Summer Symposium

About the Summer Symposium

The ASL Summer Syposium is a three-day program designed to educate ASL students at various levels in an ASL-only environment.

Below is the upcoming 2026 Summer Symposium information.

ASL Weekend Immersion Track

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

Dates

Friday, June 19th, 2026 – Sunday, June 21st, 2026

Where

Northeastern University, Boston Campus (in person event)*

On Campus Housing details to be posted soon. Room location and more details will be provided 2 weeks ahead of the event.

Registration Cost

TBA (includes lunch on Friday and Saturday). Limited financial scholarships available.

Quick Links

Schedule
Facilitators
Hotels and Nearby Accommodations

‘ASL Weekend Immersion’ Schedule

Friday, June 19th, 2026

5 pm – 9 pm

Saturday, June 20st, 2026

9:30 am – 4:30 pm

Sunday, June 21st, 2026

9:30 am – Noon

2025 ‘ASL Weekend Immersion’ Facilitators

Robbie Martin

ASL Storytelling and ASL Lit

Robbie Martin, M.A., has been an educator since 2014. He began his career in deaf education as a Language Facilitator at New Bedford Public Schools, where he served for four years. He later earned a Master’s degree in Sign Language Education from Gallaudet University. Robbie went on to serve as the Director of the ASL Program/Education at DEAF, Inc. for five years. In this role, he provided and taught ASL levels 1-6, and led three ASL immersion programs. Currently, Robbie has been serving as a Visiting Lecturer at Brown University and Framingham State University since 2023.
Robyn Martin

Fingerspelling & Numbers and Conversational Skills in ASL

Robyn Martin, M.A., is an aluma of Gallaudet University, where she earned a Master of Arts in Sign Language and a Bachelor of Arts in American Sign Language, with a minor in Linguistic Studies. Robyn has previously provided workshops at DEAF, Inc.’s ASL immersion program and taught ASL classes at DEAF, Inc. She is passionate about ASL instruction, Deaf culture, and creating immersive learning environments that support language development and meaningful communication. Robyn is currently working at Bristol Community College as an ASL Resources Coordinator and ASL Professor, where she has been for seven years, and also serves at the club advisor for ASL and Deaf Studies. In her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling, and spending quality time with family and friends.
Heather Nowicki

ASL Slangs & Idioms and Multiple Sign Meanings

Heather Nowicki, M.A., is an Assistant Teaching Professor of American Sign Language at Brown University, where she also serves as the Coordinator of the ASL Program in the Department of World Languages and Cultures. With over 20 years of experience teaching ASL, she is currently in her eighth year at Brown. Prior to joining Brown, she taught at Columbia College Chicago in both the Interpreter Training Program and the Deaf Studies program. Her teaching emphasizes effective ASL pedagogy, including classifiers, visual-spatial grammar, and meaning-based communication. She incorporates student-centered approaches, scaffolded skill development, formative feedback, and performance-based assessment. Her work also integrates Deaf culture, community norms, and ASL Literature into the curriculum. In addition to teaching, she advises students pursuing the Certificate in Intercultural Competence, mentors Independent Studies, and collaborates on curriculum development with medical students at Brown University.

Summer Symposium

About the Summer Symposium

ASL Weekend Immersion Track

‘ASL Weekend Immersion’ Schedule

2025 ‘ASL Weekend Immersion’ Facilitators

Robbie Martin

ASL Storytelling and ASL Lit

Robyn Martin

Fingerspelling & Numbers and Conversational Skills in ASL

Heather Nowicki

ASL Slangs & Idioms and Multiple Sign Meanings