Faculty/Staff Information

BS Interpreting Studies: Theory

MA Interpreting Studies

MA Interpreting Studies certificate programs

• Ph.D. in Linguistics, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
• M.A. in Linguistics, Gallaudet University, Washington, DC
• B.A. in Speech/Language Pathology, University of District of Columbia, Washington, D

• Certified Member Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf
• Certified Member Oregon Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf
• Certified Member American Sign Language Teacher’s Association
• Certified Member NW American Sign Language Teacher’s Association
• Member World Association of Sign Language Interpreters
• Member Conference of Interpreter Trainers
• Member National Association of the Deaf
• Member NW Editors Guild

Elisa has been a faculty member in the Division of Special Education since 1993. She teaches in the undergraduate ASL/English Interpreting and Master of Arts in Interpreting Studies programs. She is a Commissioner and the Past President for the Commission on Collegiate Interpreter Education. She has traveled to Ghana to work with signed language interpreters and interpreter educators since 2014.

In 2004, Elisa completed her PhD in Linguistics at the University of New Mexico. Her research was on aspect in American Sign Language. Her current research interests are in:

• examining the nature of the gap between graduation and certification
• ASL interpreting in Ghana.

Elisa lives in Monmouth with her husband, Frank.

• 2017-2018 T.H. Gentle Professorship
• University Professional and Continuing Education Association Outstanding Credit Program Award 2013
• Sorenson Video Relay Services Interpreter Education Program Award of Excellence 2008: $10,000
• American Association of University Women Dissertation Fellowship 2002-2003: $20,000
• Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society (since 2010)

• 2012-Present  Professor, Interpreting Studies, Western Oregon University
• 2012-Present  Coordinator, Interpreting Studies, Western Oregon University
• 2011-2012  Co-Coordinator, Interpreting Studies, Western Oregon University
• 2009-2012  Chair, Division of Special Education, Western Oregon University
• 2007-2012  Associate Professor, ASL/English Interpreting, Western Oregon University
• 1985-Present  Freelance Interpreter/Consultant
• 2003-2007  Assistant Professor, ASL/English Interpreting, Western Oregon University
• 2003-2010  Coordinator, ASL/English Interpreting, Western Oregon University

• Interpreting Studies

Interpreting and interpreter education in Ghana

The gap between interpreter education and work readiness

• U.S. Department of Education (USDE) – Project Hive 2018-2023: $1,250,000. Project Director: Elisa Maroney

• Oregon Open Educational Resources. 2018-2019: $20,000.

• U.S. Department of Education (USDE) –ASL/English Interpreting 2011-2016: $1,250,000. Project Director: Elisa Maroney.
• U.S. Department of Education (USDE) –Bachelor of Science/Arts in ASL/English Interpreting 2008-2012: $800,000
• U.S. Department of Education (USDE) –Bachelor of Science/Arts in ASL/English Interpreting (BSI) 2003-2008: $1,231,880
• U.S. Department of Special Education (USDE) –Summer Interpreter Education Program (SIEP).
  • SIEP 1993-1995:  $321,000
  • SIEP 1996-1998: $291,000

• INT 612: Proseminar
• INT 625: Interpreting as a Practice Profession (3 credits)
• INT 615: Communication for Interpreters (3 credits)
• INT 630: Communication (3 credits)
• INT 635: Qualitative Methods (3 credits)
• INT 645: Research on Translation and Interpreting (3 credits)
• INT 646: Research on Translation and Interpreting II (6 credits)
• INT 670: Leadership
• INT 603: Thesis or Professional Project (6 credits)
• INT 639: Student Teaching (4 credits)
• TPD 556: First and Second Language Acquisition

• ASL 320D: ASL Morphology
• ASL 420C: Sociolinguistics of the Deaf Community
• INT 253: Comparative Linguistics: ASL and English
• INT 254: Introduction to the Profession of Interpreting
• INT 330: Theory and Process of Interpreting I (3 credits)
• INT 330L: Theory and Process of Interpreting I Lab (1 credit)
• INT 341: Theory and Process of Interpreting II (3 credits)
• INT 341L: Theory and Process of Interpreting II Lab (1 credit)
• INT 342: Theory and Process of Interpreting III (3 credits)
• INT 342L: Theory and Process of Interpreting III Lab (1 credit)
• INT 353: Linguistics of ASL (3 credits)
• INT 409: Practicum (1-9 credits)
• INT 410: Internship (12 credits)
• INT 441: Theory and Process of Interpreting IV (3 credits)
• INT 441L: Theory and Process of Interpreting IV Lab (1 credit)
• INT 442: Theory and Process of Interpreting V (3 credits)
• INT 442L: Theory and Process of Interpreting V Lab (1 credit)
• INT465C: Current Issues in Interpreting (3 credits)
• INT 468: Specialized Interpreting Techniques (2 credits)
• INT 492: Language and Communication: Deaf and Hard of Hearing (3 credits)
• LING 210: Introduction to Linguistics (4 credits)
• Sp Ed 206: Introduction to the Process of Interpreting
• Sp Ed 207: Introduction to the Professional Aspects of Interpreting
• Sp Ed 261: Preparation for Mentorship
• Sp Ed 262: Preparation for Mentorship II
• Sp Ed 221: Introduction to Interpreting Practice I
• Sp Ed 257: Introduction to Discourse Analysis
• TPD 456: First and Second Language Acquisition

• Offei, Y. & Maroney, E. (2022). Signed languages, interpreting, and the Deaf Community in Ghana and West Africa. https://openoregon.pressbooks.pub/ghanaiandeaf/

• Maroney, E., Smith, A.R., Hewlett, S., Trine, E., & Darden, V. (Eds.). (2019). Integrated and open interpreter education: The open educational resource reader and workbook for interpreters [Pressbooks version]. Corvallis, OR: Western Oregon University. Retrieved June 18, from https://openoregon.pressbooks.pub/interpretingstudies/. CC BY-NC 4.0 license.
• Darden, V., & Maroney, E. (2018). “Craving to hear from you”: An exploration of m-learning in global interpreter education. In Nike K. Pokorn & Christopher D. Mellinger (eds.), Community Interpreting, Translation, and Technology, [TIS 13:3]. John Benjamins Publishing Company.
• Maroney, E., Fobi, D., Darden, V., Puhlman, B., Carpenter, R., Hamilton, H., Graham, P., Dzeani, P., & Dugo-Marmolejo, V. (2018). “Reaching Ghanaian interpreters through ongoing short-term training.” In Winston, Betsy, Monikowski, Christine, & Lee, Robert G. (eds.), Reaching New Heights in Interpreter Education: Mentoring, Teaching, & Leadership. Conference of Interpreter Training Proceedings. Salt Lake City, UT: Conference of Interpreter Trainers.  https://www.cit-asl.org/new/reaching-ghanaian-interpreters-through-ongoing-short-term-training/
• Bowdell, A., Maroney, E., & Behnke, L. (2018). “Addressing the “gap”: Bilingualism upon entry into an interpreter education program.” In Winston, Betsy, Monikowski, Christine, & Lee, Robert G. (eds.), Reaching New Heights in Interpreter Education: Mentoring, Teaching, & Leadership. Conference of Interpreter Training Proceedings. Salt Lake City, UT: Conference of Interpreter Trainers.  https://www.cit-asl.org/new/addressing-the-gap-bilingualism-upon-entry-into-an-interpreter-education-program/
• Smith, A., & Maroney, E. (2018). Revisiting: Defining the "gap" between interpreter education, certification, and readiness to work. RID VIEWS, 35(1), 15, 31-34.  https://www.rid.org/2018/02/defining-the-gap/ 
• Maroney, E. M. & Smith, A. R. (January, 2018). Does class size really matter? CIT news online.  http://www.cit-asl.org/new/newsletter/
• Maroney, E., Fobi, D., Puhlman, B., & Buadee, C. M. (2018). Interpreting in Ghana. In Hunt, D. & Shaw, E. (eds.), Interpretation and Translation Research Symposium. Manuscript submitted for publication.
• Smith, A.R.Cancel, Pamela D., & Maroney, E. (2013). Creating innovative opportunities for interpreter education program graduates: Transitioning to the professional world. Shaw, S. &Roberson, L. (eds.), Proceedings of the 21stNational Convention. Conference of Interpreter Trainers.
• Maroney, E. & Smith, A. (2010, Fall). Defining the nature of the “gap” between interpreter education, certification and readiness-to-work: A research study of bachelor’s degree Graduates. RID VIEWS, 27, 35-27.
• Taff-Watson, M., Petronio, K., Maroney, E.M., & Antle, L. (2008). Steps to Interpreter Education Program Accreditation: Putting the Pieces Together. In Shaw, S. & Roberson, L. (eds.), Proceedings of the 17th National Convention. Conference of Interpreter Trainers.
• Taff-Watson, M., Petronio, K., Maroney, E.M., & Antle, L. (2008). Program Accreditation and Educational Excellence: Collaboration with Organizations, Programs and Institutions. In Shaw,S. & Roberson, L. (eds.), Proceedings of the 17th National Convention. Conference of Interpreter Trainers