TROY—Troy University's Interpreter Training Program has begun a search for a new director following the resignation of Lynne Wiesman.

Wiesman is the founding director of the Interpreter Training Program (ITP) at TROY, the state's only baccalaureate program in the interpreting field. Interpreting, as a profession, facilitates communication between individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing using American Sign Language (ASL) or a form of visual language and spoken English.

Wiesman, who joined the TROY faculty in 2009, said personal concerns led to her resignation, effective this month.

"My son-in-law in Texas has acute lymphoblastic leukemia and is going through the roughest part of the treatment, just completing a bone-marrow transplant," Wiesman said. "The family needs my support to help with their four children so they can keep them in school and on a regular routine while my son-in-law lives two hours from home to undergo daily treatment."

Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr., Chancellor of Troy University, said the University is grateful for Wiesman's tireless efforts in establishing the Interpreter Training Program.

"Lynne Wiesman's legacy at TROY will be reflected in thousands of lives touched—from the deaf who benefit to the students who become service providers," he said. "She will be missed by the Troy University family."

Lance Tatum, Dean of the College of Education, said Wiesman has accomplished a great deal in a short time.

"When Lynne arrived in Troy, she was faced with building a program from the ground up and today she has assembled 18 faculty and staff to serve our students and has exceeded all of our expectations and goals for graduating students from the ITP," Dr. Tatum said. "By 2012, we expect our 15th student to graduate from the program. She is leaving Troy University with a program that is receiving national and international attention, has the most Masters of Interpreting Pedagogy graduates teaching of any program in the nation and boasts many innovative practices. It's our responsibility to carry forward the energy and passion for training interpreters that Lynne has planted at TROY."

"My departure is bittersweet - I leave enormously proud of the accomplishments of Troy University, the state of Alabama, and the stakeholders," Wiesman said. "I am also immensely sad to say farewell to my daily interactions with the students and the ITP team, faculty and staff, as well as the stakeholders and partners."

Contact:
Tom Davis or Clif Lusk
Troy Office of University Relations
334/670-3196
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