Ayanna Yonemura, Ph.D.
The Intercultural Oral and Deaf History Project
The Intercultural Oral and Deaf History Project centers undergraduate student research. Students serve as the primary researchers, conducting in-depth oral and Deaf history interviews with narrators from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
Students engage in scholarly analysis of their narrators' lived experiences, exploring themes of identity, community, and history. They also present their findings in academic settings, including conferences and classroom forums, contributing to broader conversations in community health sciences, political science, Deaf Studies, ethnic studies, women and gender studies, sociology, and history.
The IODHP emphasizes cultural humility and inclusive research practices, fostering community building which enriches our university and society.
Recruiting for Fall 2026
If you are interested in joining us as an intern, research associate, or volunteer, please send your resume. We are looking for people who want to (1) conduct oral and/or Deaf histories, (2) design StoryMaps using ArcGIS software, and/or (3) do administrative work using the Microsoft Suite.
Project Collection & In the Media
IODHP Collection Stay tuned! This is just the beginning!
"Students showcase 'sociological imagination' through intercultural oral and Deaf research
Ethnic Studies Roots
The Intercultural Oral and Deaf History Project is deeply rooted in the traditions of Ethnic Studies and feminist scholarship, which have long utilized oral history methodology to document the voices and experiences of communities excluded or misrepresented in dominant historical narratives. Oral history and its counterpart, Deaf history, are qualitative methodologies that collect and analyze individuals' first-hand accounts of their own experiences.
Our Sociological Imaginations
The sociological imagination, as coined by C. Wright Mills, is central to the The Intercultural Oral and Deaf History Project. After conducting interviews, research associates analyze narrators’ biographical stories and connect them to broader societal and historical contexts. This process allows for a deeper understanding of how personal experiences are shaped by larger social forces. By critically examining how identity, language, and access intersect, research associates illuminate the ways individuals resist, respond to, and influence societal structures—demonstrating Mills’ idea that personal circumstances are often rooted in public issues.
Interns and Research Associates
John Bracamontes, Intern
John is a senior majoring in sociology. He serves The IODHP in an administrative role and has studied ASL for one year.
Edie Schweigerdt, Research Associate
Edie is a sociology major who holds an A.A. degree in American Sign Language and Deaf Studies.
Auriane Teri, Research Associate
Auriane's research focuses on community health. She is in the Black Honors College inaugural cohort and plans to enter the health field.
Inaugural Research Associates
Ameil Ramirez, Elijah Williams and Sahar Ashimi (left to right)
Director, Ayanna Yonemura, Ph.D.
Dr. Yonemura is a scholar of race, culture, and public policy. She has authored of two books: Women, Wars, and Public Policies and Race, Nation, War. Dr. Yonemura teaches in the Ethnic Studies and Sociology Departments.
