Robin O'Brien: ASL AZTI Director
Robin is the director of ASL AZTI, passed on by Rocky De Buano who was the founder, establishing the Arizona’s first Total Immersion program in June of 2003. She received her MA in Sign Language Teaching from Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. She is currently retired at Arizona State University as a full-time American Sign Language Lecturer. Robin also works a as part-time Interpreter Educational Specialist at Interpreter Educational Professional Development for Sorenson VRS. She has taught ASL and Deaf Culture for the past 25 years at local community colleges and universities in both Arizona and Massachusetts. She also worked for the Distance Opportunities Interpreter Training Center in Colorado as a Mentor. She has been a mentor for interpreting students, working to improve and upgrade their skills for the past 20 years. She provides workshops for educational interpreters, has been a consultant for parents of Deaf children, and has spoken to various companies and organizations about ASL and Deaf Culture. Robin has two beautiful daughters and two large dogs. She enjoys gardening and quilting.
We hope you will attend ASL Arizona Total Immersion to have an enriching and fun learning experience in ASL and Deaf Culture. Please email [email protected] if any questions.
Robin is the director of ASL AZTI, passed on by Rocky De Buano who was the founder, establishing the Arizona’s first Total Immersion program in June of 2003. She received her MA in Sign Language Teaching from Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. She is currently retired at Arizona State University as a full-time American Sign Language Lecturer. Robin also works a as part-time Interpreter Educational Specialist at Interpreter Educational Professional Development for Sorenson VRS. She has taught ASL and Deaf Culture for the past 25 years at local community colleges and universities in both Arizona and Massachusetts. She also worked for the Distance Opportunities Interpreter Training Center in Colorado as a Mentor. She has been a mentor for interpreting students, working to improve and upgrade their skills for the past 20 years. She provides workshops for educational interpreters, has been a consultant for parents of Deaf children, and has spoken to various companies and organizations about ASL and Deaf Culture. Robin has two beautiful daughters and two large dogs. She enjoys gardening and quilting.
We hope you will attend ASL Arizona Total Immersion to have an enriching and fun learning experience in ASL and Deaf Culture. Please email [email protected] if any questions.
Serena Stone: Instructor, Program Coordinator/Instructor
Serena Stone was born in Connecticut to a Deaf family of 4 generations. She relocated to Arizona at a young age. Her primary language is ASL, she enjoys signing poetry, acting and telling jokes in ASL. Serena started her interest in teaching ASL because of her mother, Deb Stone, who is also an ASL instructor. Since then she began working at Phoenix College as an adjunct instructor in January 2011. Later, she obtained her Master’s degree in Sign Language Education from Gallaudet University in 2013. She is currently a full time residential faculty at Phoenix College teaching various ASL and IPP courses. This year is her second year at AZTI, and she is looking forward to seeing and meeting you all! Serena is full of energy, humor and compassion. She will bring the LIGHT to you all via ASL, comedy and acting! Be prepared to have sore abs by the end of the week!
Serena Stone was born in Connecticut to a Deaf family of 4 generations. She relocated to Arizona at a young age. Her primary language is ASL, she enjoys signing poetry, acting and telling jokes in ASL. Serena started her interest in teaching ASL because of her mother, Deb Stone, who is also an ASL instructor. Since then she began working at Phoenix College as an adjunct instructor in January 2011. Later, she obtained her Master’s degree in Sign Language Education from Gallaudet University in 2013. She is currently a full time residential faculty at Phoenix College teaching various ASL and IPP courses. This year is her second year at AZTI, and she is looking forward to seeing and meeting you all! Serena is full of energy, humor and compassion. She will bring the LIGHT to you all via ASL, comedy and acting! Be prepared to have sore abs by the end of the week!
Crys Lentz: Instructor & Interpreter
Crys is a nationally certified American Sign Language Interpreter and an adjunct faculty instructor at Phoenix College with the Interpreter Preparation Program. She was born and raised right here in Phoenix by her single, very hard-of-hearing mother. Crys has worked in a large variety of areas of interpreting for the last 31 years including; education, medical, mental health, DeafBlind and VRS/VRI to name a few. She attained her QMHI (Qualified Mental Health Interpreter) credentials in 2014 from the Alabama Department of Mental Health Office of Deaf Services. When not working she can, most often, be found spending time with her family, cycling or pondering her naval for the value of a life.
She is extremely excited to come back being involved with AZTI!
Crys is a nationally certified American Sign Language Interpreter and an adjunct faculty instructor at Phoenix College with the Interpreter Preparation Program. She was born and raised right here in Phoenix by her single, very hard-of-hearing mother. Crys has worked in a large variety of areas of interpreting for the last 31 years including; education, medical, mental health, DeafBlind and VRS/VRI to name a few. She attained her QMHI (Qualified Mental Health Interpreter) credentials in 2014 from the Alabama Department of Mental Health Office of Deaf Services. When not working she can, most often, be found spending time with her family, cycling or pondering her naval for the value of a life.
She is extremely excited to come back being involved with AZTI!
Robert DeMayo: ASL Instructor
Robert is a professional actor, entertainer, educator and ASL consultant. He is a graduate of the American School for the Deaf in West Hartford, where he first began performing as a clown in The Silent Alley. He attended the National Technical Institute for the Deaf in Rochester, NY and toured professionally with Sunshine Too, Cleveland Sign Stage Theatre and the Tony Award winning National Theatre of the Deaf. He starred in many noteworthy NTD productions. Robert became the Artistic Director for the New York Deaf Theatre and starred as Hamlet in What If Hamlet Was Deaf? He worked with a team of ASL translators to transliterate Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night which lead to further collaboration with the Amaryllis Theatre Company. Robert was the ASL consultant and actor in the feature film Universal Signs and appeared in No Ordinary Hero. Robert was one of the lead subjects in Hilari Scarl’s multi-award winning documentary See What I’m Saying. He performed live for the closing ceremonies at the Perspektiva Film Festival in Moscow and appeared in dozens of Q&A’s with the film around the world. He taught ASL classes & Theatre Interpreted at Juilliard School. Conn. Total Immersion Program an instructor for more than 10 years and also at Arizona Total Immersion Program for more than 14 years and became Instructor Coordinator for last three years.
Robert is a professional actor, entertainer, educator and ASL consultant. He is a graduate of the American School for the Deaf in West Hartford, where he first began performing as a clown in The Silent Alley. He attended the National Technical Institute for the Deaf in Rochester, NY and toured professionally with Sunshine Too, Cleveland Sign Stage Theatre and the Tony Award winning National Theatre of the Deaf. He starred in many noteworthy NTD productions. Robert became the Artistic Director for the New York Deaf Theatre and starred as Hamlet in What If Hamlet Was Deaf? He worked with a team of ASL translators to transliterate Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night which lead to further collaboration with the Amaryllis Theatre Company. Robert was the ASL consultant and actor in the feature film Universal Signs and appeared in No Ordinary Hero. Robert was one of the lead subjects in Hilari Scarl’s multi-award winning documentary See What I’m Saying. He performed live for the closing ceremonies at the Perspektiva Film Festival in Moscow and appeared in dozens of Q&A’s with the film around the world. He taught ASL classes & Theatre Interpreted at Juilliard School. Conn. Total Immersion Program an instructor for more than 10 years and also at Arizona Total Immersion Program for more than 14 years and became Instructor Coordinator for last three years.
Zachary Shawn-Godzilla: ASL Instructor
Godzilla was born from Deaf family and was raised in Los Angeles, California. His parents, Deloris and Donald, were actively involved in Deaf Community and events. Zachary DeLoya became more interested to involve in Deaf Community just like his parents for the past 13 years (and counting). Currently, he focuses mainly on Deaf Culture by empowering individuals involving in any form of business and/or personal life.
Zachary DeLoya consults and advocates regularly with Deaf people in various fields to help creating synergistic solutions to common barriers. Zachary DeLoya has the strong interest in the field of psychology while he enjoys sharing the information with the experiences he enriched through his life. With his passion, he created his own business known as ADORE. He and the co-founder, Klaus Curi, founded to provide programs for consumers with disability and to shape program specializing in job coaches to accommodate the needs for the Deaf and hard of Hearing . As an active team member of MATA Expo, Zachary DeLoya plays a valuable role as host for MATA Expo events and performs excellent relationship with the audience, maintaining great entertainment for Deaf and hard of Hearing guests. He works closely with the media director, David Ballard, by ensuring to design the program for each event and communicating with the sponsors while he manages to provide his time meeting the guests.
Godzilla was born from Deaf family and was raised in Los Angeles, California. His parents, Deloris and Donald, were actively involved in Deaf Community and events. Zachary DeLoya became more interested to involve in Deaf Community just like his parents for the past 13 years (and counting). Currently, he focuses mainly on Deaf Culture by empowering individuals involving in any form of business and/or personal life.
Zachary DeLoya consults and advocates regularly with Deaf people in various fields to help creating synergistic solutions to common barriers. Zachary DeLoya has the strong interest in the field of psychology while he enjoys sharing the information with the experiences he enriched through his life. With his passion, he created his own business known as ADORE. He and the co-founder, Klaus Curi, founded to provide programs for consumers with disability and to shape program specializing in job coaches to accommodate the needs for the Deaf and hard of Hearing . As an active team member of MATA Expo, Zachary DeLoya plays a valuable role as host for MATA Expo events and performs excellent relationship with the audience, maintaining great entertainment for Deaf and hard of Hearing guests. He works closely with the media director, David Ballard, by ensuring to design the program for each event and communicating with the sponsors while he manages to provide his time meeting the guests.
Paulus Yalim
Paulus was born hearing, but became deaf at the age of eight months due to high fever that damaged his hearing. He grew up in the hearing world in Indonesia before emigrating to the U.S in 1989. It was a big "Culture Shock" when he first attended Gallaudet University's English Language Institute. It gave him a unique identity of who he was as a Deaf person. He took a graduate program at the University of Phoenix and received an M.A degree in Education. He has been teaching ASL classes for more than 22 years and is currently teaching ASL classes at Chandler-Gilbert Community College.
His hobbies are playing with the new tech gadgets and exploring the Cosmos (how we came into existence and beyond). He is excited to share his experience in learning a visual language at AZTI! :)
"Deaf people can do anything except hear" - Dr. Irvin King Jordan (First Deaf President of Gallaudet University)
"Imagination is more important than knowledge" - Albert Einstein
Paulus was born hearing, but became deaf at the age of eight months due to high fever that damaged his hearing. He grew up in the hearing world in Indonesia before emigrating to the U.S in 1989. It was a big "Culture Shock" when he first attended Gallaudet University's English Language Institute. It gave him a unique identity of who he was as a Deaf person. He took a graduate program at the University of Phoenix and received an M.A degree in Education. He has been teaching ASL classes for more than 22 years and is currently teaching ASL classes at Chandler-Gilbert Community College.
His hobbies are playing with the new tech gadgets and exploring the Cosmos (how we came into existence and beyond). He is excited to share his experience in learning a visual language at AZTI! :)
"Deaf people can do anything except hear" - Dr. Irvin King Jordan (First Deaf President of Gallaudet University)
"Imagination is more important than knowledge" - Albert Einstein
James Rice: ASL Instructor
James Rice, a passionate educator, hails from Phoenix, AZ. Motivated by the belief that "Life is not fair, so do something about it," he pursued a degree in Elementary Education from Arizona State University West. With extensive experience teaching kindergarten through high school, James later earned a Master's degree in Arts of Education from the University of Phoenix. Currently, he teaches American Sign Language at a high school and has spent over 25 years instructing at Maricopa Community Colleges. James enjoys creating engaging lesson plans, developing curricula, and helping students embrace new languages and discover their talents. He also finds joy in spending time with his family, reading to deaf children, fishing, camping, and storytelling.
Signing hands can dance through emotions, from crazy and creative to funny and sad, and everything in between. It's not just an art of language; it's a sign language that illuminates the world. Watch it come alive, in vibrant 3-D, and witness the power of communication at its best!
James Rice, a passionate educator, hails from Phoenix, AZ. Motivated by the belief that "Life is not fair, so do something about it," he pursued a degree in Elementary Education from Arizona State University West. With extensive experience teaching kindergarten through high school, James later earned a Master's degree in Arts of Education from the University of Phoenix. Currently, he teaches American Sign Language at a high school and has spent over 25 years instructing at Maricopa Community Colleges. James enjoys creating engaging lesson plans, developing curricula, and helping students embrace new languages and discover their talents. He also finds joy in spending time with his family, reading to deaf children, fishing, camping, and storytelling.
Signing hands can dance through emotions, from crazy and creative to funny and sad, and everything in between. It's not just an art of language; it's a sign language that illuminates the world. Watch it come alive, in vibrant 3-D, and witness the power of communication at its best!
Nicole Strom: ASL Instructor
Nicole Strom was born in Austin, Texas to a Deaf family of 3 generations. Her grandmother, also Deaf, immigrated from Italy when she was a late adolescent. Nicole grew up with American Sign Language as her primary language. After graduating with a specialist degree (Psy.S.) in School Psychology from Gallaudet University, she began living in Phoenix, Arizona since 2018. Currently, Nicole works at Phoenix Day School for the Deaf as a school psychologist and teaches asynchronous ASL courses at Chandler-Gilbert Community College. She finds joy and enrichment in working with people from all walks of life. Life has much learning to offer at every corner. She loves to walk in nature and read books in her free time. Nicole looks forward to meeting you all and learning together!
Nicole Strom was born in Austin, Texas to a Deaf family of 3 generations. Her grandmother, also Deaf, immigrated from Italy when she was a late adolescent. Nicole grew up with American Sign Language as her primary language. After graduating with a specialist degree (Psy.S.) in School Psychology from Gallaudet University, she began living in Phoenix, Arizona since 2018. Currently, Nicole works at Phoenix Day School for the Deaf as a school psychologist and teaches asynchronous ASL courses at Chandler-Gilbert Community College. She finds joy and enrichment in working with people from all walks of life. Life has much learning to offer at every corner. She loves to walk in nature and read books in her free time. Nicole looks forward to meeting you all and learning together!
Matt Brown: Sub - Interpreter
Matt is a Phoenix native who has studied sign language locally since 2014. He graduated from Phoenix College in 2020 and has worked as an American Sign Language Interpreter for the last three and a half years. He has interpreted in a variety of settings, including education, medical, conferences, and trainings, as well as mentoring for the past 2 years. When not working, he enjoys spending time with his friends, attending Deaf socials, and playing pickleball. He’s very excited about his first year being involved with AZTI!
Matt is a Phoenix native who has studied sign language locally since 2014. He graduated from Phoenix College in 2020 and has worked as an American Sign Language Interpreter for the last three and a half years. He has interpreted in a variety of settings, including education, medical, conferences, and trainings, as well as mentoring for the past 2 years. When not working, he enjoys spending time with his friends, attending Deaf socials, and playing pickleball. He’s very excited about his first year being involved with AZTI!
Russ Bye: Volunteer
Russ is a certified dog trainer here in Arizona where he is currently working as a behavioral health technician in the valley for few years. He came from Deaf family with deaf parents, 4 Deaf siblings and one hearing. However, when he was very young, he was oral for the entire time of his life until his graduation from high school. Then he learned ASL from there where he is very a fluent signer. He is a proudly married to his wife, Sandi Bye, for 24 years with two wonderful dogs. Also, Russ has a Deaf son living in California from previous marriage and has 11 grandchildren. He and his wife went to Europe six times and are familiar with BSL (British Sign Language). During his recess time, he likes to share his extensive experience of travel and foreign language to people where he enjoys playing the poker with Deaf people.
Russ is a certified dog trainer here in Arizona where he is currently working as a behavioral health technician in the valley for few years. He came from Deaf family with deaf parents, 4 Deaf siblings and one hearing. However, when he was very young, he was oral for the entire time of his life until his graduation from high school. Then he learned ASL from there where he is very a fluent signer. He is a proudly married to his wife, Sandi Bye, for 24 years with two wonderful dogs. Also, Russ has a Deaf son living in California from previous marriage and has 11 grandchildren. He and his wife went to Europe six times and are familiar with BSL (British Sign Language). During his recess time, he likes to share his extensive experience of travel and foreign language to people where he enjoys playing the poker with Deaf people.