Sara Evans

I've been blessed to have an incredible support system throughout my journey. The Whitworths in Georgia, at the Georgia School for the Deaf, were my very first instructors to learn sign language, and they saw in me what I didn't see in myself. I actually argued with Jim Whitworth about whether I was going to go into anything deaf-related, insisting that wasn't my path, but he told me, no, this is what you have to do. Throughout my career, I've had people placed in my path who said, you can do this, and supported me in ways that allowed me to grow. I've also been fortunate to have an amazing tribe here in Knoxville and a patient partner who embraces this deaf world with me. I remained single for most of my life because I was very selective about who I brought into this community, and now at this stage when I'm doing so much, I have friends from all ages and walks of life who have embraced the deaf world alongside me. My mother, Ethel Evans, was also a huge influence. She was a three-time breast cancer survivor, tough and strong, but also incredibly generous. She wasn't a subservient wife or mother, she was equal, and I didn't realize until I was an adult how much of her tenacity and strength I had in me. She taught me not to let men intimidate me or tell me I couldn't have a role I wanted.

The best career advice she ever received came from early instructors who encouraged her to pursue work with the Deaf community after recognizing her potential, along with the personal reminder to “know who you are” and trust that identity without questioning it.

My first response to anybody coming into this amazing community and culture, whether as an interpreter or educator, is you have to be in the community. You can't just be in a classroom learning theories. You've got to get out there, because these are the people you're working with, and there's a huge cultural aspect to this job. If we don't know that, understand that, and respect that, we're not going to be doing our best in whatever profession we choose in this community. It's truly an honor to be welcomed into this community, so you need to know your place and have the proper perspective of who we are as hearing people in the deaf world. I recognize that I have hearing privilege, and I always want to use that privilege to elevate the deaf experience and open doors. I don't need to be the leader in anything. If I'm in a leadership role, it's to bring in deaf voices and deaf representation. It should never be about me. And remember, you know better, you do better. We're all going to make mistakes, but we can't beat ourselves up for it. Look at your intent versus your impact, and when your intentions were right but your actions were wrong, learn from it and grow.

The biggest challenges and opportunities in her field include improving authentic Deaf representation and language access, using hearing privilege responsibly to create opportunities for Deaf individuals, and navigating the gap between intent and impact when working within marginalized communities.

The values most important to her in both work and personal life include respect, humility, community, kindness, tenacity, and integrity, along with a commitment to using her privilege to elevate and support others.