Summer Symposium

We are excited to announce the 16th Annual Summer Symposium will be taking place Thursday, June 22nd – Sunday, June 25th 2023!

ASL Immersion Track

ASL Immersion Track: Led by Deaf instructors, this three-day program is designed to immerse ASL students at various levels in an ASL-only environment.

Dates: Thursday, June 22th 2023 at 4:00pm – Sunday, June 25th at 1:00pm

Where: Northeastern University, Boston Campus (in person event)*

Registration Cost: $200 (includes lunch for both Friday and Saturday)

*Limited financial scholarships available, apply through the registration link*

Deadline to register: Monday June 5th at 11:59 p.m. ET

Registration is Required.

Refund Policy: Full refunds will be processed prior to 6/7/2023.

Cancelation Policy: Summer Symposium ASL Immersion Track and the Interpreting Track registration refund policy a) before June 7, 2023 100% B) June 7- June 14 2023 50% C) After June 14, 2023 no refund will be given.

*On-campus housing is available for an additional fee (deadline: Monday June 5th at 11:59 p.m. ET)*

Here a list of Hotels / Nearby Accommodation we recommend for those who wish to stay off campus.

*Room location and more details will be provided upon registration.

**Please send any and all requests for reasonable accommodations to Kathleen Perry at k.perry@northeastern.edu before Friday, June 1st, 2023.

RID CEU Information:

TBA upon approval

Franklin Jones, Jr. holds the position of Faculty Lecturer at the Wheelock College of Education & Human Development and Deaf Studies Program at Boston University. His lived experience as a Black multigenerational Deaf Gay man has served as a catalyst for his research on Black American Sign Language (BASL), focusing on its historical roots and linguistic and cultural content. Additionally, he is a highly-regarded speaker on topics related to Deaf communities, including but not limited to the Black Deaf experience, American Sign Language (ASL), Deaf Culture, Linguistics, and Pedagogy.

Krishna Madaparthi is a Deaf Canadian raised in the country’s capital city, Ottawa, Ontario. He has been a proud ASL instructor since 2014 and Deaf Interpreter since 2015. He has gained a vast deal of teaching experience in different educational environments, teaching online and abroad. His experiences range from community-based settings to post-secondary education to teaching in a foreign country. His most recent teaching experiences have been with the NPO-Japanese ASL Signer Society (JASS) in Tokyo, Japan, where he has been teaching ASL to Deaf (L2-M1) and hearing (L2-M2) Japanese signers. In addition to his practical experiences in the classroom, Krishna also serves as a research assistant to Dr. Kristin Snoddon’s ASL-Parent research programs with the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR).

Elisa M. Velez is a Deaf Latina, Connecticut native and American School for the Deaf (ASD) alumnus.  She comes from a Deaf Puerto Rican family.  She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and a Masters’ degree in Sign Language in Education from Gallaudet University.  She is currently working as an Adjunct ASL Professor in Massachusetts at several universities, and she has taught American Sign Language for over 8 years. Additionally, she has worked in the field of human services for over 20 years in Connecticut and Massachusetts at several agencies, such as D.E.A.F., Inc., Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC), the Learning Center for the Deaf, ASD – Adult Vocational Services, Family Services Woodfield, Community Enterprises, Inc., to name a few.  Also, she has been involved in the Deaf diverse communities on and off over the years.  She was enthralled with Deaf entertainment and Deaf stories since she was a young child, she is known for her talent entertainment and co-establishment, “The Deaf Velez Sisters Show” with her sister Ivy.

Dr. Lori Whynot is a professional interpreter certified in the US, in Australia, and is an accredited WASLI-WFD International Sign interpreter, as well as a member of the International Association of Conference Interpreters (AIIC). She is currently the director of the Northeastern University ASL and Interpreting Education Program and Teaching Professor of Interpreting. Lori views sign language interpreting as a form of mindful, social justice work and has promoted this through her practice, teaching, research, and mentoring – locally, nationally, and internationally. She is committed to the advancement of the profession and explores research questions related to best practices and multilingual interpreting in diverse social interactions.

Pamela F. Collins, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor the Department of Interpretation and Translation at Gallaudet University and is a nationally certified ASL-English interpreter, interpreter educator, and researcher. Her interest includes race, culture, equality, inclusion, diversity, and the educational trajectory and schooling experiences of minority students. She has presented nationally and internationally and frequently consults with individuals and organizations interested in unpacking systemic racism. Pam is dedicated to creating equitable spaces for intergenerational community building.