Alexander Van Hook
he, him, his
Staff Attorney
About Me
Alexander Van Hook
he, him, his
Staff Attorney
Alexander is as a Staff Attorney with the Law and Advocacy Center at the NAD. Alexander will be supporting the NAD’s legal intake system and will be involved with litigation in which the NAD participates. He self-identifies as a person with cross-disabilities (Deaf wheelchair user). He was born in California and grew up in Pennsylvania, north of Philadelphia. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science at Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, New York, in 2016; his Master of Public Administration degree at American University in Washington, District of Columbia, in 2018; and his Juris Doctor (law) degree at American University Washington College of Law in Washington, District of Columbia, in 2022. His specialized interest is disability rights as he strives to contribute to a more accessible and inclusive society for all. Alexander looks forward to supporting the NAD’s efforts in advocating for Deaf and hard of hearing people in the United States. In his spare time, he loves to build LEGO models, travel and explore, play video games, go to the movie theater, visit museums, and socialize with friends. He has a corgi, golden retriever, and two cats with his parents.
Bobbie Beth Scoggins
she/hers/her
Interim Chief Executive Officer
About Me
Bobbie Beth Scoggins
she/hers/her
Interim Chief Executive Officer
A Texas native, Bobbie Beth has an illustrious professional and civic career spanning the national and international sectors. Bobbie Beth led the Kentucky Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing as the Executive Director during 1993 to 2007. From there, her leadership continued at the Communication Services for the Deaf (CSD), where she served as the COO until 2012. Most recently, Bobbie Beth retired as the Director of the Statewide Outreach Center at the Texas School for the Deaf. Her volunteer experience includes serving as President of the USA Deaf Sports Federation (1998-2005) and the NAD (2006-2012). During her three-term tenure at the NAD, she was a Delegate on behalf of the US at the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) World Congress in Madrid, Spain in 2007. As a young adult, she was a performing artist with the National Theatre of the Deaf and other regional theater productions. This past spring, Bobbie Beth was recognized for her leadership and service efforts by the Conference of Educational Administrators of Schools and Programs for the Deaf (CEASD). Bobbie Beth graduated from the Texas School for the Deaf and attended Gallaudet University before she went on to receive her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the California State University, Northridge (CSUN). In 1992, she earned her Doctor of Education degree in Institutional Management at Pepperdine University. In 2016, she was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Gallaudet University.
Brittany Shrader
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Senior Attorney
About Me
Brittany Shrader
she/hers/her
Senior Attorney
Brittany is a staff attorney with the NAD. She focuses primarily on civil rights litigation filed on behalf of deaf and hard of hearing individuals to enforce federal antidiscrimination laws including the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act. Prior to joining the NAD, Brittany worked as a senior litigation associate and trial attorney for Eisenberg & Baum, LLP’s Law Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing in New York City, where she also concentrated her practice on the protection of rights of deaf and hard of hearing persons under local, state and federal law. Prior to becoming a civil litigator, Brittany was a juvenile delinquency prosecutor for the City of New York. Brittany’s experience prosecuting sex crimes and major crimes shaped her into a compassionate advocate with the ability to effectively represent and communicate with individuals of all ages and backgrounds. Brittany holds a B.A. from the University of Virginia where she dual majored in East Asian Studies and Financial Economics and minored in World Religion. She spent summers studying at East China Normal University in Shanghai, China and at Oxford in England. Brittany also holds a J.D. from Hofstra University School of Law with a concentration in Child and Family Advocacy. In addition to English and American Sign Language, Brittany also has proficiency in Spanish and Mandarin Chinese. In her free time, Brittany enjoys musicals, traveling and spending quality time with family.
Claudia Giordano
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Director of Youth Programs
About Me
Claudia Giordano
she/hers/her
Director of Youth Programs
Claudia is a dedicated and passionate professional who is driven by unwavering enthusiasm and a strong commitment to positively impacting the lives of young individuals. With a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies and a minor in Family and Child Studies from Gallaudet University, Claudia’s journey began with an internship working with the Educational Policy Counsel at the NAD, where her passion for volunteering and community service took root. She coordinated conferences such as the National Deaf Education Conference and the National Deaf People of Color Conference while advocating for deaf students in K-12 and Higher Education. Claudia’s dedication to making a difference led her to earn a Master’s degree in Early Language Advocacy. Beyond her professional pursuits, Claudia finds joy in watching TV shows, bouldering, trying new recipes, and caring for her plants. She also cherishes the company of her beloved cat, Theon. Claudia eagerly looks forward to collaborating with everyone involved in the NAD Youth Programs, empowering deaf youth leaders, and leveraging her diverse experiences and dedicated passion to create a lasting impact.
Dominique Yeboah
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Communications Assistant
About Me
Dominique Yeboah
she/hers/her
Communications Assistant
Dominique graduated from Gallaudet University with a B.A. in International Studies.
Donna Morris
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Member and Donor Relations Specialist
About Me
Donna Morris
she/hers/her
Member and Donor Relations Specialist
Donna has been with the NAD since 1980. She is the advertising and sales specialist for the NADmag. Her other responsibilities include managing the NAD Bookstore, assisting with member and donor duties, and organizing the exhibit hall during NAD conferences. She enjoys vacations in New York, reading, and spending time with her teenage son and family.
Drake Darrah
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Staff Attorney
About Me
Drake Darrah
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Staff Attorney
Drake first joined the NAD as a Skadden Fellow before transitioning into a full time staff attorney. His project focuses on advocating for access to programs and services for deaf families and deaf children in the child welfare system in the United States and thereby reducing inappropriate referrals, inaccessible services, erroneous foster placements that contribute to family dysfunction, unjustified permanent separations on the basis of disability, and discrimination against qualified deaf parents seeking to foster and/or adopt. Prior to joining the NAD, Drake worked at Sidley Austin and the Department of Justice. Drake holds a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center. In his free time, Drake enjoys watching Netflix documentaries, trying new restaurants, and going for walks with his dog.
Andy Foster
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Web Support
About Me
Andy Foster
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Web Support
Andy is responsible for the maintenance and development of websites for the NAD. Currently he works at the Indiana University School of Medicine. Prior to that he was a web developer at National Technical Institute of the Deaf. Additionally he worked for five years at the University of Vermont where he was responsible for the Continuing Education website. He received a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from the Rochester Institute of Technology and a master’s degree in Deaf Education from Illinois State University. He currently resides in Indiana.
Jason Stark
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Described and Captioned Media Program (DCMP) Director
About Me
Jason Stark
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Described and Captioned Media Program (DCMP) Director
Jason joined the NAD shortly after it won the first grant award in 1991. His experiences have included the administration of staff in as many as 58 media libraries across the United States. He has also been responsible for computer and Internet operations resulting in first-ever advancements in accessible media delivery and retrieval. One example of such is the decade-old, yet-to-be emulated Internet-based media cataloging, classifying, and scheduling system to meet the needs of persons who are sensory disabled, their families, and the professionals who work with them. His management skills resulted in the federally funded Described and Captioned Media Program (DCMP) being dubbed the “Netflix of education.” Additional pioneering accomplishments include his planning and design of systems that delivered the first streaming of captioned classic movies as well as the first provision of a free-loan service of streamed captioned and described educational media. Two degrees from the University of South Carolina in business administration and information systems management were the foundation for the development of his innovative technology leadership that not only resulted in government savings of millions of dollars over the past twenty years, but also brought significant improvements in multimedia access and expansion of services to disabled children in the U.S. For two decades he has been immersed in Web site accessibility issues, consulting with programs across the country in a mutual quest for equal access.
Jenilee Marques
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Operations Manager
About Me
Jenilee Marques
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Operations Manager
Jenilee has a Master’s degree in International Development, specializing in Emergency Management; her mission is to break down barriers and create more inclusive environments. Her focus is on addressing the unique challenges faced by deaf communities. She is dedicated to providing the necessary support to help individuals navigate these obstacles. Beyond Jenilee’s professional commitments, she is passionate about animal welfare and regularly fosters animals in need. She also enjoys engaging in DIY projects, which allows her to exercise her creativity and problem-solving skills. Additionally, Jenilee loves spending time outdoors, reflecting her appreciation for nature and the environment.
Marc P. Charmatz
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Attorney Emeritus
About Me
Marc P. Charmatz
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Attorney Emeritus
The longest serving staff member, Marc started work at the NAD in 1977. He is renowned throughout the disability community for taking part in several landmark cases and legal actions on behalf of the deaf and hard of hearing community. Charmatz is a graduate of New York University (B.A.) and the Northwestern University School of Law. From 1977 until 2002, he served as the director of the NAD Law and Advocacy Center (LAC). In 2002, Marc stepped down to work as an NAD senior attorney on a part-time basis. He currently is an adjunct professor of Law at the University of Maryland Law School, where he teaches the Civil Rights of Individuals with Disabilities Clinic. Marc answers numerous email and telephone/TTY messages from individuals who have questions about legal issues and provides information to enable deaf and hard of hearing individuals, encouraging them to become advocates on the issues they are concerned about. He sums up his experiences this way: “I truly believe that I have had one of the most interesting public interest careers serving deaf and hard of hearing individuals.” In his free time, Marc collects sports cards – baseball, football, and basketball, and enjoys going to flea markets and yard sales.
Marla Hatrak
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Educational Policy Consultant
About Me
Marla Hatrak
she/hers/her
Educational Policy Consultant
Marla, Ph.D., has a Master’s in Early Childhood Education with a Specialization in Public Policy and Advocacy and a PhD in Educational Policy, Leadership, & Management. A lifelong advocate, she has always been involved with local, state, and national activities advocating for signed language acquisition and English literacy for all deaf children. She was a co-founder of Alliance for Language and Literacy for Deaf Children (ALL for Deaf Children) to host monthly book readings and holiday parties. As Chair of Policy and Advocacy Committee for California Association of the Deaf (CAD), she was co-editor for the 2017 report, The Road to Kindergarten Readiness: Language Policy for Deaf Children Ages 0-5 and a 2021 report, Re-Thinking Auditory Deprivation. More recently, she is a Fellow with the Zero-to-Three organization. Today, she remains dedicated to ensuring that deaf babies have access to both American Sign Language and English literacy so they are kindergarten-ready.
Marlene Valle
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Social Media Coordinator
About Me
Marlene Valle
she/hers/her
Social Media Coordinator
Marlene graduated in Marriage and Family Therapy at California State University of Northridge (CSUN). She has a passion for mental health, as well as for traveling, wildlife & nature, and human rights. Marlene believes in the power of storytelling for social impacts and creating a connection between humans around the world. She founded Mira We Rise, a digital platform where Latine/x Deaf communities and their loved ones share their stories. Marlene is also a content creator who shares her travel experiences and who she meets in the global Deaf communities around the world. She loves relaxing in a hammock, reading books, and learning many new things, such as other languages.
Sorley ‘Sami’ Willicheva
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YLC Camp Director
About Me
Sorley ‘Sami’ Willicheva
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YLC Camp Director
With 14 schools under their belt, Sami is an alumnus of Rochester Institute of Technology / National Technical Institute for the Deaf with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science. They also hold a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership. Sami has served in different capacities throughout their life within the DeafBlind, Deaf Disabled, Deaf, and Hard of Hearing (DBDDDHOH) communities ranging from youth to adults. Being involved with the NAD, first with Jr. NAD as a high school student, then later as a contestant for the NAD Youth Ambassador Program in 2016, serving as the first Secretary for the NAD Youth Section, as a member of NAD, and now as the YLC Director — they are beyond excited to serve the DBDDDHOH Youth in creating space for them to hone their skills, and gain insights and understanding of themselves as they find their footing in the broader communities.
Tom Wells
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Director of Finance
About Me
Tom Wells
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Director of Finance
Tom has worked in the Business Office of the NAD since 1996. He started as an Accountant and worked his way up to Director of Finance. In his current position Tom is responsible for the overall financial operations of the NAD. He graduated from Gallaudet University with a bachelor of science degree in accounting and in his free time enjoys playing soccer, golf, and traveling.