About the PSI Project
The vision of the Preparing School Interpreters (PSI) Project (OSEP: H325K210024: 2021-2026) at the University of Northern Colorado was to increase the quantity and quality of interpreters working in public school systems by investing in the academic and practical preparation of ASL-English interpreting students.
In addition, the PSI Project supported these interpreting students' induction into the public school system through mentoring and communities of learning and practice, and the introduction to their work as school interpreters through guided professional development opportunities. The ultimate goal was for ASL-English interpreting students to function on and contribute to an interdisciplinary educational team that supports students who are deaf and hard of hearing.
Carrying on the Torch
The PSI Project was proud to carry forward the legacy of innovation and excellence in interpreter education, a journey that began with Dr. Leilani Johnson and continued with Dr. Emily Girardin.
Dr. Leilani Johnson, Director Emerita, was the visionary and architect behind the
which later became the University of Northern Colorado's Department of ASL & Interpreting Studies.
Over her decades-long career, Dr. Johnson secured over $25 million in federal grants and partnership contracts, driving the development of pivotal programs like the Educational Interpreter Certificate Program (EICP). Johnson's leadership laid the foundation for the School Interpreting Series curriculum and the essential textbook for educational interpreting.
Complexities in Educational Interpreting: An Investigation into Patterns of Practice (1st and 2nd edition)
Johnson's final projects, which included the OSEP-funded PSI Project and the RSA-funded Improving Rural Interpreter Skills (IRIS) Project, marked a transition as she partnered with emerging leaders.
In 2021, Dr. Emily Girardin co-authored the PSI Project with Johnson, accepting the torch as the next generation and ensuring the continuity and growth of critical initiatives within the interpreting field.
Together, this dynamic team revised the preparation of school interpreters, integrating past research, current best practices, and innovative partnerships with institutions like Boys Town National Research Hospital’s EIPA Diagnostic Center and Hands & Voices. While the PSI Project grant directly supported 21 Scholars, the broader goal was to enrich academic and practical interpreter-preparation resources nationwide.
Dr. Girardin brought extensive experience as a school interpreter, educator, and researcher. She led the PSI Project, applying her expertise to guide the team in designing and implementing the 16-credit School Interpreting Series, which equipped future interpreters with the competencies needed to meet professional standards in K-12 settings.
Girardin’s dissertation was American Sign Language Fluency: A Foundational Competency for Future School Interpreters. This research built upon Johnson's foundational work to elevate the quality and quantity of school interpreters nationwide. Girardin's roles (as of 2026) with the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf and the National Association of Interpreters in Education underscore her commitment to the field.
Dr. Emily Girardin provides her bio in American Sign Language with English captions.