Our Team

Deanna Gagne is a professor at Gallaudet University, with expertise in child development, specializing in how children acquire and create language.

Desiree Kirst is a key member of the MAC Lab team at Gallaudet University, supporting the lab's research operations, community coordination, and ongoing studies in language acquisition and protactile communication.

Hayley Broadway is a Protactile expert and education specialist with experience in curriculum design, teaching, and working with families of DeafBlind children.

An aspiring data analyst with an MA degree in deaf cultural studies at Gallaudet University and a BA degree in Biomedical Science at RIT.

Jenna Gorlewicz is a professor at Saint Louis University, who specializes in designing touch-based communication technologies.

Esther (Esty) Brenowitz is a white DeafBlind Ph.D. student in the Critical Studies in the Education of Deaf Learners at Gallaudet University.

Kaj Kraus is a PhD candidate in the Department of Linguistics at Gallaudet University. His research investigates how deaf and hard of hearing adults learn ASL as a second language, and explores different linguistic and cognitive factors that may affect proficiency. In his free time, he enjoys mountain biking, skiing, and running.

Marjorie Bates is a PhD candidate in Linguistics at Gallaudet University. As a hearing, second-language learner of ASL and Protactile, Marjorie is interested in the cognitive processes (e.g., attention, metaphorical mapping) that contribute to understanding across modalities, including visual (sign, gesture, written), tactile, and spoken/auditory.

Phoenix Cook is a PhD student in the Department of Linguistics at Gallaudet University, conducting research on language acquisition and cognition in deaf and DeafBlind populations.

She worked on bimodal bilingual projects.

Ashley Jackson is a research assistant with the MAC Lab, contributing to studies on language acquisition and providing support across research projects in the areas of deaf and DeafBlind communication.

Kim Powers is a member of the MAC Lab's Austin Team, contributing to research activities and community engagement efforts focused on protactile and DeafBlind language development.

Jessica Ennis is a member of the MAC Lab's Austin Team, supporting field research and data collection efforts related to protactile language acquisition and DeafBlind communication.

John Lee Clark is a DeafBlind author, poet, and protactile advocate who contributes to the MAC Lab's work on protactile language and DeafBlind culture and communication.

Jason Herbers is a member of the MAC Lab team, contributing to the study of protactile language and supporting research with DeafBlind children and families.

Kenni Ramirez is a research assistant with the MAC Lab, supporting data collection and analysis across ongoing studies in protactile language acquisition and sign language learning.

Jelica Nuccio is a member of the MAC Lab team, bringing lived experience and expertise as a DeafBlind protactile practitioner to the lab's research and outreach.

Roberto Cabrera is a member of the MAC Lab team at Gallaudet University, supporting research initiatives focused on protactile language and DeafBlind communication.

My journey encompasses being a DeafBlind mentor, raising two Deaf children and following the Protactile movement. I interact with many DeafBlind folks from all backgrounds and in different environments/platforms, such as at retreats, through direct training and on listservs. Fostering access to information through touch allows us to lead meaningful lives.

Heather Holmes is a member of the MAC Lab team at Gallaudet University, contributing to research on language, cognition, and communication in deaf and DeafBlind communities.

Marie Coppola, PhD is a collaborating researcher affiliated with the MAC Lab, bringing expertise in language emergence and the study of communication in deaf and hearing populations.

Terra Edwards, PhD is a collaborating researcher affiliated with the MAC Lab, whose work focuses on protactile language and the linguistic and social practices of the DeafBlind community.