Agencies
Services
Biographies
Shelley Engstrom-Kestel
Board Member & Chairperson
Shelley Engstrom-Kestel is the Instructor and Coordinator of the American Sign Language (ASL) Interpretation program at Moraine Valley Community College (MVCC). She has served as a full-time faculty member at MVCC for years, contributing significantly to the growth and quality of the ASL program.
In addition to her teaching and program leadership, she has represented the Illinois Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf and MVCC's ASL program in state-level public policy discussions, including legislative matters related to interpreter education and certification. Her dedication to ASL education is reflected not only in her academic and administrative work but also in her advocacy for high standards in interpreter training across Illinois.
Shelley holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Governors State University and a Master of Science degree from the University of St. Francis.
Kimberly E. Berger
Board Member & Vice Chairperson
Originally from the Northwest suburbs of Chicago, Kimberly E. Berger has lived in Southern Illinois since 1989 when she was an undergraduate student at Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC). After graduating with a bachelor’s degree, she attended nearby John A. Logan College’s Interpreter Preparation Program (JALC, IPP). Kimberly earned the Certificate of Interpretation from Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) and holds Advanced licensure from the state of Illinois. In 2009, she earned her master’s degree in applied Linguistics, and she was honored to accept an invitation to teach ASL Linguistics (and later other courses) at her IPP alma mater. For several years, Kimberly led the SIUC Interpreter/Transcriber Team and coordinated communication access services for deaf and hard of hearing students, faculty, and staff. In 2018, she joined the SIUC faculty in the School of Language & Linguistics, ASL program. Kimberly has been interpreting for over 30 years and continues to mentor interpreting students and fellow colleagues near and far. When she is not teaching or interpreting, you will Kimberly outdoors. She enjoys all the beauty that Southern Illinois has to offer alongside her husband as they camp, hike, kayak and ride their Goldwing.
Amy Miller
Board Member & Secretary
For 30 years, Amy Miller has had the opportunity to work in most every setting related to interpreting. She also has over 10 years of management experience providing interpreting services in community and education settings. Miller got her start at John A. Logan College (JALC), graduating with a certificate in interpreting in 1993. She also holds an associate in applied science in interpreter preparation from JALC. Miller earned a bachelor’s in workforce education and development from Southern Illinois University Carbondale in 2008. In 2014, she graduated with honors from Capella University with a master’s in mental health counseling. She holds national certification with the Registry of Interpreter for the Deaf (RID) and has master certification with the Board for Evaluation of Interpreters (BEI). Currently she is employed in the ACCESS Office at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in the Deaf Services department as a sign language interpreter.
Hershella Ashford
Board Member
Hershella Ashford has been a Licensed Deaf Interpreter for over 11 years. She graduated from Gallaudet University, in 1977 with a Business Administration degree. She was one of the founding members of the Windy City Chapter of Black Deaf Advocates (WCCBDA) now known as Chicagoland Black Deaf Advocates (CLBDA). She is a member of National Alliance of Black Interpreters (NAOBI) Metro Chicago Chapter and Illinois Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (IRID). Currently, she is a part-time Adjunct Faculty member at Moraine Valley Community College.
Ayanna Dowd
Board Member
Ayanna Dowd is a licensed school-based Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) who has provided direct speech and language services to Deaf clients and their families, ranging from birth to age 22. In addition to her licensure as an SLP, she holds an intermediate certification from the Board for Evaluation of Interpreters (BEI), as well as an Educational Interpreter Approval and a Professional Educator's License (PEL) from the Illinois State Board of Education. Ayanna earned her Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Truman State University, in addition to both a Bachelor's and a Master of Health Science in Communication Disorders from Governors State University. She also holds a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Educational Leadership from the American College of Education. For more than 20 years, Ayanna has served as the Deaf Ministry Coordinator at the Apostolic Faith Church. This church has a long-standing history of supporting Deaf parishioners for over a century and hosts an annual conference for both Deaf individuals and interpreters. In addition to her work in schools, Ayanna also works part-time as a freelance interpreter. She is an Associate member of the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) and a member of the Chicagoland Black Deaf Advocates (CLBDA). Furthermore, she is a member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), the Illinois Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ISHA), and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Sarah B. Faber
Board Member
Sarah B. Faber was born and raised with her hearing parents and 3 siblings in a small town of Midland Park, New Jersey. She has a younger brother who is also hard of hearing. Sarah resides in the Windy City of Chicago, Illinois with her life partner and their beloved dog, Yara.
Sarah is presently working at Chicago Park District as the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program & Event Coordinator. She has been with the Park District for 27 years; initiating, designing, organizing, and implementing recreational programs and special events for the individuals who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing, DeafBlind and individuals with intellectual disabilities.
Sarah wants to continue to be able to give back to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community, as Deaf sports and leisure recreation has been a very important part of her life for decades. She has since spent her career passing on those skills and that determination to young people, particularly those who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing. In addition, she coached both West Suburban Association of the Deaf and Chicago Park District’s Women’s basketball team and assisted 2 men’s basketball team.
Basketball has always held a special place for her. At the age of 17, she was selected as the youngest member of the U.S. Women’s National team for the XV World Games for the Deaf, where her team won the gold medal. She repeated as a team member in 1997. She served as the USA Deaf National Women’s Basketball Director from 2019-2023.
Sarah has this passion that she desires to give back to others with the same challenge that she has faced, whether that’s advocating for the young women and men she coaches or working with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing youth at two summer day camps called Camp Sign. Sarah also engages Deaf High School teens to participate as junior counselors which leads them to become summer recreation leaders at Camp Sign.
Desa Johnson Walls
Board Member
Desa Johnson Walls currently works as an Administrative Assistant serving as an athletic director and assistant to the superintendent at Illinois School for the Deaf. She has also taught ASL classes to families online through Chicago Hearing Society for three years. She has experience in assessing sign language skills. Previously, Desa worked as an office coordinator at the Illinois School for the Deaf Outreach and as an office clerk at the Illinois State Police. Desa’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts in fine arts from Columbia College of Chicago in 2001, and two years of education at Illinois College. Desa served on several boards/committees including Deaf Women Chicago for the Deaf Women United conference of 2024. In addition, Desa also sponsors a few clubs and after school activities at ISD with deaf and hard of hearing students doing community services. With her family of eight, Desa resides in Jacksonville where it is well known for a large deaf community.