Jane Ross, profoundly Deaf since birth, is a leader in deaf interpreter education. Jane earned a bachelor’s degree from Evangel University and a master’s degree in cross-cultural studies from AGTS. Jane has taught ASL classes at both Missouri State University and a number of colleges throughout the area. Working to educate the

public about Deaf culture and to train interpreters for the Deaf, Jane has conducted numerous professional presentations locally and nationally. She is certified in Visual Gestural Communication Development and has served as an evaluator for the Missouri Interpreter Certification System since December 1997.She is a member of American Sign Language Teacher Association, Missouri Association for the Deaf, National Association for the Deaf, Conference of Interpreter Trainers, and American Deafness and Rehabilitation Association. She was recently honored by the Missouri Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing as the 2005 Deaf Evaluator of the year.

Gregory Ross was born deaf and raised in oral communication until the age of 17 when he learned sign language at Oregon School for the Deaf. He received his bachelor’s degree from North Central University, Minneapolis.Gregory has served as an evaluator for the

Missouri Interpreter Certification System since December 1997. He is a member of the National Association of the Deaf, American Sign Language Teacher Association, Conference of Interpreter Trainers, Missouri Association of the Deaf, and the Linguistic Society of America. He is working toward a Master’s Degree in Cross-Cultural Studies.

back to top

Kevin Babin served as State Interpreter Representative and was elected Chairperson, Missouri Commission for the Deaf (1994-98). He is a certified (Level 5) and licensed interpreter with the State of Missouri and a certified (Level 5/5) interpreter with the State of Kansas. He also serves as an Interpreter Evaluator on the Interpreter

Evaluation teams with both Missouri and Kansas and is a certified Interpreter Evaluator with the State of Kansas. Kevin is the National Representative for Deaf Culture Ministries of the Assemblies of God and is responsible for the networking and training of church interpreters in more than 1,200 churches across America. He has a B.A. in Deaf Culture Studies, North Central University, Minneapolis, MN.

back to top

Stephanie Upton is a teacher and interpreter for deaf and hard-of-hearing children in the Reeds Spring, Missouri R-IV School District. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Southwest Missouri State University in the area of Communication Sciences and Disorders with an emphasis in Deaf Education. She is also a licensed and certified interpreter in the state of Missouri, and loves to

back to top

David Gustafson

ASL Lab Facilitator

Deaf since birth, David just finished the eighth grade at Reeds Spring Middle School. He has been involved in several school clubs including Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America and the National Junior Honor Society. He loves acting and has participated in several plays, including Snow White, which was directed by the famous Deaf actor/director Billy Seago. He has also performed with J.J. Jones, the Deaf Mime, in a Springfield community performance. He also loves studying about the Titanic and teaching his hearing friends signs in ASL.

back to top

Travis Byrum

Travis Byrum, deaf, grew up in Riverside, CA where he attended the California School for the Deaf. Travis has lived in the Ozarks since 2002 and resides in Springfield, MO. He enjoys his job as a Lab Instructor at Missouri State University and is passionate about helping people learn American Sign Language.

back to top