Meet the 2021-2023 ARID Board!
These individuals volunteer their time and energy to ensure that our professional organization is one of the best around.
Nicholas Winchell-President
Nicholas Winchell is an Arkansas Licensed Interpreter and has been interpreting within the Arkansas Deaf, Deaf-Blind, and Hard of Hearing communities since 2015. He currently holds Mid-America Quality Assurance Screening Test (QAST) and EIPA credentials. Nick has worked in a variety of settings; his favorite setting to interpret is anything related to the practice of medicine. He is currently the staff interpreter and program developer at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS)
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 the Treasurer for the Arkansas Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (ARID) Board of Directors (2017-2019) & (2019-2021) and also served on the ARID Biennial Fundraising Committee Chair (2017). Nick is truly excited to have the opportunity to serve as ARID President (2021-2023).
Chrystal Honorable-Vice President
Chrystal Honorable has been working as a sign language interpreter for nearly 10 years. She currently holds an Arkansas QAST Level 5/5 credential and is an Arkansas Licensed Interpreter. She received her Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 2001. After interacting and working with several members in the Deaf community, she became interested in becoming an interpreter. She then went back to obtain a Bachelor of Arts degree in Interpreting: ASL/English in 2014.
Chrystal has a broad base of experience from years of working as a full-time staff interpreter with Arkansas Rehabilitation Services, a part-time as a Video Relay Interpreter with Sorenson Communications, as well as community interpreting.
Chrystal has always been an active member of ARID. She has served on several committees in the organization. She began as a support staff member for the biennial conference (2011), then as the Silent Auction Committee Chair and Co-chair (2015 and 2017), and is a current member of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee (DEIC). She also served the interpreting profession as a support staff member at the Region IV conference (2014). The opportunity to serve on the ARID Board of Directors started as the Member-at-Large District 2 (2014-2015), then as Secretary (2015-2017).
Chrystal supports Deaf community organizations and is a member of Little Rock Black Deaf Advocates(LRBDA). She also enjoys the opportunity to work with and mentor interpreting students, novice interpreters, and is a facilitator for the Arkansas Interpreters of Color group. Chrystal is the 2021 recipient of the Barbara E. Northup Excellence in Community Service Award. Learning is a passion, and she continues to enjoy attending trainings and conferences as time permits. In her free time, she enjoys bowling, traveling, photography and spending time with family.
Chrystal is excited to take on this new role as Vice President for the 2021-2023 term.
Melina Rivera-Secretary
Native from The Bronx, New York City, I came from a large Deaf family, 2 CODA sons and residing in Little Rock for 6 years now with my wife, Lauri. I used to be a veterinary technician for several years and worked on the Deaf cruises for few years. I worked at Arkansas School for the Deaf for 5 years as a high school paraprofessional, ASL coach, language facilitator and ran ASL lab. I am currently DI, Deaf Interpreter for Arkansas full time and in the interpreting program at Western Oregon University to purse my Bachelor degree. Working as a DI is my passion and giving back to the Deaf community as a Deaf advocate. I love to travel, animals and out in the nature especially kayaking with my wife. We have 3 dogs and a ball python.
This is a very exciting time for me because I am very new to be ARID secretary. I look forward to new challenges and experience that will be coming to me and to ARID!!!
NeCol Whitehead-Treasurer
NeCol Whitehead has a Doctor of Philosophy in Public Policy. She is an Independent Living Specialist and Peer Support Facilitator for Sources, a 501c3 community based non-profit organization. Dr. Whitehead is devoted to building a sense of community whenever possible. She enjoys helping individuals connect with the emotional and practical support they need.
Dr. Whitehead is passionate about her job and responsibilities. She loves constant human interaction and relishes in the satisfaction that comes with helping people become better. Dr. Whitehead has worked with individuals with various backgrounds and has a unique interest in working with the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing. Her interest led her to becoming a certified American Sign Language interpreter. She is active in her community and serves on various boards and committees.
Stephanie Ott-Member-at-Large (District 1)
Stephanie has been interpreting since 2009 right out of high school. She graduated magna cum laude from UA Little Rock’s Interpreter Education Program in 2013. While there, she served as President of the Sign Language Klub. After graduation, Stephanie worked full-time as a Staff Interpreter at Arkansas Rehabilitation Services and part-time at Sorenson. Eventually, she wanted to get back to the world of Independent Contracting, and aside from a four year stint as an Educational Interpreter, that’s what she has done. Another of Stephanie’s passions is working as a Support Service Provider for the Arkansas DeafBlind Community.
Stephanie is currently on the Advisory Board for Interpreters for the Deaf. She holds her NIC and EIPA 3.5 but is looking forward to one day adding more of the “alphabet” behind her name. Outside of interpreting, she enjoys church, doing everything with her dog Zoe, spoiling her three nieces, time with family and friends, reading, traveling, music, dancing and all things theatre. She is ecstatic to be serving her first term on the ARID Board and cannot wait to serve you all!
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 beginning her third year at he Arkansas School for the Deaf as a paraprofessional and doing some community work in the deaf community.
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 furthering her 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 2 for her second term.
Aaron Johnson-Member-at-Large (District 3)
Aaron Johnson is finishing her internship with UA Little Rock Interpreter Education Program fall of 2021. As a student, Aaron has volunteered with Little Rock Black Deaf Advocates. She is also apart of Arkansas Interpreters of Color. Aaron served as the Sign Language Klub Treasurer (2019-2020) and as President (2020-2021). Aaron has volunteered with ARID since 2019. She also helped with the Silent Auction that took place for 2021 ARID Biennial Conference.
In her spare time, Aaron enjoys binge watching tv shows/ movies, cooking, hanging out with loved ones, and having a good conversation!
By accepting the MAL 3 position, Aaron wants to get out of her comfort zone and improve her overall skills. By doing this Aaron will be involved in the Deaf and interpreting community and growing her relationship with both communities. She is excited about being MAL 3 for the 2021-2023 term.
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.