Deaf in STEM Conference Presenters

Alex Abenchuchan
Founder of the Daily Moth

Alex Abenchuchan is the founder and host of “The Daily Moth,” an online news channel that covers trending topics in the U.S. and around the world in American Sign Language (ASL). The channel has over 350,000 followers across social media platforms and has a worldwide reach among those in the signing community.

Alex grew up in Florida and attended the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind as well as taking classes at local public schools. He went to Gallaudet University and graduated with a BA in Religious Studies. He studied at the Sunset International Bible Institute in Texas and received a Bachelor of Biblical Studies.

Alex’s first career path was as a minister and a Bible school teacher, but he had a change in beliefs in 2013 and left the church. He became a long-term sub teacher at the Texas School for the Deaf where he taught students who had a passion about reading and learning about current events.

Alex decided to start “The Daily Moth” in 2015 to provide news recaps in ASL covering top stories and Deaf news. With support from the Deaf community and major sponsorships from businesses, the channel has been able to continue delivering news in ASL today.

Alex has a wife of 15 years, Alexa, who is a proud Canadian. They have a seven-year-old girl, Rubi. They currently live in the Detroit area with their German shepherd dog and three felines.

Sara Blick-Nitko
Post-Doctoral Researcher at the University of Rochester

Sara Blick-Nitko graduated with her Associate's degree in Laboratory Science Technology from NTID then received her Bachelor's degree in Biomedical Sciences from RIT. Sara then went to pursue her master's degree in Professional Studies with concentrations in Health Systems Administration, Biology and Bioinformatics at RIT. Once she completed her Masters, Sara then attended the University of Rochester to obtain her PhD degree in Pathology and graduated this past May. Sara focused on the role of platelet Ido1 and tryptophan metabolism in Plasmodium yoelii uncomplicated malaria infection. Sara is now a post-doctoral researcher in the laboratory of Dr. Isaac Harris at the University of Rochester where she is focusing on cancer metabolism and utilizing MultifunctionApproach to Pharmacologic Screening (MAPS), a high-throughput pharmacological screening technique, by the Harris Lab to study vulnerabilities in cancer cells. Sara is also passionate about improving accessibility in the fields of STEM for deaf professionals in higher education.

Kathy Chen-Petrus
Financial Planning and Analysis Manager

Kathy Chen-Petrus graduated from RIT '94, majored in Marketing, minored in minority relations. Played on the RIT tennis team, was #1 player in both singles and doubles. Received my masters in public administration from Troy State in '00. Worked in the federal government as a budget analyst for over 28 year. And have switched over in Feb to working in higher ed. Currently resides in VA.

Walter LaPlante
Controls & Industrial Connectivity Supervisor

Walter LaPlante is a Controls & Industrial Connectivity Supervisor in Ford Stamping Engineering group. Walter is currently responsible for a team of 8 people who are working on developing, testing, and implementing machine controls for standardized deployment. Walter holds an advanced diploma in Mechanical Engineering Technology from St. Clair College, a Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical Engineering from McMaster University, and currently pursuing a Master of Science in Industrial Systems Engineering at Wayne State University.

Carly Leannah
Ph.D. Candidate in Educational Neuroscience

Carly is a deaf PhD Candidate in Educational Neuroscience at Gallaudet University. She graduated from RIT/NTID after studying psychology and deaf education and then worked as a teacher for DHH and/or ASL students for five years. As a PhD student, Carly’s research focuses on enhancing deaf education and understanding the role of language in learning and cognition, including STEM learning. Her current dissertation research project focuses on the impact of various technologies on STEM learning processes, specifically in embodied learning and related neurocognitive processes. Carly will share her experiences and research as a deaf PhD student who will soon defend her dissertation.

Mariam Paracha, PharmD
Visiting Assistant Professor for the Department of Science and Mathematics with NTID

Mariam Paracha, PharmD is a visiting assistant professor of the Department of Science and Math at RIT/NTID. Her career goal is to become an independently-funded tenured faculty member, with a focus on health disparities research and training. As a Deaf healthcare professional and researcher, she is determined to contribute to the Deaf and Hard-of Hearing (DHH) community. She leads in two research projects: 1) RxASL, an American Sign Language translation tool that allows DHH users to independently learn medication information 2) Clear Mask, a new prototype of clear face mask that allows DHH users to communicate at ease and support accessibility, compliance, and function. Since August 2021, she leads in teaching biology course in NITD and mentors research assistants in Deaf Hub.

Emmanuel Perrodin-Njoku
Research Associate (at the Center for Deaf Health Equity at Gallaudet University)

Emmanuel Perrodin-Njoku, B.S., is an alumnus of the Rochester Institute of Technology, graduating summa cum laude with honors from the Biomedical Sciences program in 2018. He currently resides in his hometown, Washington, DC, and works as a Postbaccalaureate Research Associate at Gallaudet University’s Center for Deaf Health Equity. Before his current role in public health research, he served as a research fellow at the National Cancer Institute. His next career step involves applying to medical schools to obtain an MD degree.

Victoria Popov
Doctoral Student

A life with ups and downs takes you further and faster than a monotonous and linear line. While my journey to becoming the deaf Ph.D. candidate in neuroscience I am today was not linear, the experiences I accumulated along my career journey taught me the power of networking and trusting you will find your career niche.

Dr. Barbara Spiecker
Founder of Atomic Hands

Barbara Spiecker (she, her, hers) is a deaf marine ecologist at University of New Hampshire who uses mathematical and statistical tools, coupled with experiments and field observations, to answer questions related to responses of marine communities to climate change and monitoring and management of marine habitats. She is a co-founder of a non-profit, Atomic Hands that focuses on making science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) engaging through American Sign Language (ASL). Atomic Hands creates videos covering varying STEM topics, gives presentations and training nationally and internationally on how to deliver STEM topics in ASL, and offers ASL-English translation services for anything STEM related. Barbara has also worked with state- and nationally-funded projects on developing STEM signs in ASL and state education departments to translate English-based standardized tests in ASL. She has a Ph.D. in Integrative Biology from Oregon State University, M.S. in Marine Biology from Northeastern University, and a B.S. in Biology from Rochester Institute of Technology.

Ebony “Geeky” Watson
Job Title: Creative Director/Footwear Designer

Ebony "Geeky" Watson, a trailblazing Black, Deaf, Female Creative Director/Footwear Designer of African American and Puerto Rican descent, defies labels. Born in Harlem, raised in The Bronx, Geeky's severe bilateral hearing loss since birth hasn't hindered her pursuit of dreams in a hearing world. Her struggles have instilled grace, perseverance, and an unwavering determination to succeed, making resilience her middle name.

Geeky's artistic journey began early, influenced by her dad as her first art teacher at age two and Ms. B. Rich Jackson, who introduced her to computers. At 7, she fixed a radio, sparking her passion for technology. Studying Computer Engineering and Fine Arts, she earned a Footwear Design certificate from The Yellowbrick Sneaker Essentials and completed programs at renowned institutions.

Her passion led to roles at a Fortune 500 company and the creation of a successful branding company, managing digital marketing for notable clients. Featured in news articles, art shows, and educational programs, Geeky's impact extends to the Black Footwear Forum and Complex Con. She teaches, delivers keynotes, and appears in the documentary "Sign the Show."

Geeky's creative prowess transcends boundaries, merging art and technology to challenge norms in fashion, entertainment, luxury goods, and technology. She takes pride in crafting disruptive lifestyle designs, experiences, and technology, redefining the essence of a consumer brand. For Geeky, creativity knows no boundaries.

Dr. Alica Wooten
Founder of Atomic Hands

Alicia Wooten (she, her, hers) is a deaf immunologist and biology professor at Gallaudet University. Her expertise is in lung biology, infectious diseases, and the immune system. She has done research on HIV, autoimmune diseases, and Streptococcus pneumoniae, a bacterium that causes pneumonia. She is a co-founder of Atomic Hands, a non-profit that focuses on engaging the community in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) through American Sign Language (ASL) while also fostering collaboration and networking opportunities among deaf STEMists. Alicia is involved in public health efforts such as the COVID-19 pandemic, developing STEM-specific educational resources in ASL, and plans to become a master naturalist. She has a Ph.D in Molecular and Translational Medicine at Boston University, and a B.S. in Biomedical Sciences from Rochester Institute of Technology.