Meet the 2019-2021 ARID Board!
These individuals volunteer their time and energy to ensure that our professional organization is one of the best around.
Meagan Beaty, MS, NIC, EIPA-President
Meagan Beaty is a Nationally Certified, Arkansas Licensed Interpreter and a Support Service Provider for DeafBlind individuals. Meagan has worked in a variety of settings, but has the most experience with Educational, Medical, and Video Relay Interpreting.
When Meagan is not at home with her wife, son, and foster children, she is out pursuing her passions. Meagan specifically has a love for mentoring and working with students. After graduation from UA Little Rock (2013), she attended the University of North Florida where she obtained her Masters Degree in Interpreting Pedagogy (2017) and is currently working as an adjunct faculty member of the UA Little Rock IEP.
Meagan has served ARID as the Nominations Chair (2013), Program Chair (2017), Biennial Planning Committee Co-Chair (2015), and the Support Staff (Student Representative) Coordinator (2017 and 2019). Meagan has also served as the Support Staff Coordinator for the RID Region IV Conference (2016 and 2018), as well as being support staff herself locally (2011) and regionally (2014).
With Arkansas Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf being an organization dedicated to supporting interpreters to reach their full potential, Meagan is truly excited to have the opportunity to serve as ARID President (2019-2021).
Bobbie Ann Walker, QAST- Vice President
Bobbie Ann’s journey to becoming an interpreter started at the age of sixteen when she met her first Deaf friends at a church in Shreveport, Louisiana. After a few years, she began using sign language in church which she continued to do until 2017. The friends she made at the age of sixteen instilled a love for and interest in the Deaf community, which continues to this day.
Her desire to work with the Deaf community led her to the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Deaf Education. After graduation, Bobbie Ann began working at Arkansas School for the Deaf where she taught from 1982 – 1988. She homeschooled her two children for 11 years before teaching middle school at The Baptist Preparatory School in Little Rock.
In 2017, Bobbie Ann left her teaching job in order to begin working toward a degree in interpreting. She recently received her AA in ASL Studies from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. During this time, she has been both an employee and a volunteer at ASD.
Bobbie Ann is a licensed interpreter for the state of Arkansas and is currently working as a freelance interpreter. She enjoys socializing with members of the Deaf community and is a member of Arkansas Deaf-Blind Community. She recently served on the Silent Auction and Fundraising committees for the 2019 ARID Biennial Conference
Bobbie Ann and her husband of 35 years currently live in Little Rock. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and spending as much time as possible with her grandson. Bobbie Ann is looking forward to serving as the 2019-2021 ARID Vice President.
Savanna Nellis, QAST-Secretary
Savanna Nellis is originally from the farming area of Southern Illinois. She grew up loving languages, and after seeing her cousin find a love for this profession, the rest is history.
She received an interpreting Associates Degree from John A. Logan College. Savanna then made the move to the “big city” in Arkansas where she attended the University of Arkansas Little Rock Interpreter Education Program (UA Little Rock IEP).
During that time, she was a student member of ARID and served as a student representative at the Biennial Conference in Bentonville (2017). Savanna received her Bachelor’s Degree in Interpretation: ASL/English in December of 2018. She currently holds a QAST level.
She is enjoying learning and improving her skills, as well as gaining new skills while actively working in the community. She was recently elected as the ARID Secretary (2019-2021) and looks forward to serving the community in this capacity.
Nicholas Winchell, EIPA, QAST-Treasurer
Nicholas Winchell is an Arkansas Licensed Interpreter and has been interpreting within the Arkansas Deaf community since 2015. He currently holds Mid-America Quality Assurance Screening Test (QAST) and EIPA credentials.
Nick began his studies at Adirondack Community College, Queensbury, NY, however he relocated to Central Arkansas in 2012 to attend the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UA Little Rock) Interpreter Education Program. He received a B.A. degree in ASL/English Interpretation in 2015.
While at UA Little Rock, Nick served as a student representative for the ARID Biennial conference in Springdale, Arkansas (2013) and Little Rock, Arkansas (2015). He also served as President and Member-at-Large for the campus organization, Sigma Lambda Kappa, the sign language club sponsored by UA Little Rock for students.
Nick has also served the interpreting profession as a support staff member at the Region IV conferences in Des Moines, Iowa (2014) and Houston, Texas (2016).
Nick has served as Treasurer for the Arkansas Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (ARID) Board of Directors (2017-2019) and also served on the ARID Biennial Fundraising Committee (2017). He currently works as a community and video relay interpreter and is happy to have another chance to serve ARID as the 2019-2021 Treasurer.
NeCol Whitehead, QAST -Member-at-Large (District 1)
NeCol Whitehead lives in Fayetteville, AR where she currently works as an Independent Living Specialist at Sources. Sources provides services, support, and advocacy for individuals with disabilities, their families, and the community.
NeCol has been involved in the Deaf community for approximately 15 years. She currently holds a Quality Assurance Screening Test (QAST) level and is working on meeting requirements for national certification.
NeCol is a current and active ARID member. NeCol supports Deaf individuals and activities in NorthWest Arkansas. She is completing a degree in Public Policy with an emphasis in Disability Policy. She is working on completing her dissertation entitled “Legislating Social Inclusion: Middle Level Students Perception of People with Disabilities.”
NeCol served as the MAL for District 1 from 2018-2019, and is eager to see what the next two years of service as the MAL for District 1 (2019-2021) will bring to her
Rhonda Read, QAST- Member-at-Large (District 2)
Rhonda Read is a 2019 Graduate of the University of Arkansas Little Rock Interpreter Education Program (UA Little Rock IEP). Rhonda is currently working to complete all of her coursework and internship requirements (2019)
Prior to being elected to the ARID Board, Rhonda participated in many volunteer opportunities including the ARID Biennial Conference (2017), the RID Region IV Conference (2018), and the ARID Biennial Conference (2019)
Rhonda has previously served as Treasurer for Sigma Lambda Kappa, the sign language club sponsored by UA Little Rock (2018-2019)
When not focused on her studies, interpreting skills, or philanthropic activities, Rhonda enjoys spending time with her husband, five children, their spouses, and her two grandchildren
Rhonda is very much looking forward to the opportunity to serving ARID as MAL for District 2 (2019-2021).
Brittny Hogan, QAST-Member-at-Large (District 3)
Brittny grew up locally in the Natural State. While working in mental and behavioral health, she gained experience working with interpreters and began to be encouraged by Deaf students to learn American Sign Language. Brittny is a graduate of the Interpreting Education Program at UA Little Rock (2018).
During her time as a student, Brittny served as a student representative, as well as a conference committee member for the ARID Biennial Conference in Bentonville, AR (2017). Brittny also served as Support Staff at the TSID, Region IV Joint Conference in Houston, TX (2016).
Brittny received her Bachelor’s Degree in Interpretation: ASL/English. She completed her internship in the beautiful mountains in Colorado at Aspen Camp of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. She holds a Quality Assurance Screening Test (QAST) level and is always striving to learn. Brittny is currently an active member of ARID, as well as a member of the Little Rock Black Deaf Advocates.
In her spare time, Brittny enjoys spending time with her friends, family, and her sweet fur babies. She loves to make others laugh and never meets a stranger.
Brittny was elected Member-at-Large (District 3) and is excited to be serving ARID.
District 1 Counties: Baxter, Benton, Boone, Carroll, Cleburne, Conway, Crawford, Franklin, Fulton, Izard, Johnson, Logan, Madison, Marion, Montgomery, Newton, Perry, Polk, Pope, Scott, Searcy, Sebastian, Stone, Van Buren, Washington, and Yell
District 2 Counties: Arkansas, Clay, Craighead, Crittenden, Cross, Faulkner, Greene, Independence, Jackson, Lawrence, Lee, Lonoke, Mississippi, Monroe, Phillips, Poinsett, Prairie, Randolph, Sharp, St. Francis, White, and Woodruff
District 3 counties:Ashley, Bradley, Calhoun, Chicot, Clark, Cleveland, Columbia, Dallas, Desha, Drew, Garland, Grant, Hempstead, Hot Spring, Howard, Jefferson, Lafeyette, Lincoln, Liver River, Miller, Nevada, Ouachita, Pike, Pulaski, Saline, Sevier, and Union
Have you ever thought, “I know I have ideas that would really benefit the interpreting community”? Or, “How can I be more involved?” Joining the ARID board would be just the way to do it. It’s also an excellent opportunity to learn more about our profession and our community and to network with interpreters across the country. It’s an excellent opportunity that you won’t find anywhere else! Contact the ARID President if you have an interest in a leadership position with ARID.