2018 Student Organizers
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Hampshire College
Brianna Bryse Deane
Brianna Deane is a hearing student at Hampshire College studying public health through outreach education. She began studying American Sign Language out of a love for learning languages and now continues to learn American Sign Language to increase accessibility through multiple modes of communication. This is her second year as an organizer for DEAFinitions: A Deaf Studies Conference.
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Julia Kersten
Julia Kersten is a hearing student concentrating in psycholinguistics at Hampshire College. Learning American Sign Language has been Julia's primary influence in investigating how the human brain processes a visual language. Julia is incredibly grateful to be part of an event that shares and celebrates Deaf culture and is devoted to making this conference a tradition to the Five College Consortium.
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UMass Amherst
Oneda Lalaj
Oneda Lalaj is a hearing student in her junior year at UMASS Amherst. She is studying Communication Disorders and Education. At an early age she was fascinated and fell in love with exploring American Sign Language.
She wants to expand her knowledge about the Deaf Community and the beauty of ASL and is excited to join the DEAFinitions team!
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Kathryn Tweedie
Kathryn Tweedie is a hearing student in her junior year at UMass Amherst. She is studying Psychology and Communication Disorders and is in her first semester of ASL. She adores working with people and aspires to help increase communications between people of all different backgrounds. Kathryn joined the DEAFinitions conference for her deep respect of Deaf Culture and her love of American Sign Language.
Smith College
Sophia Breitag
Sophia Breitag is a hearing student majoring in Psychology at Smith College. She first studied American Sign Language at the University of Minnesota and is now so thankful to be involved in wonderful Deaf events and ASL classes out East. Sophia loves learning about the social justice aspects of Deaf culture and understanding more people's lived experiences through all forms of communication.
