About Me

I am a graduate research assistant at the NTID Research Center on Culture and Language where I lead Rochester data collection and analysis for the development of assestment tools for screening dementia and Alzheimer's disease in older deaf adults. I obtained my Bachelor of Science in Public Policy with a focus on public management and governance and a minor in Global Public Health from the Rochester Institute of Technology. I am a current graduate student at the Rochester Institute of Technology pursuing a Master of Business Adminstration with an emphasis on data management and analytics.

With my public policy and business background, I am interested in how education systems can be better operationalized under constraints to improve student outcomes and accountability for deaf and hard of hearing students in the United States. I bring a unique perspective to my research as a deaf individual who has navigated the education system with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) and has experienced the resource disparities that exist in the education system between deaf schools and mainstream schools. I am passionate about connecting education research to policy and practice to improve the educational experiences and outcomes for deaf and hard of hearing students. Let's connect! I am always open to collaborating on research projects, sharing ideas, and learning from others in the field of education policy and practice. Please feel free to reach out to me via email or connect with me on LinkedIn.

Research

Through my research, I hope to inform policy decisions surrounding IEPs, resource allocation, and accountability measures for deaf and hard of hearing students in the United States. As a researcher, I hope to contribute to the development of rigorous and culturally appropriate assestment tools for deaf and hard of hearing indiviudals and support the advancement of deaf education policy and practice.

Research Interests: Deaf Education Policy, Students Outcomes, Accountability, Assestment

News

• July 2026: Paper got published! "We Don't Have Access to the Village": Barriers and Facilitators to Optimal Parenting Experiences Among Deaf Parents - - European Journal of Invetigation in Health, Psychology and Education, 2026

Bio

Emma Kane holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Policy with a focus on public management and governance and a minor in Global Public Health from the Rochester Institute of Technology. She is currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration with an emphasis on data management and analytics at the Rochester Institute of Technology.

She is a graduate research assistant at the NTID Research Center on Culture and Langauge where she leads Rochester-based data collection and analysis for the development of assestment tools for screening dementia and Alzheimer's disease in older deaf adults. Prior to her current role, she worked as a research assistant at the Deaf Health Care and Biomedical Science Hub research lab at the Rochester Institute of Technology where she conducted research on the health disparities and healthcare access for deaf and hard of hearing individuals in the United States. Emma also has experience in engaging with the deaf community through her work as a Cross-Registered Senator in the RIT Student Government, as an Orientation Supervisor, and as a ZeeMee influencer with the RIT Admissions Office.

Her current research interests include deaf education policy, student outcomes, accountability models, and strengthening the connection between research and practice in the field of deaf education. She is passionate about improving the educational experiences and outcomes for deaf and hard of hearing students in the United States.

CV & Resume