Petra Rose, 35, was the first totally deaf woman to receive a Ph.D. in sociology at USU's graduate commencement exercises on Friday, May 5, 2000. In fact, she may well be the first person in the United States to accomplish this goal, according to one of Rose's greatest admirers, Anne Butler, a history professor with a reputation for professional excellence.
Unlike most deaf people who pursue higher education in communicative disorders, Rose avoided this topic. She chose sociology instead because she is more interested in the cultural aspects of deafness.
"I can study more deaf culture, the people, their lives," she said, "making hearing people more aware of deaf culture."
Even with her most recent accomplishment, earning a doctorate degree is just the beginning for Rose, who has already secured a job as an assistant professor at the University of Utah. She will teach American Sign Language to new teachers and continue research on the cultural identity of deaf people as they are connected to the hearing world.
Rose was born to two deaf parents and shares the same gene with her husband, Ricky. He, too, is earning a degree from USU this weekend, a bachelor's in social work. Only one of their three children is deaf. In describing the silence, Rose said, "It's interesting to be born deaf, fine, we just go along."
Although Rose and her youngest child, Renate, are good candidates for cochlear implants which could help them hear and speak, she is not interested in the surgery which she said could cause more problems than solutions. They have no desire to become "poor imitations of hearing people."
"If I had a cochlear implant or became oral, then my communication with my hearing children would become superficial," she said. "It's very problematic to be hard of hearing. You always feel alone in a hearing world. It makes you want to join their world, but it's hard to join their world, you just miss a lot of the communication."
Rose said she is comfortable with herself and her ability to interact with others. The visual images provide a rich world and she enjoys sounds through feeling. Rose said she isn't hung up about being deaf and she really doesn't expect anyone else to be. Her advice to others is accept who you are, feel good about yourself and go on with your life.
"I can do whatever I know I can do," she said.
Unlike most deaf people who pursue higher education in communicative disorders, Rose avoided this topic. She chose sociology instead because she is more interested in the cultural aspects of deafness.
"I can study more deaf culture, the people, their lives," she said, "making hearing people more aware of deaf culture."
Even with her most recent accomplishment, earning a doctorate degree is just the beginning for Rose, who has already secured a job as an assistant professor at the University of Utah. She will teach American Sign Language to new teachers and continue research on the cultural identity of deaf people as they are connected to the hearing world.
Rose was born to two deaf parents and shares the same gene with her husband, Ricky. He, too, is earning a degree from USU this weekend, a bachelor's in social work. Only one of their three children is deaf. In describing the silence, Rose said, "It's interesting to be born deaf, fine, we just go along."
Although Rose and her youngest child, Renate, are good candidates for cochlear implants which could help them hear and speak, she is not interested in the surgery which she said could cause more problems than solutions. They have no desire to become "poor imitations of hearing people."
"If I had a cochlear implant or became oral, then my communication with my hearing children would become superficial," she said. "It's very problematic to be hard of hearing. You always feel alone in a hearing world. It makes you want to join their world, but it's hard to join their world, you just miss a lot of the communication."
Rose said she is comfortable with herself and her ability to interact with others. The visual images provide a rich world and she enjoys sounds through feeling. Rose said she isn't hung up about being deaf and she really doesn't expect anyone else to be. Her advice to others is accept who you are, feel good about yourself and go on with your life.
"I can do whatever I know I can do," she said.
