Debra Hast is currently the American Sign Language (ASL) Coordinator at the University of Pittsburgh. She started as part-time instructor and was hired in early 2001 to set up the American Sign Language Certificate program. She earned her Master of Education in Deaf Education from the University of Pittsburgh in 1999. Since accepting the position as the American Sign Language Coordinator, she has been developing and teaching for American Sign Language program and has been an active member in the Deaf community in Pittsburgh.