EDUCATION
8/75 - 8/79 Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY,
Bachelor's Degree in Social Work,
Graduated with High Honors, GPA 3.53
8/83 - 1/86 University of Illinois, School of Social Work, Champaign‑Urbana, IL
Master of Social Work
GPA 4.9; Concentration in Community Mental Health
8/07 - 7/17 University of South Carolina, College of Social Work, Columbia, SC
PhD Candidate, Dissertation “Communication and Attachment in Deaf Children with Hearing Parents”
EXPERIENCE
2/23 – Owner, Hands On Interpreting, LLC, Lyman, SC
A private practice specializing in consulting, ASL interpreting, and training related to the needs of deaf adults in the mental health system. Providing communication assessments and analysis of communication access including expert witness testimony and reports.
2/18 – 2/23 Executive Director, Spartanburg Area Mental Health Center, South Carolina Department of Mental Health, Spartanburg, SC
Responsible for the operation of a multi-county community mental health center with a $16M budget, serving 7,000 clients with 160 staff. Services included outpatient counseling to children and adults, statewide Deaf Services, crisis response to three counties, support for residential care facilities and disaster response services.
5/06 - 2/18 Director, Deaf Services, South Carolina Department of Mental Health, Columbia, SC.
Responsible for the delivery of services by the Department of Mental Health to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing citizens of South Carolina. Advise the Director and key stakeholders on how to best design and develop the provision of a comprehensive statewide program. Provided overall coordination and direction to program implementation to inpatient, outpatient, and residential settings.
5/93 – 5/06 Program Manager, Piedmont Center for Mental Health Services, Deaf Services Program, Simpsonville, SC.
Developed and supervised comprehensive statewide community-based services for mentally ill Deaf adults and emotionally disturbed children. Programs included inpatient services, outpatient counseling, residential programming and psychosocial rehabilitation. Supervised 34 employees and $1,250,000 budget.
6/90 ‑ 5/93 Social Worker IV, Patrick Harris Psychiatric Hospital, Anderson, SC.
Established Deaf Services Program at hospital and served as Program Coordinator. Developed programs, policies, and procedures for 22 bed in‑patient psychiatric unit for Deaf patients.
8/87 ‑ 5/90 Community Services Consultant, Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing,
Wilmington, NC.
Supervised Regional Office of the Division, providing comprehensive services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing clients. Conducted workshops and in‑services training for public and private agencies on topics related to deafness and providing counseling, skills development, and advocacy.
9/84 ‑ 7/87 Coordinator, Hearing Impaired Services, Community Counseling Services, Jacksonville, IL.
Provided range of mental health services including counseling, case management and crisis intervention within a Deaf Services program.
1/80 ‑ 5/84 School Social Worker, Illinois School for the Deaf, Jacksonville, IL.
OTHER EXPERIENCE
1/76 - Sign Language Interpreter, Community settings including area hospitals, medical practices,
state, local, and federal courts, attorneys, and social service agencies. Regional and
national conferences including NAD, RID, ADARA, SERID, EHDI, and DeaFestival
11/89 - Consultant and Presenter, Center for Mental Health Services, NASMHPD, Mental Health
Interpreter Training, Various State Mental Health Authorities, Professional Organizations
8/91 – 2/23 Designated Court Examiner, States of South Carolina, Georgia, Illinois
9/93 – 6/01 Lecturer and Instructor, Interpreter Training Program, Spartanburg Technical College,
Spartanburg, SC.
8/94 – 8/97 State Block Grant Reviewer, Center for Mental Health Services, Mental Health Services
Administration, Washington, DC.
6/10 – 8/10 Adjunct Faculty, University of South Carolina, School of Social Work, Columbia, SC.
2/13 - Court-appointed monitor, Belton v. Georgia, Federal District Court for Northern Georgia, Atlanta,
GA.
COMMUNITY/PROFESSIONAL INVOLVEMENT
6/85 ‑ National Association of the Deaf
Present ‑ S. C. Association for the Deaf, 1990 ‑
- NAD/SCAD Language Proficiency Interview; Rater, 1994 – 2004
- NAD/SCAD Interpreter Assessment Program; Rater, 1995 – 2004
6/88 ‑ National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf
Present - Mental Health Special Interest Group; Chair, 1994 – 1999
- South Carolina Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf
- President, 1990 ‑ 1994
- Chair, Certification Maintenance Program, 1993 – 2000
- Member-at-Large, 2000 – 2002
8/00 - American Society for Deaf Children
Present - Web Committee Chair, 2001 – 2008
- Vice-President, 2004 – 2005
- Co-President, 2005 – 2007
4/03 - American Red Cross,
Present Upstate SC Chapter, Greenville, SC
- Disaster Mental Health Responder, 2003 – 2018
- Chair, Disaster Mental Health Committee, 2005 – 2009
- Instructor, Disaster Services, 2003 – 2018
6/08 – 3/18 National Coalition on Mental Health and Deaf Individuals
- Member, Board of Directors, 2008 – 2018
9/08 – 2/23 International Institute for Mental Health Leadership, Task Force on
Deafness
- Appointed Representative from the United States, 2008 – 2023
8/12 – 6/20 Beginnings-SC
- President, 2012 – 2018
07/16 – American Deafness and Rehabilitation Association
Present Journal of American Deafness and Rehabilitation Association
- Member, Editorial Board, 2023 –
09/17 – 10/19 Camp Wonderhands
- Executive Board Member, 2017 – 2019
10/18 – 10/23 Quill School – South Carolina
- Founding Board Member, 2018 – 2023
CERTIFICATES & AWARDS
5/79 Robert D. Frisina Award for deaf/hearing integration – National Technical Institute for the Deaf
6/89 RID Certificate of Transliteration, #17594
3/90 Distinguished Service Award – N. C. Governors Advocacy Council for Persons with Disabilities:
10/90 South Carolina Licensed Master Social Worker #4487
12/94 SCAD/NAD Interpreter Assessment Program Level 5
7/95 Assessor, SCAD/NAD Interpreter Assessment Program
8/96 Outstanding Transition to Community Award – South Carolina Mental Health Association
3/01 LPCC Supervisor – Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy
7/01 Interpreter of the Year – South Carolina Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf
6/09 Service to Mankind Award – South Carolina Sertoma Club
8/09 Community Disaster Responder Certification
FEMA IS – 100, 200, 300, 400, 700, 704 & 800 Certified
10/10 Human Service Professional of the Year – Barbara Stone Foundation
3/12 Certified Coder – Adult Attachment Interview
5/12 Employee of the Year – South Carolina Department of Mental Health
3/13 Qualified Mental Health Interpreter – #0057 – Alabama Department of Mental Health
4/13 Qualified Mental Health Interpreter Supervisor – #0057 – Alabama Department of Mental Health
2/18 Carolyn Biles Central Office Employee of the Year – South Carolina Department of Mental
Health
10/18 South Carolina Licensed Independent Social Worker – Clinical Practice #4487
10/18 Licensed Clinical Social Work Supervisor – North Carolina Social Work Certification and
Licensure Board
4/22 South Carolina Licensed Independent Social Worker – Clinical Practice – Supervisor #4487
10/22 Tom Barnett Volunteer of the Year – United Way of the Piedmont
2/23 Mental Health Champion, Behavioral Health Task Force, Spartanburg, SC
4/23 Licensed Interpreter, Alabama Board of Licensure for Interpreters and Transliterators #L00864