Mentoring Specialty Areas: English-to-ASL
General, Post-Secondary, Business, Engineer / Mechanics
Anne Braun has been practicing interpreting in the DC/ Maryland area since 1997. She currently works in government, community, VRS and mental health settings.
Anne earned her Bachelor’s Degree in special education from Southern Connecticut State University and Master’s Degree in Deaf Education from Gallaudet University. She taught Deaf children for nine years before transitioning to interpreting. Anne was an adjunct professor in the Interpreter Training Program at Community College of Baltimore County for nine years teaching introduction to interpreting, interpreting in specialized settings and interpreting process/skills classes
Mentoring Specialty Areas: ASL to English, English-to-ASL, and ASL Language Model
General, Atypical Language
My name is Angela Wells, I was born and raised in Janesville, Wisconsin. I received my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Gallaudet University, Washington D.C. in 2006. I moved to Twin Cities, MN afterward for a job opportunity. After working as a Supervisor for a Group home and Assistant Teacher at a Daycare for a few years, I decided it was time for a change. I became a stay home mom for almost 9 years. During that time, I went back to school and received my Associate of Applied Science in Early Childhood Education and Youth Development in 2019. I am currently in the Masters Program for Sign Language Education at Gallaudet University to advance my knowledge and skills as an ASL Teacher. My experience includes teaching ASL to infants through adults in both classrooms and at homes of families with Deaf and Hard of Hearing children. Now, I am a 3rd year ASL Teacher for High school and am really loving my job.
Mentoring Specialty Areas: English-to-ASL and ASL Language Model
General, 12 Steps, Medical, Educational, and Domestic Violence Settings
Ashley Reuss graduated with BA in Social Work in 2007 and Masters in Sign Language teaching in 2011 from Gallaudet University. Ashley’s work history includes working as ASL teacher at Metro Deaf School, Occupational Employment Specialist at Minnesota Employment Center, and Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Advocate with ThinkSelf. She also provided workshops for interpreting for the 12-Steps program, Interpreting for Domestic Violence, and how to interpret for young Deaf children at medical and mental health appointments. She recently moved to Maryland and is attending McDaniel College for Masters in Deaf Education.
Ashley is passionate to work with interpreters on making a better bridge of relationship between Deaf and Hearing services. She has two fur babies she adores, Socks and Sugar. They are her whole world and she talks about them often so if you meet her, you will hear her talk about them.
Mentoring Specialty Areas: ASL-to-English and English-to-ASL
General, Post-Secondary, Business, Technology, Religious, 12 Steps
David N. Evans (he/him) is a student of the Integrated Model of Interpreting (IMI), which allows practitioners to view and analyze their work in holistic and non-evaluative terms, and is dedicated to the practice of reflective dialogue at the Etna Project: A Community of Reflective Practitioners. A nationally-certified practitioner providing ASL–English interpretation and translation services professionally since 1987, David has worked extensively in conference and platform arenas, 12-step/recovery, church/worship, performance, and a variety of community settings. David was recently the principle interpreter for a Lutheran seminary for two years, and has been one of the principle interpreters for a Deaf Lutheran church since 2014.
Mentoring Specialty Areas: ASL-to-English and DC-S
General, Medical, Post-Secondary, Business, Mental Health, Atypical Language, Engineer/Mechanics, Government Settings, and NIC Interview & Performance Exam Preparation
Henry did his interpreter training at UW-Milwaukee before moving out to Washington D.C. to work on a master’s in linguistics from Gallaudet University. During his time at Gallaudet he worked as an interpreter and also an ESL instructor for international students both at Gallaudet and in the D.C. area. He has his NIC and recently completed his QMHI in Alabama to become a qualified mental health interpreter.
Mentoring Specialty Areas: ASL-to-English and DC-S
General, Medical, Post-Secondary, Business, Technology, Mental Health, and K-12 Settings
Jasmine Marin has a Master of Science degree in Health Care Interpreting from Rochester Institute of Technology’s National Technical Institute of the Deaf. She received NIC Advanced national certification from The Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf in 2008 and was a contributing author in the textbook: Handbook of Research on Medical Interpreting. She also holds national CoreCHI certification from the Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters. Jasmine is originally from Canada but currently lives in Arizona and has been a practicing signed language interpreter for over 15 years. She is licensed and registered to practice in Arizona and Nevada. As owner of a local interpreting agency, she has worked in a variety of community settings, but is primarily a healthcare interpreter.
Mentoring Specialty Areas: English-to-ASL
I’m Jenny Smith-Hastings, I was born and raised in southern Minnesota and still live here! I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Interpretation from Gallaudet University. I am currently employed at St. Catherine University as a program specialist for the CATIE Center. My areas of specialty and focus as a mentor are in English to ASL interpreting, sign choices, register, deception, and some ASL model.
Mentoring Specialty Areas: English-to-ASL, ASL-to-English
General, Business, Human Services, Social Work
Jessica Aguilar is a native Minnesotan with a bachelor’s degree in social work and women’s studies from Gallaudet University. As a licensed social worker from 2008-2012, Jessi has done various jobs within the human services field. From 2012-2018, she was a Deaf Mentor teaching ASL to hearing families with D/HH children. In 2018, she was promoted to Lead Deaf Mentor for the MN Deaf Mentor Family Program. Jessi supported all the Deaf Mentors in their teaching skills by utilizing different tools and approaches. For three semesters, Jessi also taught ASL high school students. Currently she works for the MN Board of Social Work and has a lot of knowledge with vocabularies related to government, administration, health licensing boards, and human services.
Mentoring Specialty Areas: ASL Language Model
Michele Rolewitz was born in Moorhead, MN and raised in Fargo, ND. She attended the North Dakota School for the Deaf in Devils Lake, ND and National Technical Institute for the Deaf at Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester in Rochester, NY. Michele had Deaf grandparents, therefore learned sign language at a young age. Both her mom and dad are fluent in ASL.
Mentoring Specialty Areas: ASL Language Model
General and Government
Mike Cashman a native Minnesotan from St. Cloud. Starting at age 6, he attended a boarding school for the deaf at Faribault, MN. He spent his formative years there. Mike went on to get his B.A from Gallaudet and eventually he earned advanced degrees from the California State University at Northridge (CSUN) and the University of Minnesota –
Mentoring Specialty Areas: English-to-ASL and ASL-to-English
Hello my name is Mikey Krajnak.
Born deaf to a hearing family in Staten Island, NY. Recently retired from Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Currently living outside of Savannah, GA with husband of 14 years and enjoying free time as a freelancing CDI and mentor. I have been CDI since 2010 and did a lot of interpreting prior to the certification. I graduated from Gallaudet University in 1993 majoring in Sign Communication (which later changed to ASL Teaching). I have taught several universities in the past— Gallaudet University, NTID at RIT, Brown University, Boston University.
Mentoring Specialty Areas: English-to-ASL and ASL Language Model
General Settings and NIC Interview & Performance Exam Preparation
Nic Zapko is currently working as a Deaf Interpreter and Deaf Mentor. Starting in 2006 she began her work as Co-Facilitator and Co-Director of Storyblend with Patty Gordon. This lead Nic into the profession of the mentoring and interpreting world. Storyblend is an immersion program focusing on developing Hearing interpreters and Deaf mentors by enhancing their knowledge and building a bridge between the two worlds. In 2009, Nic worked in the Language Mentor Program at Sorenson and was promoted to full time Program Manager to provide extended training.
Mentoring Specialty Areas: English-to-ASL and ASL Language Model
General Settings, Post-Secondary, Mental Health, Atypical Language, and NIC Interview & Performance Exam Preparation
Paula is a recently returned Minnesotan native, she has lived in Charlotte, DC, San Diego, Seattle, Austin, and now Minneapolis. While she is new to mentoring interpreters, she is not new to connecting with people in many different ways. She graduated from Gallaudet with a degree in Mental Health Counseling, and her career has involved counseling, advocacy, trauma-informed advocacy and supervision, and interpreting. She currently works as a manager in the Disability Resource Center at University of Minnesota Twin Cities
Mentoring Specialty Areas: English to ASL and ASL Language Model
General
A native ASL signer, originally from Albert Lea, Minnesota, Sherri Rademacher attended California State University in Northridge and St Cloud State University for her bachelor’s degree. She received a master’s degree in education from the University of Minnesota.
Mentoring Specialty Areas: ASL Language Model
General, Medical, Government, Education, Mental Health, Performance Settings
Sunny Brysch is a Deaf Asian woman and the second generation of a Deaf family. She is proud of the Deaf generational family and the ASL she was raised with. Sunny has a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin-Superior. She also has a Master’s in Social Work from Augsburg College. Unfortunately, a career in that field has limited opportunities due to communication barriers. She returned to school for ASL Studies to earn the required credentials to pursue a career as an ASL teacher.
Available for M2E Interpreters Only
Mentoring Specialty Areas: ASL to English
General, Legal, Business, NIC Interview & Performance Exam Preparation, and Conference Settings
Tarra works as an ASL/English interpreter and has for 15 years. She’s also the current President of MRID serving her fourth year. Tarra holds holds a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice, Graduate Certificate in Legal Interpreting, Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology of Deviance, and Associate’s Degree in ASL/English Interpreting. She also presents workshops around the country on the topic of suicide, as she is a sibling survivor of suicide.
Mentoring Specialty Areas: ASL Language Model
Education, Technology, Mental Health Settings
Tracy Laneis Ivy went to the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID) at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). She’s deaf. She obtained her AAS, BA, and MS from NTID/RIT. She holds a Minnesota Licensure as an American Sign Language Instructor.
Mentoring Specialty Areas: ASL-to-English
General, Post-Secondary, Business, Technology, Religious Settings, and NIC Interview & Performance Exam Preparation
Tanesh Foster began learning ASL at the age of 13 after being fascinated with seeing interpreters at her church. Her fascination grew into a passion and when she went off to college, she decided to make interpreting her career choice. Tanesh graduated from the ITP program at the University of South Florida and began her career.
Mentoring Specialty Areas: English-to-ASL and ASL Language Model
General, Medical, Legal, Mental Health, Religious Settings, and NIC Interview & Performance Exam Preparation
Vyron Kinson lives in Atlanta, GA. Currently, he works full-time with the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) as a Communication Specialist. He also has various part-time positions: Atlanta Area School for the Deaf as an ASL Teacher, Georgia Parent Infant Network Educational Service as a Deaf Mentor, CATIE Center: Graduation to Certification Project as a Co-Facilitator and ASL Mentor; ASL Diagnostic Service LLC as owner and Deaf Interpreter and he is also a freelance Disc Jockey.