2019 Presenters

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• Stephanie Hakulin

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Stephanie Hakulin is a president of MSAD. I currently works as a Family Partner at Walden School ( TLC). I have been involved in other organizations/advocacy such as President of deaf women of mass, deaf people of color and more. I also am deaf interpreter as well. I have two lovely kids and love sports! 

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• Patti Durr

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Patti Durr is an Associate Professor at NTID, where she teaches Deaf Cultural Studies. Her areas of interest are artistic and literary expressions of Deaf experiences and Deaf people during World War II.  

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• Dana Hoover

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​Dana Hoover is currently Adjunct Assistant Professor of American Sign Language at Hampshire College.  She holds two Master’s Degrees: Deaf Education and Community Counseling Psychology. With passion and enthusiastic, Dana enjoys engaging with students to become allies for the Deaf community.

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• Hayden Kristal

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Hayden Kristal (They/them/theirs) is a Deaf, bisexual, Jewish, queer activist and stand-up comedian. Living their life at the intersection of multiple marginalized identities led them to a career as a professional speaker exploring the intersections of disability, gender, sexuality, particularly within the spheres of activism and social justice. They have brought their funny, engaging, and interactive workshops and speeches to dozens of conferences and schools all across North America.

 

• Jesse Stanley

 

Jesse Stanley is DeafBlind and has been doing workshops for a few years to expose and educate people about DeafBlindhood. He has also been teaching ProTactile workshops to teach people that work with DeafBlind the importance of touch and how to communicate using it. He runs an ASL immersion camp in RI for adults, and has been working on including more DeafBlind in the camp. He works at the American School for the Deaf in West Hartford, CT, and also runs a small business.

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• Dr. Carrie Solomon

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Dr. Caroline Solomon, a professor of Biology at Gallaudet University, who does research in the area of environmental and climate change science.  In this role, she was invited to speak at the 2017 National March for Science in Washington DC and has often been called upon to represent the deaf STEM community.  Dr. Solomon’s current research in aquatic ecology investigates how nutrient (especially nitrogen) dynamics influences the composition and role of the microbial community in the Anacostia River, Washington DC.  

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• Stephanie Reynolds-King

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Stephanie Reynolds-King –Stephanie work as the coordinator of the DSP program for four years. Stephanie holds master’s degree in Human Service. Stephanie is an advocate when it comes to the survivors rights, and she does her best to be sure the other agencies learns about equality when it comes to communication. While not working, Stephanie loves to spend time with two dogs, four children and two grandchildren.  Stephanie loves to go to the beach, even in the winter.

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• Rye Zemelsky (Panel Facilitator)

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Rye Zemelsky, NIC-A, is currently an ASL teacher at Paulo Freire Social Justice Charter School in Holyoke MA.  She believes in empowering her students to be strong confident young adults, especially as hearing allies. She lives in Northampton, MA with her wife and two young kids, ages 4 and 1.

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• Samantha Kistner

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​Samantha Kistner is the Cultural Broker at Our Deaf Survivors Center. The Cultural Broker is a fluent signer of ASL who is available to help create linguistic and culturally affirmative accessibility within sexual and domestic violence programs, law enforcement, hospitals, the criminal justice system, and other victim service providers and agencies.

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• Melissa Kate

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​​Melissa Kate Adams Silva was born and raised in Vermont as the only Deaf community member for miles. Melissa attended RIT/NTID for both her Bachelors of Fine Arts and her Masters in Deaf Education.  She has worked in various schools throughout the US as a Teacher of the Deaf, Art teacher and as an ASL instructor. Melissa is currently back in Vermont to raise her four children, whom are all homeschooled, with her husband whom is also Deaf.  They enjoy Art, teaching others ASL, traveling, the outdoors and Disc Golf together. Making connections, meeting people, and growing the love for all things is another passion of Melissa’s.

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