Michael Duane Martin

Biography

I was born Deaf and grew up in mainstream schools, learned in both Deaf classrooms and general education classrooms with interpreters throughout middle and high school. In the fall of 1990, I transferred to the Model Secondary School for the Deaf (MSSD) for my sophomore year and graduated in 1993. I then attended the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID) from 1993 to 1998, majoring in Industrial Drafting Technology with a focus on Computer-Aided Design (CAD).

After college, I worked for three years as a CAD draftsperson at GE Medical Systems in Florence, S.C. During that time, I also volunteered at Calvary Baptist Church as a layperson, leading Sunday School, preaching, and set-up a sign language class at the church. Through that experience, I felt God calling me back to school. I returned to pursue my BA in Religious Studies with a minor in ASL at Gardner-Webb University and later earned my MA in Sign Language Teaching from Gallaudet University in 2015.

I joined Liberty University as an ASL professor and am grateful to serve alongside a wonderful ASL program team. It is a blessing to teach here and to support students as they grow in their understanding of ASL, Deaf culture, and Deaf community values.

My wife’s name is Kim, and she is Deaf, speaks, and uses ASL. I have three children: David, Dean, and Dylann. David is currently a student here at Liberty University. I look forward to meeting you in the classroom and helping you continue your journey in learning ASL.

Presentations

• Deaf Culture in the 21st Century, Southern Baptist Conference of the Deaf: July 2016
• ASL 1-2 Fingerspelling in ASL-Spartanburg Community College, Spartanburg, SC: March 2015
• ASL 3-4 English to ASL-Spartanburg Community College, Spartanburg, SC: March 2014
• ASL 3-4 ASL Expansion-Spartanburg Community College, Spartanburg, SC: 2013

Ministry, Leadership, and Service