DWU BOARD – Deaf Women United

Lissette Molina Wood

Accountability Chair

Lissette Molina Wood was born and raised in Miami, Floria. She graduated from Gallaudet University with a BA degree in Psychology. Formerly a middle school teacher of the deaf and students with special needs in the Miami-Dade Public Schools.

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Light skinned female with long brown hair with lipstick.

Jazzy Jones

Operations Chair

Currently residing in Rochester, by way of Buffalo, Jazzy earned her bachelor’s degree in business and communications from Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) in 2005. After graduation, Jazzy’s deep-seated passion for all things travel and social began with online storytelling. She spent her post-graduation years working for a major airline and travel retailer before switching gears to event planning and social media management. Years of experience has bought her back to her RIT roots, where she now serves as Assistant Director of Regional Outreach Projects. Jazzy is active with Deaf Women United and currently serves on the board as Operations Chair.

However, Jazzy’s favorite title in the world is “Auntie”. In her spare time, when she’s not doting on her 8 nieces and nephews, (including one on the way), you can often find Jazzy dashing through the airport to her next leisure destination. Jazzy also enjoys exploring vineyards, dancing to Prince music and rooting for everybody black.

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Elvia Guillermo

Finance Chair

Elvia Guillermo received her Master’s degree in Administration and Supervision from Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. Earlier, she received her Bachelor’s in Computer Information Systems from El Centro Universitario Guadalajara Lamar in Guadalajara, Mexico.

She is currently the coordinator for Multicultural Student Programs (MSP) at Gallaudet University since 2003. MSP is an umbrella program under the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and the Office of Diversity and Equity for Students. MSP creates a campus environment that encourages the participation of students who are part of racial, ethnic, and international groups.

Ms. Guillermo is the co-founder of the Latino Deaf and Hard of Hearing Association of the Metropolitan DC Area, Inc. She was the vice-president of this organization from 2005 to 2008. She was also the President of the National Council of Hispano Deaf and Hard of Hearing (The new name of this organization is Council de Manos) from January 2013 to Jan 2015. She used to be the vice-president from 2008 – 2012 as well.
She is the Vice-President of the Organization for Equity of Deaf Staff of Color, Gallaudet University since 2015.

In her spare time she enjoys reading books, painting, watching movies and riding a bike to explore the beautiful DC community. She also likes going to restaurants and spending time with her friends and enjoying having good conversations.

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Jessica Madsen

Outreach Chair

Jessica Madsen, was born and raised in Northwest suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design from Gallaudet University in 2008 and a Masters of Science in Deaf Education from NTID in 2010. She currently resides in Phoenix, Arizona and teaches Technology at Phoenix Day School for the Deaf. from 2015-2017, she was the Social Media Coordinator for the Phoenix Deaf Women Organization Board. In her free time, Jessica enjoys being outdoors and spending quality time with her husband, Scott and son, Bryant with a second child on the way in August 2018. She also loves to root for the Chicago Blackhawks and Chicago Cubs. Her passions include photography, graphic design, art, and athletics. Jessica is thrilled to be part of the DWU Board and she believes educating and empowering Deaf women will support a thriving Deaf community.

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Kristina Bernhardt

Programs Chair

Kristina Bernhardt is a first-generation American who immigrated from Moscow, Russia at a young age. After growing up on Long Island, New York, she attended Gallaudet and Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT); after graduating from RIT with a Bachelor’s in political science and a nurtured, profound passion in organizational leadership and administration, she decided to pursue a Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration from Northeastern University.

While Kristina loves working hard, she also loves to play hard! She fulfills her passion of traveling, having been to more than 20 countries, by finding ways to travel. Currently, she is in Switzerland for a five month internship, living out her dream of a solo journey of living abroad, even temporarily! She is obsessed with trying new vegan recipes (and eating the yummy results) along with reading mind-provoking books, learning about social justice, practicing mindfulness, and meeting people of different backgrounds.

Kristina feels honored to hold a position on the Deaf Women United Board as the Program Development Chair as she is proud to identify as a Deaf woman and she aspires to inspire others in embracing their identity through different channels through her investment in DWU’s Programming that is provided to Deaf women all over the United States.

Want to learn more? Feel free to email Kristina

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Kim Minard

Conference Chair

Kim grew up in Midwest (born in Iowa, lived in Illinois and Kansas). She graduated from Gallaudet University in Communication Arts. She finally broke ties with the Midwest and relocated to beautiful Arizona! She currently works for Arizona Commission for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing (ACDHH) as a Deaf Specialist.

She serves on the Deaf Women United (DWU) board as a conference chair and is on the Phoenix Deaf Women Organization (PDWO) board, Special Projects chair, planning for the #dwuphx2019 conference. She is ecstatic and looking forward to meeting all the wonderful, diverse and extraordinary women that the conference has to offer.

She loves good wine and good company! She LOVES to cook, especially for her friends and family! Most importantly, she loves Jalapeno, her 11 year old Cocker Spaniel to death!

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