George "Butch" Zein, an avid globe trotter who had lived in Tokyo for a year serving as ASL instructor/consultant with the Japan American Sign Language (ASL) Society and went on a solo travel around the world for a year visiting Southeast Asia, India, Africa, and Europe.

His 15+ professional highlights began in California starting off as a Linguistic Research Assistant at the famed Salk Institute studying how human brain acquires ASL and ended up working in upper management for non-profit organization and corporate environment with Deaf Community Services of San Diego, Inc., Deaf Counseling, Advocacy, & Referral Agency, Sprint, MCI, CSDVRS, and a brief stint with Convo. He is a proud founding board member of Deafhood Foundation, and since leaving the board, he has provided classes and workshops about Deafhood for the past 8 years.

He is married to his best friend/ally Allen Baki, a devoted son of Deaf mom, Rosemary Stapp Mcgaugh, proud bother of Deaf sister Risa Lewis and a beaming uncle of 3 beautiful Deaf children, Marika, Karita, and Rory Lewis. Thanks to Risa and Robert for continuing the long line (six generations) of Deaf lineage (for me)!

Chriz has engaged within the Deaf ecosystem through many work and volunteer roles whether that be community-engagement, advocacy, education, counseling, and consulting for over 25+ years. She has been with Deafhood Foundation since 2008, helping the organization gain nonprofit status, manage Donor care, coordinate class/workshops events, and now provides nonprofit management and leadership consultation.

DeAnna Swope is a community advocate at heart and has been involved in different fields. She is on several boards and is currently an interpreter mentor for NAOBI-Atlanta. She is currently working as a program director of BRIDGES, a Deaf-led domestic violence program in GA. DeAnna has obtained BA in social and criminal justice and MA in public administration. She is a happily married mother of 5 children.

My name is Elvia Guillermo Aguilar, I moved to Washington, D.C. from Mexico in 1999 to get a better education and life. I came from deaf parents, a deaf brother, and two CODA siblings.  I did not have an interpreting service in Mexico, thanks to my CODAS siblings for interpreting for my deaf brother and me for nine years from elementary school to preparatory school. Without my siblings, I will not be here at Gallaudet University as a Latina woman career professional.

I received my Master’s degree in Administration and Supervision from Gallaudet University, Washington, D.C., and I received my Bachelor’s in Computer Information Systems from El Centro Universitario Guadalajara Lamar in Guadalajara, Mexico.

I am a manager for Intercultural Allainces within the Division of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (DEDI). I am responsible for providing conceptual and administrative leadership in the development, implementation, and maintenance of Division-wide efforts designed to strengthen intercultural competency, cross-cultural communication, restorative practices, and overall community belonging. I also provide presentations, workshops and training on topics of diversity and social justice. 

I was a co-founder of the Latino Deaf and Hard of Hearing Association of the Metropolitan DC Area, Inc. I was the vice-president of this organization from 2005 to 2008. I was also the President of the National Council of Hispano Deaf and Hard of Hearing (now Council de Manos) from January 2013 to Jan 2015. I was vice-president from 2008 – 2012. I was the Treasurer of Deaf Women United from September  2017 to February 15, 2019. I was Vice-President of the Organization for Equity of Deaf Staff of Color (OEDSOC) at Gallaudet University. I am Treasurer of the District of Colombia Association of the Deaf. 

In my spare time, I enjoy reading, painting, watching movies, kayaking,  hiking, and biking to explore the beautiful DC community. I also like going to restaurants and spending time with my friends and enjoy a good conversation.

Dr. Jenny Margarita Gough (Contreras), BA, MA, and Ed.D,  is a Deaf Person of Color (DPOC) from El Salvador with Maya, Chippewa, Lenca, Mangue, and Pipil heritage. Dr Gough is department chair and professor of American Sign Language at Berkeley City College and Vice-President of the Conference for Interpreter Trainers. She participated in Deaf Interpreter Education and Professional Development Training for Deaf Interpreters of Color and Trilinguals and the California Manos del Corazon (CMC) organization, and is a member of Mano a Mano  and the Northern California Association of the DeafBlind. She is currently training for DeafBlind Interpreting.

Marvin T. Miller has taught over 1,000 hours of Deafhood classes, which began during his term as president of the Indiana Association of the Deaf in January 2011. A dynamic and powerful presenter, Marvin currently teaches Deafhood 101 and 201 classes as well as Deafhood and Allies workshops for sign language interpreters all over the country. His prior accomplishments include launching several monthly newspaper of, for and by the Deaf and signing community including: The Deaf Michigander and DeafNation (www.deafnation.com); he later helped launch SignNews with Communication Services for the Deaf. Marvin has worked in media, video relay service and he has consulted with organizations on business development. He is a founding board-member of Deafhood Foundation. He has a Masters degree in Sign language Education from Gallaudet University. Marvin lives in his 2001 Fleetwood Discovery 27U full-time, traveling int he West. He is currently writing his second book, "Our Deafhood Journey," and editing his first book, "Deafhood and the Art of RV Maintenance". His four Deaf children join him when they are off from their work or on a break from Gallaudet University.

Melvin Patterson is a gentleman, ambitious man and proud to be a member of the Deaf Community. He is a national speaker for over 30 years. His political-related involvement in Deaf Community helped him to build a wide range of experience and knowledge on different subjects.

Bio coming soon.

Raymond Bateh has been the ASL program lead at South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) since 1996. He holds a BS in Business Administration (1987) from Gallaudet University and a MS in Deaf Education (1994) from McDaniel College (formerly Western Maryland College). Prior to teaching at SPSCC, Raymond held an array of professional positions. He worked as an adjunct faculty member in the ASL Department at Seattle Central College and at the American Sign Language Interpreting School of Seattle. He taught Deaf students in the Seattle School District, first as a teaching assistant and then as an elementary teacher.  He was an ASL mentor for the Language Mentor Program at Sorenson Communications. He was a residential counselor with the Maryland School for the Deaf in Frederick, MD and with The Learning Center for the Deaf in Framington, Mass. Finally, he was a Classification and Wage Specialist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington D.C. His interests include ASL Semantics and modifying existing ASL curriculum and testing to optimize student learning. He is a life-long advocate for Deaf children's well-being and literacy and a political activist who promotes issues significant to the Deaf community. In his leisure time, he enjoys camping, hiking, traveling, and reading National Geographic magazine and other assorted articles.