Deaf Mentor Biographies

Mandy Lawyer

I was born and raised in Biwabik, Minnesota. I have a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Minnesota – Duluth. I was born deaf, but it went undetected until I was two years old. When I was two-and-a-half, a teacher came to my family’s home and taught us sign language. I use bimodal communication through ASL and spoken English at home.

I have worked continuously as a Deaf Mentor since 2009. I became a mentor because I felt the need to pay it forward due to my family’s experience of having a teacher come to our home and teach us ASL. When I was growing up, I loved attending large social events set up for deaf and hard-of-hearing children. These events gave me a space in which I could belong and use the ASL I was given. I also work for St. Louis County Public Health and Human Services. I love to read and am a huge fan of Dean Koontz and Stephen King. I love cats! I have one hearing son, and I use ASL with him.

Mary Soltis

I was born in Minneapolis. I was mainstreamed in a public school with a DHH program. I transferred to the Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf in Faribault in 1989 until I graduated in 1998. I went to Gallaudet for a year. I was born hearing, but somehow our parents started noticing that I wasn’t hearing loud noises. That was when they discovered that I was deaf due to cCMV. I then started learning ASL along with total communication through a program PACER set up in the 1980s. My deaf cousin also encouraged my parents to learn ASL.

I work part time as an ASL coordinator for the deaf studies program at University of Minnesota Duluth. In 2021, I became a Deaf Mentor because I want to see deaf children become bilingual and fluent in other languages. I love outdoor activities such as hiking, canoeing, kayaking and bonfires!

Brandi Peterson

Oh boy! Where do I start? I was born in Montana but as soon as my parents found out I was deaf, we moved to Kirkland, Washington, because Washington had robust access to DHH resources. I grew up mainstreamed in a public hearing school with a huge DHH program.

I graduated in 2003 and decided to “travel” the states for three years before settling down in Fargo, ND/Moorhead, MN.I went to Minnesota State Community and Tech College, got my associate’s degree, then moved to Warren, Minnesota and went to University of Minnesota Crookston to major in Equine Science. I then got married and had children, so my career got put on hold. I went back to college in 2016, had a career change and got my degree in Pharmacy Technology.

I worked as a pharmacy technician for many years before my heart called me to invest in the Deaf community. I wear many hats: I’m an administrative assistant for our wonderful director, Emily Smith-Lundberg of the Deaf Mentor Family Services at LSS, and I am a Deaf Mentor. I work as a scheduler for a VRS company and an invoicing specialist for a deaf state referral agency.

I was born Deaf, and genetic deafness and mild hearing losses run on my dad’s side. I have multiple family members who have varying degrees of hearing loss. Not all of us identify as Deaf.

I have two girls and one boy: Calliope (born 2012), Diony (born. 2013) and Sigurd (born 2015). Calliope has about 20% hearing loss and identifies as hearing, Diony has 50% hearing loss and identifies as hearing, and Sigurd is profoundly deaf and identifies as Deaf.

As for hobbies: I love camping, road trips, spending time with my kids, doing crafts (I make quilts, sew, paint, building projects), and reading. I’m building a library collection! The biggest hobby I’ve been undertaking is doing a full gut remodeling of my 1918 house! I had never done this type of thing before, but having such a handyman father and a crafty mother, I guess I picked up quite a few tips and tricks subconsciously? I guess you could say I’m a Jackie of all trades! 

Michele Rolewitz

I was born in Moorhead, Minnesota, and raised in Fargo, North Dakota. I graduated from North Dakota School for the Deaf and attended National Technical Institute for the Deaf in Rochester, New York. I have worked for North Dakota State University for the past 41 years as a financial aid and scholarship specialist. I was born deaf, weighing 4 pounds 7 ounces, as I was two months premature. I was taught ASL from birth because both of my grandparents were Deaf and their children use ASL.

I have been a Deaf Mentor since November 2013. I became a mentor because I enjoy teaching ASL to families with deaf children. I have taught ASL at university, secondary and community education levels. I feel it is very important for families to have full communication with ASL. It makes me very happy to see deaf children communicating with their family and friends in ASL.

I have three daughters who have blessed me with 12 grandchildren. I also have three cats. I enjoy gardening, canning, traveling, reading and spending time with my family. I have a knack for making others smile and bringing positivity to any situation.

Kimmi Dickson

I was born and raised in New Jersey and currently live outside of Brainerd, Minnesota. I obtained two associate degrees from Rochester Institute of Technology and Monroe Community College.

I was born deaf and mainstreamed in all schools with interpreters. My parents found out I was deaf at birth and anxiously learned sign language right away to communicate with me. I was the only deaf person in my entire family until my two beautiful children were born deaf just like me! They have a border collie dog that comprehends ASL words like “sit,” “stay,” “outside,” “water,” “eat” and “play!”

I have been a Deaf Mentor since April 2023. I chose to become a Deaf Mentor to support and guide families and dedicate myself to helping them gain skills and methods of ASL communication. I am also a library specialist who provides ASL-related books and games. My favorite hobbies are photography and gardening. I love traveling, camping and four wheeling!

Paula Olson

I was born and raised in Minnesota in two cities: St. Paul and Maple Grove. I attended and graduated from Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf in Faribault. I then attended Gallaudet University and Rochester Community and Technical College and have two AA degrees. I am Deaf and was born to Deaf parents. I identify myself as Deaf. 

I learned ASL from my Deaf parents, so I always had full access to language and am bilingual in ASL and English. I also have a Deaf sister. I have a paternal Deaf uncle and aunt, a maternal Deaf aunt, three Deaf cousins and one Deaf second cousin. I have two daughters, they are CODAs (meaning they are hearing and are children of a deaf adult/adults). 

I work at Target as a team member, and I have been a Deaf Mentor since October 2022. I have worked as a paraprofessional for 17 years and a deaf blind intervenor for eight years. I enjoy interacting with children and seeing them thrive. I also am happy I can help families become familiar with ASL and other tools they can use to communicate with their children.\

My hobbies: I absolutely love taking photos and journaling them.  I enjoy gardening in the spring and summer with my husband. Volleyball and basketball have been among my favorite sports, which I can now enjoy with my daughters. I grew up as a bookworm and still am! We have four poodles at home; two of them are ours, and two belong to one of my daughters, who will take them later when she has the space. Fun fact: I am a Viking; I have strong Danish genes.

Sherri Rademacher

I was born in Albert Lea and grew up in Rochester, Minnesota. I attended California State University in Northridge, St. Cloud State University and University of Minnesota in St. Paul. I became deaf due to spinal meningitis at 18 months old. I learned ASL by going to the deaf school when I was four years old. I do not have deaf relatives but my husband, Jeff, is from a big Deaf family with multiple deaf family members. We have a hearing daughter. 

I recently retired from teaching ASL and interpreting classes in May 2024, though I still mentor ASL interpreters. I became a Deaf Mentor in fall 2024 because I love to see deaf children's language bloom, and I love sharing my positive experiences with deaf children and their parents. 

I love second-hand shopping, gardening, spending time with our grandchildren and going on motorcycle rides. Fun fact about me: I can spell DOG with right hand and CAT with left hand at the same time! Special advice I have: Immerse your child with as much ASL as you can. Babies in general have access to language; therefore, deaf babies should, too, and immediately! Do not wait. Also form a relationship with the Deaf community to develop mutual respect and promote understanding and acceptance of the Deaf culture for your child. 

Stephanie Nutt

I am from Brainerd, Minnesota. I attended Gallaudet University and majored in communication studies. I work as a direct support professional at a group home with adult foster clients. I became deaf at the age of two from spinal meningitis. I learned ASL with other deaf children and interpreters after being enrolled in preschool. I was mainstreamed growing up, and attending Gallaudet gave me a rich, life-changing experience along with improving my ASL. I use bimodal communication — ASL and spoken English.

I became a Deaf Mentor in August 2018. Having grown up as the only deaf person in my family, I recognize the need for and impact of ASL and want to help deaf children have access to ASL. I love to paint and love dogs tremendously; I hope to have a dog in the future. In 2017, I traveled to Costa Rica and rode on one of the top 10 ziplines in the world!

Amanda Jarnagin

I was born in St. Paul and grew up in Woodbury, Minnesota. I live in Eagan, Minnesota now. I was mainstreamed in St. Paul’s Highland Park High School and participated in its DHH program, graduating in 2000. After that, I went to Hennepin Technical College to be a florist designer. I graduated in 2001 and went to Gallaudet University for two years.

I was born hearing, but when I was three months old, I got sick with a heart condition and stayed in the hospital for nine months. Due to the sickness, I became deaf, but it wasn’t discovered until I was about 18 months old. My parents had a parent-child group at Como ElementarySschool for learning SEE with their children. I do not have any other family members who are deaf. I have two children; they are hearing.

I work at Metro Deaf School (MDS) as a job coach for the transition program. I became a Deaf Mentor in 2021 because I wanted to expose children and parents to ASL so I can help them become connected and able to communicate. My hobbies include running a small business (Silent Beauty Flowers), crafting, camping and hiking. I have a cat named Mango.

Angela McCrea

I was born and raised in Norwood Young America (NYA), Minnesota. I have lived in Glencoe, MN for the last 15 years. I graduated from Central High School in NYA, then went to college at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. I completed two-and-a-half years there, then moved back home.

I was born deaf, but my family didn’t find out until I was about eight months old. I didn’t learn ASL until I was in kindergarten. I learned ASL through watching my interpreter during classes. I identified myself as deaf while growing up. When I went to Augustana College, I really fell in love with the Deaf community 

I also have two younger brothers who are Deaf. I’m a stay-at-home mom with six children; all are hearing. 

I became a Deaf Mentor in 2023 because I wanted to have an impact on deaf children and their families. I want to help with language acquisition to help them thrive later in life.

We have a pet dog, a cockapoo named Piper. I love camping with my family and spending time with family.

Ash Antonelli

I was born in Connecticut and didn't move to Minnesota until I was 12 years old. I attended American School for the Deaf in Connecticut, and when I moved to Minnesota, I attended Minnesota School for the Deaf. I stayed there for a year then transferred to a public school in St. Cloud and graduated from Apollo Senior High School. I received my Associate of Art and Science in psychology from a college in Holyoke, Massachusetts. 

I was born deaf (due to genetics), and am second generation in my family — meaning my parents are deaf, too. I am fluent in ASL and English, and I know a little Spanish. I work as a direct support specialist in a group home. 

I became a Deaf Mentor in the spring of 2022 because I wanted to help deaf children to have a connection to their parents and also have their own identity. I believe language acquisition in deaf children is so important so they can thrive in the future. I have two fur kids named Batty and Coon, and enjoy going for walks and playing with them. I also enjoy reading books, watching shows/movies, and going on getaway weekends. I have a unique ability to make people laugh. 

Dr. Gloria Nathanson

I was born and raised in Minnesota, and currently live in White Bear Lake. I received my Bachelor of Arts in Language Development with an emphasis on those with hearing loss from the University of Minnesota. I also have a Doctor of Audiology degree from Gallaudet University. I work at Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf. I am also a Certified Deaf Interpreter. I teach college classes at St. Catherine University, Gallaudet University and McDaniel College.

I was born deaf, due to genetics. Because both my parents are deaf, ASL is my native language. I have a deaf brother and a hearing sister. My partner is also deaf. We have four children, two of whom are deaf. Being a mother to deaf children helped me understand what it is like to parent deaf children and navigate the educational system.

I have been a Deaf Mentor since 2012. I am a lifelong advocate for the development of the whole child, and my interdisciplinary professional background provides me with knowledge and tools from varying perspectives to support that growth. Because knowledge is power, I became a Deaf Mentor to directly empower families of deaf and hard-of-hearing children. Aside from teaching, raising my children and speaking at conferences, I love to read, scrapbook and travel. Fun fact: In 1996, I competed for and won the title of Miss Deaf Minnesota and was a runner up in Miss Deaf America!

Jackie Correa-Alley

I was proudly born in Puerto Rico and raised in Massachusetts. I graduated from New York School for the Deaf, known as Fanwood, and received a degree in data entry and business clerk from Saint Paul College. While I am the only Deaf person in my immediate family, I have an aunt and other cousins who are Deaf. My aunt gave me access to ASL as a child, which I expanded on in preschool. In addition to knowing ASL and English, I am fluent in Spanish, making me trilingual!

I have been a Deaf Mentor since December 2015. I decided to become a Deaf Mentor because I had the desire to be a Hispanic role model for Hispanic Deaf children. I understand the value of learning the language of the culture I was born in, giving me access to other native Spanish speakers. But when adding deafness to the many layers of communication, I also see the need for parents and their children to have access to ASL.

I am active in the Deaf and Hispanic Deaf communities. I currently serve as the vice president of Minnesota Association of Deaf Citizens. I am a board member of Deaf Women of Minnesota, and I am a contributor to the New England Latino Deaf Association. I am also involved in other Deaf organizations. In the past I have taught ASL at all education levels, from community education to college courses. I love being outdoors, camping, traveling, sewing and crafting silk flowers 

Kelley Johnson

I grew up in Wanamingo, MN. I went to Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf in Faribault, and I also went to MSSD in Washington, D.C. I then went to Gallaudet University and graduated with my bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2021.

I don’t really know exactly how I became deaf; I think perhaps I was born this way or got sick with a fever. I identify myself as Deaf. Someone came to my house when I was young and taught me and my family ASL. I know some universal sign language. I became a Deaf Mentor in 2023 because I want deaf children to be able to communicate with their families and have a relationship with their parents.

Through the Deaf community, I learned that having my parents learn ASL and being able to communicate with them wasn’t the same as my friends’ experiences. They didn’t have families who could sign with them, and I realized I was lucky to have that experience with my family.

I like to watch Netflix and spend time with family and friends. 

Kristin Engelhardt-Fischbein

I was born in 1968 in New York. I became deaf due to a medication reaction when I was an infant. I’m not sure how I learned ASL, but I went to mainstream school in Albany, New York. I graduated, then went to college. I have four degrees, one a master's in teaching.

I have one brother, two sisters, a stepmother and a half sister. None of my family learned ASL; however, they did know how to sign “I love you.” My family did try to communicate with me through SEE, but they were never fluent. I identify myself as Deaf but can speak. I have an adopted deaf son.

I was a teacher for 23 years, but I also mentored in New York prior to Minnesota. I became a Deaf Mentor in 2023. I wanted to become one because I LOVE kids. I could not have children, so of course I had to share energy with other children.

I love to scrapbook, travel (I have been to many states) and read books. I have two cats that were feral when I took them in, Peppurr and Princess. They know 20 commands (both in sign and spoken language)!

Melissa Schroeder

I was born and raised in La Crosse, Wisconsin. I attended the National Technological Institute for the Deaf and received my Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in the administrative assistant program. I am a referral specialist for ASL Interpreting Services (ASLIS), Minnesota’s largest ASL interpreting referral agency. I was born deaf, mainstreamed in school until seventh grade, and then transferred to Wisconsin School for the Deaf. My parents chose to teach me sign language despite their primary audiologist discouraging them from doing so. As a special education teacher, my mother believed that I should have more access to language. As a result, my parents learned sign language alongside me.

I have been a Deaf Mentor since April 2019. I became a Deaf Mentor because I wanted to help deaf children connect with their family members. My experience with my own parents was a blessing, and I want that for other children. I believe that having open communication between a parent and a child will only strengthen their relationship.

I have a blended family. I raised my partner’s oldest daughter with him, and we added two more of our own children to the mix. With one deaf child and two hearing children, ASL is happily used at home. I love walking, reading, dogs and being with my family. I love hot weather, and summer is my favorite season!

Nancy Dye

I grew up in Rockford, Minnesota and have never left! I was mainstreamed with the DHH program at Maple Lake, Minnesota then I transferred to St. Louis Park School my sophomore year. I graduated then went to Gallaudet University for one year, then went to Hennepin Technical College to study Child Development.

I was born deaf due to rubella. People didn’t know I was deaf until I was two years old, when they noticed I wasn’t responding to noises. I went to preschool at Whitter School in Minneapolis. My family tried to learn ASL but didn’t become fluent. We did have some home signs, though. I have no other family members who are deaf.

I work for Intermediate School District #916 in South St. Paul in the DHH program as a deaf/deafblind interventor. I became a Deaf Mentor in 2023 because I wanted families to become exposed to Deaf culture, learn sign language, and communicate with their children to help them be successful in the future. I love to travel, go geocaching and hang out with deaf friends. I am also a history nerd/buff!

Nathan Sorenson

Hello! My name is Nathan Sorenson! I was born in Hungary, moved back to the United States from the mission field in 2008, and have been here in Minnesota since then. I was homeschooled until 10th grade, then I was enrolled at Anoka Ramsey Community College through the PSEO program. I graduated high school with an Associate of Arts degree and recently got my Bachelor of Science in Educational Studies at North Central University. I was born Deaf. I also have six Deaf brothers and sisters! My parents are Deaf, too! I also have a Deaf nephew and niece who are absolute treasures!

Naturally, coming from such a big Deaf family, I learned ASL from my parents and siblings, so I had full access to language and communication growing up and am fluent in both ASL and written English. I'm passionate about empowering the next generation of Deaf youth. I believe that every Deaf child deserves to have the opportunity to learn sign language. Everyone deserves to be able to communicate and express their thoughts and feelings with no communication barriers. It starts with ensuring the Deaf child has complete access to language and breaking down communication barriers. I want to instill strong connections with their families in Deaf children as well as with the Deaf community and their Deaf identity.

My hobbies include almost anything outdoors! I love camping, hiking, fishing, running, swimming, gardening, participating in triathlons and horseback riding. Indoor activities that I especially enjoy are sketching, playing board games and reading. Fun fact: I love eating all kinds of food, but my favorite food is grapes. I could eat a whole bagful in one sitting!

Tiffany Gumm

I was born and raised in St. Paul, Minnesota, lived in Austin, Texas, for 12 years, then moved back to St. Paul last year. I have my bachelor's degree in public health science with a minor in biology from Gallaudet University. I'm currently in graduate school at Gallaudet getting my master's degree in early intervention studies. I was born Deaf, and my deafness is hereditary. All of my family members are Deaf: my parents, grandparents, uncle, siblings and my two children are deaf, too. My native language is ASL due to my entire family being deaf. I am not fluent in any other language except for ASL and English. 

I work in the mental health field supporting deaf adults with various mental health needs. I became a Deaf Mentor in the fall of 2024 because I enjoyed meeting other families with deaf children. I see a great need for deaf adult role models in the early intervention field. My hobbies include playing basketball, going to coffee shops, playing board games and bingeing on TV series. Fun fact: I was a gold medalist in the 2018 U21 World Deaf Basketball Championships.

Amanda Bavlnka

I was born and raised in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. I have a Bachelor of Science in sociology and psychology from Winona State University. I was born deaf, but my parents did not discover this until I was 10 months old. My parents took sign language classes with me, and I use ASL as my main mode of communication.

I became a Deaf Mentor in April 2015. I decided to become a mentor because I wanted to help parents communicate with their deaf children, so they can include their deaf children in their everyday lives instead of leaving them feeling left out. I also work as a special education program assistant and a DeafBlind intervener. My favorite hobby is reading. I also love going camping and spending time with my daughter.