, and the study of languages, literatures, linguistics, societies, regions, and cultures. She collaborates with the staff team and faculty leadership to facilitate administrative operations and strategic planning.

Tim is DeafBlind and graduated from Iowa School for the Deaf. He has been working at the University of Iowa since 1984. Tim is currently a lecturer in the University of Iowa’s ASL Program. He teaches ASL I, ASL II and Fingerspelling & Numbers. Tim is very involved in the local Deaf community and related organizations such as the Iowa Association of the Deaf (IAD) and the Cedar Rapids Association of the Deaf (CRAD). When Tim is not teaching, he enjoys camping, building Legos, cooking and baking. Tim is an avid Iowa Hawkeyes fan.

Bob, or as ASL users sign "vizz," joined the ASL Program in 2010 teaching intermediate ASL level courses and several ASL minor classes. Prior to joining Iowa, he taught ASL courses for over five years in colleges located in Iowa, Virginia, and Illinois. Bob’s life mission is to improve language acquisition for deaf and hard of hearing children spanning from early childhood (0 years old) to school age. He serves the Deaf Community through several state advisory groups such as (name the groups). His advocacy priorities also include highlighting the need for quantity and quality of ASL users, including Deaf people in decision making processes affecting the lives of deaf children or adults, and supporting parents of deaf and hard of hearing children. He also served on several advisory groups: Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) - advisor, Office of Deaf Services of Iowa - commission member, and HandsUp Communication Interpreter advisory. He currently serves as Iowa Association of the Deaf - deaf education liaison and board member, Deaf Coalition of Iowa - chairperson, Iowa Language Equality and Acquisition for Deaf Kids (LEAD-K) - chairperson and is a nationally trained Deaf Mentor.