CONFERENCE HISTORY:

1st conference

Theme: “Deaf Women United”

Year: 1985

Where: Santa Monica, CA| GLAD

Keynote speaker: Barbara Brauer

Chair of conference: Marcella Meyers

Founders of DWU | First Board of Directors: Chris “CB” Buchholz, Allie Joiner, Marcia (Kessler) Nowak, Sheila Conlon-Mentkowski, Dr. Betty G. Miller, Sandra Ammons and Gwendolyn (Speaks) Trujillo.

2nd conference

Theme: “Diversity… Growing Together”

Year: 1987

Where: Fairfax, Virginia | George Washington University

Keynote speaker: Barbara Jean Wood

Chairwoman of conference: Kathy Jankowski

New Board of Directors: Elizabeth Aviles, Lois Hoover, Kathy Jankowski and Marilyn Knetzer

3rd conference

Theme: “New Perspectives”

Year: 1990

Where: Boston, Massachusetts | Bentley College

Keynote speaker: Roz Rosen

Chairwoman of conference: Yvonne Dunkle

New Board of Directors: Nancy J. Bloch, Nancy Creighton, Martha Scribner Kasarda, Donna Platt and Jaqueline S. Roth.

4th Conference

Theme: “Renaissance, Rebirth, Renewal”

Year: 1993

Where: New Brunswick, New Jersey | Brunswick Hilton Tower Center

Keynote speaker: Gertie Galloway, Rosie Serna, and Sharon Kay Wood

Chairwoman of conference: Eileen Forestal

New Board of Directors: Lisa E. Flynn, Vicki Hurwitz, Cassandra Boryslawski, Susan Jackson and Luanne Kowalski

5th Conference

Theme: “In Celebration of Self”

Year: 1995

Where: Seattle, Washington | Hyatt Regency Hotel

Keynote speaker: Kathy Jankowski

Chairwoman of conference: Marilyn J Smith

New Board of Directors: Genie Gertz, MJ Bienvenu, Marsha Northrup and Colleen D. Daviton

6th Conference

Theme: “Together We Accomplish More”

Year: 1997

Where: Rochester, New York | Hyatt Regency

Keynote speaker: Laurene Gallimore

Chairwoman of conference: Colleen Daviton

New Board of Directors: Bridget Bonheyo, Lisa Jacobs, Sandra McLennon, Damara Paris and Tina Jo Breindel

7th Conference

Theme: “Leading Deaf Women into the Next Century”

Year: 1999

Where: San Diego, California | Catamaran Resort

Keynote speaker: Sharon Carter

Chairwoman of conference: Tina Jo Breindel

New Board of Directors: Teresa T. Murbach, Allie Joiner, Lisa Furr, Jo Bienvenu

8th Conference

Theme: “A Kaleidoscope of Deaf Women”

Year: 2001

Where: Austin, Texas | Omni Austin

Keynote speaker:Dr. Rachel Stone and Astrid Goodstein

Chairwoman of conference:Jo Bievenu

New Board of Directors: Darlene Zangara, Elissa Olsen, Kubby Rashid, and Deb Kuglitsch

9th Conference

Theme: “Women Being Together”

Year: 2003

Where: Sioux Falls, South Dakota | Holiday Inn City Centre

Keynote speaker: Ann Marie Mickelson

Chairwoman of conference: Deb Kuglitsch

New Board of Directors: Jo Bienvenu, Melissa Draganac-Hawk, and Janna Montagnino

10th Conference (317)

Theme: “The Key to Success”

Year: 2005

Where: Ellicott City, Maryland | Turf Valley Resort, Spa and Conference Center

Keynote speaker: Tiffany Williams-Granfors

Chairwoman of conference: Lori Bonheyo

New Board of Directors: Onudeah “Oni” Nicolarakis, Jennifer Ann Cook “JAC”

11th Conference  (100)

Theme: ”Eyes Up New Roads”

Year: 2007

Where: New Orleans, Louisiana | Hilton New Orleans

Keynote speaker: Phyllis Frelich

Chairwoman of conference: Pauline Wood

New Board of Directors: Sheli Barber, Shelley Oishi, Damara Paris, Stephanie Summers and Peggy Ann Wenger

12th Conference (170)

Theme:”Honoring Our Deaf Women Pioneers”

Year: 2009

Where: Portland, Oregon | Red Lion Jantzen Beach

Keynote speaker: Miriam Richards

Chairwoman of conference: Damara Paris

New Board of Directors: Adele Ann Eberwein, Brenda Schertz, Shilpa Hanumantha and Stephanie Summers

13th Conference

Theme: “Your Path: The Way Life Should Be”

Year: 2011

Where: Portland, Maine |

Keynote speaker: Arlene Kelly

Chairwoman of conference: Brenda Schertz

New Board of Directors: Keri Darling, Bethany Gehman, Alana Beal, Ami Tsuji-Jones, Arlene Gunderson

14th Conference

Theme: Visualize, Innovate, Act

Year: 2013

Where: San Antonio, Texas  | Marriott Plaza San Antonio

Keynote Speaker: Melissa Draganac- Hawk

Co-Chair of conference: Shelley Oishi and Peggy Ann Wenger

New Board of Directors: Tamara Suiter Ocuto, Melissa Huber, Sabra Carlin, Caroline Koo, Amanda Tuite, Karina Pedersen

15th Conference

Theme: Herstory: Growing & Evolving

Year: 2015

Where: Berkeley, California  | Claremont Resort & Spa

Keynote Speaker: Ella Mae Lentz, Flavia Fleischer & Najma Stephanie Johnson

Co-Chairs of conference: JAC Cook & Karina Pedersen

New Board of Directors: Jazzy Jones, Lisa Hermatz, Lissette Molina Wood, Soccoro Moore

17th Conference

Theme: Viva Miami

Year: 2017

Where: Miami, Florida

Keynote Speaker: MJ Beinvenu, Claudia Gordon, Roberta “Bobbi” Cordano, and Debbie Meranski Blumenson

Co-Chairs of conference: June McMahon & Lissette Molina Wood

New Board of Directors: Jessica Madsen, Kim Minard, Kristina Bernhardt

18th Conference

Theme: Shine Your Own Light- #DWUPHX2019

Year: 2019

Where: Phoenix, Arizona

Keynote Speaker: Sherri Collins and Storm Smith

Co-Chairs of conference:  Kim Minard & Belinda Carroll

New Board of Directors: Kim Minard, Renca Dunn, Emily Catalfamo, Rosevetta Jackson, Nicolette Obidos, Julie Spigner, Julia Anderson

19th Conference

Theme: Soar with the Wind

Year: 2023

Where: Chicago, Illinois

Keynote Speaker: Maria Hernandez, Darian B. Gambrell

Co-Chairs of conference:  Kim Minard & Julia Anderson

New Board of Directors: TBA!