Lorelei McElroy ’25

Lorelei McElroy ’25 is an American Sign Language (ASL) Studies major with a minor in Communication from Warrenton, Virginia. As president of the ASL Club and the ASL department tutor, she spent a lot of time outside of class supporting her peers and sharing her passion for the language. She was recognized for her efforts with a 2025 ASL Honor Society medal. 

“Lorelei set a high standard through her exceptional signing skills, academic dedication, positive attitude, and service to both the signing community and the department,” says Lecturer Charles Herbold, chair of the ASL department. 

Here, McElroy shares about how the ASL major made learning exciting, the faculty who supported her, and the many opportunities the ASL program offers — including a Jan Term abroad.

"I quickly fell in love with the language and had a strong appreciation of Deaf culture. I knew I wanted to pursue it further and commit to a major."

What made you decide to major in American Sign Language?

Coming into McDaniel, my major was undecided, and I was unsure of what I wanted to do with my future. I did know, however, that I wanted to take ASL classes. When I took American Sign Language 1 my first year, I quickly fell in love with the language and had a strong appreciation of Deaf culture. I knew I wanted to pursue it further and commit to a major. 

What was your favorite class ever?

My favorite class throughout my time at McDaniel was ASL and Deaf Literature. Exploring how ASL was used to create literature and poems was really fascinating to me. Additionally, creating stories and playing with the language myself helped my skills and understanding while also being fun.

What real-world experiences did you have?

The ASL department has provided me with many ways to gain experience outside of the classroom. I have participated in an internship within the ASL department where I taught two ASL Lab classes for a semester. This was a great opportunity for me to review skills learned early in ASL education and to perfect them before I brought them into the lab. I could connect with early ASL students as well as learn how to adjust my signing to various skill levels.

My most notable experience was the January Term study abroad in the Dominican Republic. For two weeks, the other students and I were able to teach Deaf students at six different schools while also exploring the Deaf community and culture there. My skills improved drastically, as for two weeks we interacted mostly using ASL. It was my most valuable experience at McDaniel and something I will cherish.

Was there a faculty member who most influenced you?

The faculty within the ASL department are some of the most encouraging and caring professors that I have had. Since my first year, Debbie Colbert has been a professor that never stopped pushing me or her other students to be better. She has been incredibly helpful to my college career since then, and her passion for ASL and education is infectious. Charles Herbold has also been a fantastic support. His provision of opportunities for responsibility and success allowed me to not doubt myself and shaped my ASL skills. Both professors greatly influenced my experience here at McDaniel and are a large part of why I am pursuing a career using ASL.

What was your time in the ASL Club like?

Participating in the ASL Club at McDaniel has been a very rewarding experience. I have held various positions on the executive board with my last semester spent as president. I loved connecting with other students who had a passion for ASL like mine. The ASL Club allowed me to have fun within my major and create memorable experiences.

What was your experience like as a tutor for the ASL department?

Tutoring ASL provided me with a space to improve my skills while helping others. One thing that I love about the ASL department is that you are allowed to make mistakes without judgement as you are learning. I brought this idea with me into the ASL tutoring room, which allowed for a relaxed experience that was open to questions for those who struggled in class. It was a great opportunity to practice one-on-one ASL skills, so it was as beneficial to me as it was to the students who attended.

What’s next?

After graduation, I plan to pursue a career in interpreting. I will soon be attending an interpreting training program (called an ITP) with my long-term goal being to gain my interpreting certification. My dream career is to interpret in an educational or government setting.