Who We Are
Desiree Dorsey - Co-coordinator
Desiree Dorsey is from Birmingham, Alabama. She is deaf. Desiree graduated from Wallace State Community College with an Associate's degree in Liberal Arts, and University of Alabama at Birmingham with Bachelors degree in Arts and Sciences. Desiree creative background has allowed her to work with many things such as art, theater, painting, photography, graphic design and film-making. She has experience working with deaf and hard of hearing children in programs such as AIDB-Birmingham Regional Center summer day camp program, and Camp Shocco for the Deaf as a counselor and art/crafts instructor for a few years. She is currently a ASL instructor at AIDB Birmingham Regional Center. Fun Facts about Desiree: She was titled as Miss Deaf Alabama in 2005-2007, She is married and have three dogs.
Anna Hayes - Co-coordinator
Anna Hayes received her bachelor's degree from Troy University's Interpreter Training Program. She now works as an educational interpreter in the Shelby County School system. Last year, she worked for the Deaf Learning Program's (DLP) pilot summer program. The DLP is a summer educational program that aims to bring a diverse group of deaf and hard of hearing students together to learn, grow, and play. She is very excited to be on the committee for Inspire Family Camp, the DLP's newest project.
Anna has worked with many different summer camps and family camps including Camp Shocco for the Deaf, Special Session at Camp McDowell, Family Farm Camp at Camp McDowell, and Camp McDowell's Summer Camp. She has seen first-hand the joyful community provided by these kinds of events, and she is thrilled to help create a similar event for families with deaf and hard of hearing children and adults. Anna looks forward to meeting you and your family at Inspire Family Camp this fall!
Maggie Johnston - Planning Committee Member
Maggie Johnston is the Director of Educational Programming at Camp McDowell. She taught junior high science at the Alabama School for the Deaf. Maggie retired about 13 years ago and came to McDowell as Director of McDowell Environmental Center, which is the largest residential environmental center in the Southeast. She helped to start McDowell Farm School, the first residential Farm School in the southeast. Maggie has recently founded McDowell's new "baby", Magnolia Nature School at Camp McDowell, the first nature based preschool in Alabama!
Maggie is looking forward to welcoming families with a deaf family member to her "backyard" at Camp McDowell! We will enjoy playing, learning and connecting here in this beautiful place!
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Suzanne Mattox - Planning Committee Member
Suzanne Mattox was born profoundly deaf. She attended mainstream schools with full-time interpreters. She graduated from Samford University with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary/Special/Early Childhood Education in December 2006. She also received a Master’s degree in Deaf Education in May 2013. She has teaching certificates in Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Early Childhood Special Education, Elementary Collaborative Teacher, and Deaf Education. Since 2007, she has taught preschool through 3rd grade. She is currently teaching 2nd grade at the Alabama School for the Deaf.
Chris McGaha - Planning Committee Member
After college graduation, Chris made the decision not to wait for Medical School and began a career as college football coach. While coaching, Chris was introduced to the Deaf community and American Sign Language. His Deaf Mentor encouraged Chris to move to the Washington DC area to be near Gallaudet University to become immersed in the Deaf World. Thus began the journey of language acquisition and cultural awareness, which would lead Chris into various settings within the Deaf Community: teacher, counselor, chaplain, and interpreter. Chris currently works in Video Relay as an interpreter and in the Educational setting as an interpreter and Coordinator for the Deaf Learning Program.
Becky Ripley - Planning Committee Member
Walter Ripley - Planning Committee Member
Teacher at Alabama school for the Deaf
Athletic director at Alabama school for the Deaf.
