Presenter Bio

Kathy Bodewig is an Educational Interpreter for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing for the Orange County Department of Education. For over 30 years Kathy worked first worked at Taft Elementary School then moved to the secondary program where she interpreted in the middle school and high school. Because of her many years as an educational interpreting at all the different levels (K-12), she brings with her a wealth of personal experience and information pertaining to interpreting in the educational setting. Kathy has presented at many seminars throughout the United States and Canada.

Cathi Bouton

Cathi Bouton earned her M.A. in Applied Linguistics with an emphasis in American Sign Language (ASL) from the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) in 2006. She taught ASL at UAF for ten years and for the past five years has focused on the application of Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT) for teaching ASL. She is exploring avenues for applying the TBLT approach in the home school environment.

She is co-founder of Alaska Gravity Works, a recreational juggling club in Fairbanks. She loves to share her enthusiasm for juggling as an art form and the benefits of learning to juggle. She spent a short amount of time performing as a juggler before turning her pursuits to teaching ASL and creating materials for teaching ASL. Cathi is the developer and producer of Visualize ASL: Interactive Activities for Learners of American Sign Language.

Cathi holds Professional Certification from the American Sign Language Teachers Association (ASLTA) and CI and CT from Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf. She currently serves as Treasurer of the national ASLTA. She and her husband have recently relocated from Fairbanks, Alaska to Whidbey Island, Washington to play on the beach with their grandkids.

Born in Fayetteville, NC and raised in Atlanta, GA, marc graduated from Model Secondary School for the Deaf, in Washington, DC. He found his connection to the Deaf Community while attending MSSD and also stumbled upon his passion for performance arts. After graduating from high school, Marc returned to his hometown of Atlanta, GA to continue his education. He graduated from Atlanta Metropolitan College with a degree in Visual Communications. Though he fulfilled his goal of graduating from college, he still longed to pursue his passion in performing arts. This passion led him to relocated to Washington DC in 2004. Shortly after his move, he started working as a volunteer for the world renown Wild Zappers performance group. This all Deaf dance troop, led by Fred Beam, WaWa Snipes and Ronnie Bradley, had seen Marc perform at MSSD and pulled Marc from the ranks of his beginnings as a stage assistant to join the group as a performer. He began traveling around the world performing with the Wild Zappers and his featured performances, he was noticed and later hired by Quest 4 Arts where he presented mime, ASL and theatrical performances. Marc later went on to audition for the first season of So You Think You Can Dance where he made it to the fourth round of the competition in New York. He later auditioned for and landed the role of DeShawn Liberty on the Emmy-Winning show E.R. Marc’s character in the episode was that of a Deaf teenager wrongfully accused of kidnapping, drug abuse, and robbery. His performance brought accolades from the show’s director, Laura Innes. Marc made the decision to move to Los Angeles to further pursue his acting career closer to Hollywood. Marc says, things that may seem impossible to the eye are possible through “HIM” (God). Marc does not allow being Deaf to serve as an excuse for not being successful.

Darby Campbell has been working as an interpreter in the post-secondary setting since 2009 at Antelope Valley College in Lancaster, CA. As a student, she acquired two Associates Degrees in Deaf Studies: American Sign Language and Deaf Studies: Interpreter Training with which she graduated in 2010 from Antelope Valley College. She currently holds an EIPA certification, as well as Candidacy for the NIC Interview and Performance test after passing the NIC Knowledge test in December of 2010. She looks forward to obtaining a Bachelors Degree from California State University at Northridge in Linguistics and Interpreter Training in the near future.

My academic credentials include an AA in Dance, an AS in Sign Language Interpreting, and a BS in Deaf Studies from Cal State University at Northridge with a focus in performance. I also hold certification from the National Association of the Deaf and the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf. Presently, I am in the last phase of my Comprehensive Pilates Certification with Body Arts and Science Inc.

I have danced professionally for over twenty years with Ballet, Jazz, Modern, Ethnic and site-specific companies in Europe and Japan. I continue to choreograph with ASL and other foreign sign languages for my own company, Pas d'ASL, while collaborating with my husbands circuit bending music. I have taught most dance genres to adults and children with all different abilities. As a presenter, I have lead workshops and master classes in creating Dance and Poetry with ASL and my newest endeavor Pilates for Interpreters.

A few of my accomplishments I am most proud of are my scholarship to the Julliard School in NYC for theatrical interpreting on Broadway, being chosen for the National Theater of the Deaf's Actor's Academy, being a competitor and an interpreter at the National Poetry Slams for eight years and for the Paris International Poetry Slam. For fun, I have played a psycho-sign-go-go dancer with rock bands and created several rituals for the Burning Man festival. In the future, I dream to choreograph with every sign language in the world.

Dennis Davino worked for the Orange County Department of Education for 27 years in many different roles. He served as a volunteer, classroom assistant, educational interpreter, coordinator of educational interpreting services, teacher of the deaf and of the hearing, and as a consultant. In 1986, after finishing an undergraduate degree in Psychology, he was invited to be a visiting professor at Gallaudet University in Washington D. C., where he taught graduate classes in the Education Department. He also conducted a series of national seminars on Educational Interpreting with Dr. Gerilee Gustason. He was appointed as a contributing member to the National Task Force on Educational Interpreting in 1988 in Washington D.C., which generated a national report on educational interpreting services for Deaf students all over the United States. He was also the President of the C.A.I.D. Special Interest Group on Educational Interpreting from 1987 to 1990. He received a national award for Excellence in Education by the C.A.I.D. in 1991. He is still working with the U.S. Department of Education Commission reading federal grant proposals for monies for Educational Interpreter training programs. From 1995 to 2002, he served as a Special Program Assistant and also as a Lead Teacher to a Tripod-modeled and SELPA-managed Montessori pre-school program for both hearing and deaf children, ages birth to age five in South Orange County. He served the SELPA as the Educational Interpreting Services Coordinator preparing individuals for state certification. He also continues to conduct workshops and trainings for the Department of Education, The SEE Center, and universities around the United States on Educational Interpreting. He is also an international consultant and lecturer for the S.E.E. Center for the Advancement for Deaf Children. Since 2004, he has served as the full-time Director of the Teacher Preparation Program, the Educational Interpreter Training Program, and the Paraprofessional Certificate Program at Cypress College.. The Educational Interpreter Training Program is a unique program that focuses solely on preparing educational interpreters to work in K-12 regular education

Loriel Dutton hails from the District of Columbia, although she is a native of California. She is a staff interpreter/mentor coordinator at Gallaudet University and works with Deaf interpreters on a daily basis. She holds national certification (NIC) and has been interpreting professionally since 2005. She graduated with a Masters of Education in Interpreting Pedagogy from Northeastern University and a baccalaureate degree in Deaf Studies from California State University, Northridge (CSUN). Areas of expertise include mentoring interpreters, diagnostic assessment, and interpreting in science, research, and educational contexts.

Ms. Evans is a bible scholar, licensed clinical therapist and an American Sign Language Instructor, offering both Deaf/HOH and hearing communities biblical instruction for Sunday School and Bible Study classes, Deaf Education, Religious Interpreting and Etiquette, classes of how to establish Deaf ministries and Sign Language class in all levels. As she herself is Hard of Hearing (HOH), Ms. Evans is thoroughly knowledgeable of the Deaf/HOH communities. She is fluent in ASL and Sign Performance. She effortlessly bridges the gap between hearing and Deaf worlds. Ms. Evans serves as the ministry leader of her Deaf ministry at the historic Metropolitan Baptist Church in Washington, D.C.

Patrick Fischer is from several generations of fine artists and actors from Europe, and has seen many theatre productions which gave him an extensive interest in all things relating to theatre and art. These interests led Patrick to be involved in a variety of artistic positions (artist, board member, actor, director, producer, teacher, and consultant) as well as participation in a variety of performances (storytelling, poetry, emcee, skits, and comedy) all around the nation.

From Patrick's experiences and training in different aspects of theatre, he grew to enjoy sharing and passing on his exposure and knowledge. Patrick launches his theatrical business in 2005 providing various services to those who ant to learn more about theatre through deaf's eyes. When Patrick is not "working" in theatre, he teaches American Sign Language (ASL) and currently is a certified ASLTA instructor at Portland Community College under the Sign Language Studies Program and Sign Language Interpretation Program in Portland, OR. Patrick is also a professional artist and owner of a freelance design business, "Infinity Design".

Bonnie Gibson-Brydon is a professional American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter who has been working in the profession for more than thirty years. For the last twelve years she has been the Executive Director of PULA Legal Interpreting Network (www.legalinterpreting.org), and for the last three years has been acting as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Mojave Deaf Services. Bonnie is a graduate of California State University Dominguez Hills with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in English. She is also a graduate of The University of Transformational Studies and Leadership at Agape, (ALSP). Professionally, she is nationally certified by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) with a Certificate of Interpretation (CI) and a Certificate of Transliteration (CT). Additionally, she carries the NAD: Level V – Master Certification. Bonnie is currently completing an additional RID certification-- that of Specialist Certificate: Legal (SC: L). Bonnie travels the U.S. as a workshop presenter and she is an awesome mentor who is thrilled to help instill confidence in novice interpreters as well as to help them achieve a higher level of skill.

Kristine Hall was born to a Deaf family and attended California School for the Deaf in Fremont and Maryland School for the Deaf. She received her B.A. in Communication Arts at Gallaudet University. Mrs. Hall teaches Language Development of the Deaf at the North Valley Occupational Center. She is also teaches ASL full-time at Pierce College. In her spare time, Kristine enjoys cooking and traveling with her family.

Sarah Hopfer is certified NAD IV with 17 years of experience interpreting. She has had the pleasure of working in K-12, post-secondary, community freelance, and video relay environments. Currently, she resides in Antelope Valley, CA where she works with the local High School District.

Alex Jackson Nelson, B.S., NIC, is currently a M.S.W. (Master of Social Work) student, and Program Coordinator of the LGBTQA Resource Center, at Gallaudet University. He has over thirteen years of experience working in the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer/Questioning and/or Intersex (GLBTQI) community. Working as a street-based outreach worker, he provided services to homeless and at-risk youth in the Twin Cities before becoming the Interim Executive Director at District 202, a by and for youth center for GLBTQ youth and their allied friends. After his tenure at District 202, Alex worked as a Senior Policy Advocate in the public policy realm focusing on systematic change for non-profit organizations. Through ConsiderIt Communications Alex provides training and technical support to organizations around the country on GLBTQI issues and best practices in working with marginalized youth populations. Alex has been educated as a Master Trainer through a national training initiative provided by the National Association of Social Workers and Lambda Legal to improve out-of-home care for GLBTQI youth. He also works professionally as a certified American Sign Language interpreter doing community and video relay service interpreting.

Tamar Jackson Nelson, M.A., CI & CT, NIC Master, is an adjunct professor for the Department of Interpretation as well as a student in Gallaudet University’s Ph.D. in Interpretation program (pedagogy and research). Before moving back to Washington D.C., to attend Gallaudet, she worked as an adjunct professor for Saint Paul College – A Community & Technical College, in Saint Paul, Minnesota, in the Sign Language Interpreter/Transliterator program. Tamar values and enjoys presenting, and teaching, to promote growth, development, and respect of the interpreting profession. Workshop topics she has presented on include omissions, processing time, medical interpreting, ASL to English interpreting, fingerspelling, interpreting for GLBTQI consumers and others. She has had the pleasure of working as a certified community interpreter, mentor, ER on-call manager & interpreter, video remote & video relay service interpreter on both coasts. She is currently enjoying being an adjunct professor and Ph.D. student at Gallaudet and presenting various workshops at numerous continuing education venues.

Connie Loper, CDI, CLIP-R, is a Hoosierian native and has been a professional CDI for 10 years. She moved from Gallaudet Interpreting Services to California and is currently working with the Superior courts in the state of California and various settings as an independent contractor. Recently, she joined the Southern California Registry interpreters for the Deaf (SCRID) board as a Member of Large. She holds a Masters of Science degree in Deaf Education: American Sign Language Specialist from McDaniel College and a bachelor's of arts degree in TV, Film, and Photography: Theatre Arts from Gallaudet University. She brings her trainings and experiences to the "art" of team interpreting.

A native of Southern California, Matt has been an educational, freelance and video relay interpreter for more than 15 years. He is also the founder of the Inland Empire Interpreting Conference with Windell “Wink” Smith. He holds certifications from RID and ESSE, as well as a Bachelors Degree in Social Science from Chapman University and Vocational Education Teaching Credential from California State University, San Bernardino. Matt has taught ASL/Interpreting in Riverside, CA and presented ASL linguistic seminars at University of California, San Diego. He has served as lead interpreter for two separate school districts, working with and mentoring pre-certified educational interpreters. Matt is a veteran of Keith Wann’s ASL Comedy Tour. He also works as a mobile DJ. He has recently been interpreting for some of the biggest names in rap, alternative and heavy metal music. Matt is married to an extremely talented and beautiful wife and a father of two unnecessarily adorable children.

Cole McCandless has a Deaf twin brother and has been signing his entire life. He has earned a Bachelors of Arts degree in Deaf Studies at California State University Northridge and has earned four Associates of Arts degrees from Antelope Valley College two of which are Deaf studies related. Cole is a dedicated interpreter who has excellent skills and a strong desire to work within the Deaf community. He has taken and passed both the knowledge and performance portions of the Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA). Currently Cole works as an interpreter for California State University Northridge and at Antelope Valley College.

Jayna Nastally, M.A. began interpreting 20 years ago in the k-12 setting. She earned a B.A. in Deaf Studies and a Master's in Deaf Education from CSUN. For the last eight years, she has been a teacher for the deaf and hard of hearing covering 3 year olds to 8th grade.

Carol Nickens is the Founder & President of “Official Interpreters”. Pioneering an exciting network membership organization uniting spoken and sign interpreters of all languages, and affiliates; Providing new certification, and dynamic tools every interpreter should employ. Author of “The History of American Sign Language”. 2008. Primary court interpreter. Freelance terp, mentor, advocate, I.T.P., Educator. C.O.D.A., S.O.D.A., N.O.D.A., I.O.D.A., W.O.H.A., MOM, MIMA, C.A.S.A. A.A., B.A., C.S.C., SC:L, C.C.A.S.D.: Master/Legal, N.I.C., O.I.M.C.

Bill Rennie is a well known ASL Instructor, interpreter trainer and deaf performer. He is the owner of the Sign Language Factory, which hosts a variety of ASL workshops and silent weekends throughout the year. He also does a one-man comedy show called "Nobody Famous!", which he has performed all over the United States. Please visit his website at www.SignLanguageFactory.net.

Born Deaf to a large family using Spanish, English and eventually, ASL. Attended a high school where the Deaf were required to take Spanish. Earned BA degree in French and Mathematics and Gallaudet University and masters degree in French and Spanish at George Mason University. 30 hours of doctoral studies at University of Maryland, concentrating in Spanish and French literature and as second languages. Instructed written French and Spanish at Gallaudet University for eleven years and also taught French Sign Language (LSF) there. In Paris, interned at a regional institute for the Deaf and earned 240 hours of LSF linguistics, language and culture at Academie de la Langue des signes Francaise, a Deaf-run academy in Paris. 40 hours of Spanish Sign Language (LSE) in Toledo, Spain. Experience as an Interpreter for the Deaf-Blind, relay and minimal language skills interpreter and International Sign interpreter. Conducted filmed interviews over three months in Mexico, Costa Rica and Argentina, using respective sign languages and translated the interviews into Spanish. Worked with the Japanese Deaf at deaf-related venues, learned some Japanese, Japanese Sign Language and its history. Resided with Deaf hosts in Japan, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Spain Mexico, Costa Rica, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Argentina, Uruguay, and Chile. His website is www.vislangconcepts.com.

Duane Rumsey teaches in the Interpreter Training Program at Antelope Valley College where he is also the co-chair of the Deaf Studies Department. Mr. Rumsey has been the chairperson for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Advisory Group to the California Community College Chancellor’s Office since 2010. He is also on the Board of Directors at the California Home for the Adult Deaf. Mr. Rumsey has also taught several training courses related to the ESSE, EIPA and NIC certifications.

Hilari Scarl is an award-winning director of the feature film SEE WHAT I'M SAYING: THE DEAF ENTERTAINERS DOCUMENTARY which has screened in 152 cities in 15 countries, received the Critics' Pick in the New York Times and awards from around the world. Originating from a theatre background in New York, Hilari received a scholarship to study at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy after receiving her BA in Theatre. She appeared in over 75 theater productions across the country, as well as performing with professional improvisation and sketch comedy groups in New York, Atlanta and Los Angeles. Hilari toured with the National Theatre of the Deaf as a professional voicing actress and performed with an extraordinary cast of deaf actors who inspired SEE WHAT I’M SAYING. Hilari has worked with the deaf community since college as a director, performer and educator and is fluent in American Sign Language. http://www.HilariScarl.com

Juti Seshie, PhD works as a Sign Language interpreter in the Superior and Federal Courts and has for 35 years. Juti has been interpreting for 45 years in the Deaf Community, with Sign Language as her First Language, growing up with parents who were Deaf, she has always been greatly involved in the Deaf and Deaf-Blind communities. Juti has taught ASL in the community for over 30 years and holds a lifetime teaching certification through the California Community Colleges. She also has the California Credentials Basic Educational Skills Test (C-BEST) on file at the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Juti holds multiple degrees, Masters of Science in Counseling, Bachelors of Science in Human Services, and a Ph.D. in the Philosophy of Religion. Juti served on the RID PDC committee 2009-2011, PDC Chair for SCRID 2009-2011 and is currently the SCRID Vice President.

Carol Turner is an Educational Interpreter for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing for the Orange County Department of Education. Carol has been interpreting in a mainstream program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing for over 36 years. She has conducted seminars nationally and internationally on interpreting in the educational setting and on learning sign language. Because of her many years of personal experience in all aspects of educational interpreting, she has much to offer to those who want to be the best service providers possible. Carol also teaches classes at Cypress Community College.

John Yingst is an adjunct instructor of Advanced American Sign Language classes at Golden West College and Santiago Canyon College/Santa Ana College. He also teaches Deaf Culture at GWC. He is also a Lab Technician at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Anaheim. He has a BA degree in Biology at Gallaudet University. He has a wife, Sylvia and two Deaf grown-up children. Both children are married and their Deaf spouses are from New York City and Alabama. We enjoy sharing and learning their geographical signs. Both he and his wife have taught the Annual Summer ASL workshops in Orange County since 1990. John has also taught several workshops at the National Sign Language & Interpreting Conference. He has been a board member and committee member for several Deaf community organizations including WRAD, Catholic Deaf Community and Orange County Deaf Church.

Sylvia Yingst is currently an adjunct instructor for the American Sign Language classes at three different community colleges: Golden West College, Santa Ana College and Cerritos College. She has a B.A. degree in Human Services at California State University in Fullerton, CA. She and her husband, John, have been hosting an Annual ASL workshop in the summers for over 20 years. Sylvia has also taught several workshops at the National Sign Language & Interpreting Conference. Her husband is also teaching ASL classes. She is the mother of two grown-up children plus their Deaf spouses. She is actively involved in a Deaf church.

ESTHER G. ZAWOLKOW, Co-founder of the SEE Center f/t Advancement of Deaf Children, Co-author of Signing Exact English (SEE). In the late '60's was hired as one of the first full time interpreters in a public mainstreamed program (middle school and later high school) for the D/HH. Being a CODA was the reason for being hired because of fluency in sign language, but knew nothing about interpreting in the educational setting. That was the beginnings of a journey that lead down many different paths pertaining to interpreting and the field of deafness. Because of the newness of interpreting at the K-12 level, no workshops pertaining to this level were available at that time. This lead to many firsts---such as speaking at the 1st RID Convention (1970) in Delavan, WI. Much had to be done at establishing job descriptions, pay scales, the role and responsibility of the interpreter, location of interpreter and students in the classroom, interpreter relationships with the mainstreamed teacher and the rest of the faculty, as well as relationship with the students, etc., etc. Developed the first evaluation tool (ESSE) for assessing sign language skills for both teachers of the D/HH and Interpreters working in the Educational Setting which is now accepted for certifying Educational Interpreters in several states. Worked with the National Task Force on establishing the Role and Responsibilities of the Educational Interpreter. Conducts workshops, seminars, and training pertaining to sign language and educational interpreting both nationally and internationally. Presently is President of Modern Signs Press, Inc., publisher of sign language materials, co-director of the SEE Center f/t Advancement of Deaf Children and teaching SEE classes at Cypress College for over 30 years.