Kimela Nelson was one of two original instructors in the University of Iowa American Sign Language Program when it was begun as a pilot program in 1994. She was appointed program coordinator in 1998 and quickly made herself indispensable. The most common phrases uttered by ASL faculty and students alike during the last decade were “I don’t know, ask Kimela” and “Kimela will take care of it.”

Kimela was instrumental in the growth and success of the program, which began with one class of 25 students and, by the fall of 2008, enrolled 295 students in 17 classes. Her two chief goals in recent years were to establish an Interdisciplinary Certificate for the program, which was accomplished in 2003, and to establish a minor in ASL, which was created in 2008. From the beginning, one of her foremost aims was to bring deaf people into the classroom as visitors and as faculty. As a key member of every faculty search committee, she played an important role in setting priorities and selecting faculty. The current shape of the program owes much to her good judgment and hard work.

Kimela’s teaching and advising touched the lives of hundreds of students. For fourteen years, she introduced students to the idea that language could be produced not only on their tongues but on their hands. Kimela also for a time co-taught ASL classes for Kirkwood Community College with Tim Sheets, who has since joined the University of Iowa program as an instructor. In 1994, she spent several weeks in Russia as Tim’s interpreter as part of a volunteer effort to assist hospitals struggling to offer basic services during those difficult years.

Before coming to the ASL Program, Kimela worked on campus for the Women’s Resource and Action Center in the late 1980s and for the Prevocational Training Program in the early 1990s.