Kristen Guynes

Kristen Guynes is a full-time Teaching Professor at the School of Communication, Florida State University, specializing in American Sign Language (ASL) instruction and Deaf Education. She holds a PhD in Special Education with a focus on Deaf and Hard of Hearing students (2016), an MS in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education (2009), and a BA in Sign Language & Deaf Studies (2003). Prior to academia, she spent a decade in public schools as an educational interpreter, teacher, and program coordinator for Deaf/Hard of Hearing students.

Her research focuses on improving educational interpreting practices, Deaf student outcomes, and ASL pedagogy. Key contributions include developing guidelines for educational interpreters and challenging misconceptions around bilingual education for deaf students. She currently serves as Publications Director for the National Association of Interpreters in Education (NAIE).

Guynes has received two major teaching awards from Florida State University's College of Communication & Information (CCI): the 2019 Outstanding Faculty Teaching Award and 2018 Undergraduate Faculty Teaching Award. She maintains multiple professional certifications including ASLTA teaching credentials and RID K-12 interpreter certification.