2026 National Conference Presenter Bios - National Association of Interpreters in Education

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National Association of Interpreters in Education

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Home
About NAIE
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News
Resources
- Resource Center
- Professional Standards
Contact Us
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- Dues
- FAQs
- Join Now!

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July 13-16, 2026
University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV)
4505 Maryland Parkway Las Vegas, Nevada, 89154

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Susan Brown, M.Ed., Ed:K-12, recently retired from the University of Northern Colorado ASL & Interpreting Studies department where she served for 18 years in the capacity of Administrative Coordinator, Project Director, and Adjunct Faculty. Ms. Brown’s primary focus with the department was in the area of interpreting in K12. She has engaged in the field of educational interpreting as a practitioner, researcher, curriculum developer, author, and local and national presenter. Her resolute passion has been identifying, practicing, and educating others regarding best practices for interpreting in an educational environment. Additionally, Ms. Brown served as the Steering Committee Chair for the development of the NAIE and served as Board President from 2016-2019. Most recently, Susan was the recipient of the Colorado Division for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Deafblind, awarding her the 2025 Susan J. Elliott Award.

Whitney Renee Weirick, PhD (she/her) is a nationally certified interpreter and proud community college transfer student, parent and partner. She has interpreted for students of every age and grade level from pre-k to PhD. As a practitioner-researcher, Dr. Weirick (“WHY-Rick”) is focused on advancing educational equity for Deaf and hard of hearing K-12 students through critical examinations of how educational leadership and policy interact to help or hinder the professionalization of ASL interpreting in schools. Her research explores interpreter supervision and coaching models that better center the needs of diverse Deaf students. Dr. Weirick’s work as an interpreter, educator and scholar is firmly rooted in respect for Deaf Communities at home and abroad. As a Mestiza person of mixed ancestry (Irish/English, Indigenous/Mexican/Spanish), she seeks to recruit and welcome more linguistically and culturally diverse people into the ASL interpreting profession to better represent the communities we serve.

Erin Seipke-Brown, M.A., RID NIC/Ed:K-12, BEI Advanced, is an interpreter, educator, and national presenter with extensive experience in K–12 educational settings, including nearly two decades in the Oakland County Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) center program. She previously served as Lead Interpreter and as union president for the Bloomfield Hills Association of Interpreters and Interveners. Erin also contributed to the OPTIMISE action team for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education. She holds a Master’s degree in Interpreting Studies, along with graduate certificates in Educational Interpreting and Teaching Interpreting from Western Oregon University. Erin is actively engaged as a mentor, coach, and consultant, supporting professionals across the field of educational interpreting.

Dr. Renee Sunday, M.D. is an educator, consultant, and national speaker with more than 25 years of experience in high responsibility, service-centered environments. She brings a deep understanding of the cognitive, emotional, and communication demands faced by educational interpreters supporting deaf and hard of hearing students in mainstream PK–12 classrooms. Her background includes working with professionals who must maintain sustained focus, manage emotional labor, and make rapid decisions while serving others. Stress awareness, fatigue management, and burnout prevention are central themes in her teaching, with a strong emphasis on practical strategies that respect both professional boundaries and personal wellbeing.

Dr. Suzette Garay- is Deaf and a third generational Latine from South America, Nicaragua. She holds the following degrees: BA, MA. PSY.S, and a Ph.D. Her major areas of studies are Special Education with an emphasis on Deafness and Learning Disabilities, Psychology, and teaching of American Sign Language. Dr. Garay’s resume includes the following qualifications: 25+ years of direct teaching, evaluating, and mentoring with Special Education students, ASL/Interpreter students, and working with nationally-certified interpreters.

Joseph (LJ) Williams, originally from Detroit MI, is a Black Deaf And person, who is also Blind and has CP. He has worked in Michigan for several years as a Deaf Interpreter and Mentor in various school settings for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing students. Most recently, he has worked as a Case Manager for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing consumers in Orlando, Florida. His professional work and personal experience as a Deaf And person (Deafblind and CP) have given him access to working as a Deaf interpreter and sharing his lived experiences of using interpreters and addressing concerns that specifically come up from the “user’s point of view” for interpreters to consider when providing access. LJ lives in Arizona, and when not working, he enjoys spending time with his wife and family.

Klijah Mitchell is a nationally certified ASL interpreter, mentor, and educator dedicated to developing ethical, confident, and self-aware interpreters. He is the creator of the DIDIT Interpreter Development Program, supporting interpreters through critical listening, real-world application, and feedback-driven practice. With experience across K–12, community, and professional settings, Klijah emphasizes communication flow, advocacy, and ethical decision-making within school systems. His work centers inclusion, access, and multicultural understanding, recognizing how identity and culture shape educational environments. Klijah holds NIC, EIPA 4.0+, and VQAS I–III, and is a member of the BEACON Interpreting Academy.

Rosemary Wanis (she/her/hers) is a Deaf immigrant from Egypt and is a Deaf interpreter/translator since 2005. Her lived experiences have led to her to become a Deaf Interpreter trainer, interpreter educator, and researcher to shed light on the work of DIs in K12 settings. Rosemary currently lives in Central California while she teaches, interprets primarily in legal settings, and serves as Secretary of the RID Board of Directors.

Jerrin George (they/them/theirs) is a Deaf interpreter and translator with more than a decade of professional experience. Their work includes educational contexts supporting Deaf, DeafBlind, and DeafDisabled students, including Deaf multilingual learners. Jerrin centers Deaf-led and Deaf-centered approaches to interpreting and currently works as an independent practitioner based in Washington, DC.

Angela holds National Intervener Certification for work with students who are DeafBlind and 26 years of experience supporting students from preschool through high school, ensuring accessibility in after school programs, performances, workshops, conferences, and camps. She also taught ASL at the community college level for 10 years.

Yael Herbstman is a nationally certified interpreter and mentor with over 15 years of experience as a signed language interpreter. She has her Master's in Interpreting Pedagogy and is currently pursuing her Ed.D. in Adult Education. Her career has taken her into a wide range of settings, including education, community, government, VRS, theatrical, post-secondary, and many more. Yael's passion lies in uncovering the meaning beneath the words and helping others do the same. When she's not interpreting or teaching/mentoring, Yael enjoys spending time with her family, watching movies, and crocheting.

Megan M. Seipke-Dame, M.A., RID NIC/Ed:K-12, BEI Advanced, is an interpreter, educator, and national presenter specializing in K–12 education, with nearly two decades of experience working in the Oakland County Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) center program. She currently serves as an Interpreter Coordinator and is Michigan’s State Ambassador for the National Association of Interpreters in Education. Megan served on the OPTIMISE action team for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education and holds a Master’s degree in Interpreting Studies, along with graduate certificates in Educational Interpreting and Teaching Interpreting from Western Oregon University. She is an active mentor, coach, and consultant supporting stakeholders in educational interpreting.

Tia Ivanko, M.S., NIC, ADAC, is Co-Director of the National Deaf Center on Postsecondary Outcomes. With over 25 years of experience as an interpreter, educator, and accessibility professional, she is committed to strengthening programs, policies, and practices that shape access and opportunity for deaf communities. At NDC, she leads national efforts focused on improving educational outcomes for deaf people by capacity-building and providing timely professional development. Known for her practical, people-centered approach, Tia works alongside deaf people to improve systems serving deaf communities.

Dr. Lisa Godfrey is a nationally certified interpreter holding CI, CT, and Ed:K–12 credentials. She is also ASLTA Certified at the Master level and a recognized Master Mentor. With 35 years of experience as a professional interpreter and 28 years of teaching experience at both the secondary and post-secondary levels, Dr. Godfrey brings a wealth of knowledge and leadership to the field of American Sign Language and interpreting education. Currently, Dr. Godfrey serves as the Coordinator for the Educational Interpreter Professional Learning Program under the Georgia Department of Education, where she supports the professional growth and licensure pathways of interpreters working in K–12 educational settings across the state.

Shane Blau is a hearing researcher and interpreter whose work explores the science of language acquisition. He received his PhD in Linguistics from Gallaudet (2023) and aims to apply research to support early language access and rights for all Deaf individuals.

Passionate about accessibility, inclusion, and collaboration, Amanda Kennon (she/her), MA, NIC, VQAS CLT I, wears many hats as an ASL-English interpreter, Cued Language Transliterator, mentor, educator, consultant, writer, parent-advocate, and ally. She graduated from Maryville College with a B.A. in Sign Language Interpreting & ASL/Deaf Studies, then completed her M.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies at George Mason University, pursuing an individualized program focused on ethics and interpreting. With nearly two decades of experience, Amanda has worked in various settings as a staff and freelance interpreter; served on an affiliate chapter board; published in the VIEWS; and presented locally and nationally. In collaboration with Dr. Laura Polhemus, she provided interpreter training in Singapore and is engaged with innovative research to explore neurodiversity in the interpreting profession. To learn more about their work, visit @SLIneurodiversity on FB/IG.

Patrice Creamer is a native ASL signer who served as the ASL specialist for the Family ASL Project. She has extensive experience with Deaf-related research, served as project director on projects at the National Developmental & Research Institute, and has worked as an interpreter and ASL director.

Kim is a speech-language pathologist (SLP) who has experience working at a school for the deaf, as well as presenting and publishing on topics related to language acquisition, bilingualism, and language deprivation. She earned her B.A. in Psychology and in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Vermont in 2010, her M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology from Gallaudet University in 2012, and her Doctor of Speech-Language Pathology (SLPD) in 2022. She is a board-certified specialist in child language (BCS-CL) through the American Board of Child Language and Language Disorders and is co-founder of the American Board of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Specialists (ABDHHS).

Mission Statement

The National Association of Interpreters in Education (NAIE) develops and promotes effective practices to empower current and future interpreters from varied backgrounds to meet the individual needs of the full spectrum of deaf* students in educational settings.

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