Faculty & Staff
Faculty & Staff
About the Faculty and Staff
The ASL-English Interpretation Department's ability to provide premier American Sign Language and interpretation education relies on the expertise and experience of its faculty. Our faculty roster includes some of the best minds in Deaf culture and interpretation. Many have gained national and international prominence.
The faculty consist of Deaf and hearing individuals who are native users of American Sign Language, experts in Deaf Culture and Linguistics and nationally certified interpreters. 
Carly Flagg, MA, CI/CT
Department Chairperson
Associate Professor
Carly holds a Master of Arts in ASL-English Interpretation from Gallaudet University as well as CI (Certificate of Interpretation) and CT (Certificate of Transliteration) from the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf. Additionally, Carly has a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education from Smith College and has completed training in child advocacy under the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program. Carly regularly presents on strategies for passing the Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA), ASL to English Interpretation, Interpretation of Frozen Texts and Performance Art Interpreting and Ethical Decision Making for Interpreters. In addition, Carly has research interests in service learning in the classroom, interpreters and the use of swear words, the interpreter as a social-cultural liaison and the use of self-reflection in the training of interpreters. When not teaching and interpreting, Carly plays the hammered dulcimer, runs and enjoys time with her daughter.
Diana Gorman Jamrozik, MA, CI/CT
Associate Professor
Diana Gorman Jamrozik is an Associate Professor in the ASL-English Interpretation Department, and has been affiliated with the department since 1998. She has a Master's Degree in Interpretation from <?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = ST1 />
Dr James W. Van Manen, PH.D., CI/CT
Assistant Professor
Jim holds a Ph.D. in Administration and a Master of Arts in Linguistics of signed languages, both from Gallaudet University. He also holds the CI (Certificate of Interpretation) and CT (Certificate of Transliteration) from the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf. Jim's Bachelor of Arts in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) is from the University of Northern Iowa. Jim is a speaker who has presents on a variety of topics including Interpreting Humor, Deaf History, Interpreters Ethics, Educational Interpreting, Linguistics, and the ADA. Jim's research interests include: Educational Interpreting, Deaf History, Interpreter History, and how non-native users of ASL learn to comprehend fingerspelling. Jim is a coda (he has deaf parents) and works as an interpreter when not teaching and is involved in several artistic pursuits having to do with hands and the depiction of iconic images from American Sign Language in paint, prints and wire sculptures.
Peter Cook, BFA
Assistant Professor
Peter S. Cook is an internationally reputed Deaf performing artist whose works incorporates American Sign Language, pantomime, storytelling, acting, and movement.
Peter has traveled extensively around the country and aboard with Flying Words Project to promote ASL Literature with Kenny Lerner since 1986. Peter has appeared in Live from Off Center’s “Words on Mouth” (PBS) and “United States of Poetry” (PBS) produced by Emmy winner Bob Holman. Peter teaches at Columbia College where he received the 1997 Excellence in Teaching award. In 1998, Peter set up a video production called PC Production and now based in Chicago.
Peter was featured nationally in festivals such as the Jonesboro National Storytelling Festival, Oklahoma City Winter Tales, Illinois Storytelling Festival, Indiana Hoosier Storytelling Festival, Eugene Oregon Multi-Cultural Festival, and The Deaf Way II and the Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Peter was invited to the White House to join the National Book Festival in 2003. Internationally, Peter has worked with Deaf storytellers/poets in Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Japan.
Peter is currently graduate student in the storytelling master program at East Tenn. State University and teaches full time in ASL-English Interpretation Department at Columbia College. He loves to tell stories to his son.
K. Crom Saunders, M.A
Visiting Lecturer
Crom Saunders has been teaching ASL for a decade or so at institutions such as
Crom has interpreted dozens of plays, from children’s theatre to musicals, recent work including the touring Broadway shows "Spamalot" and "Rent ". Since this is not a busy enough schedule for Crom, he has his own one-man show, “Cromania!”, which tours nationwide, featuring over 40 different characters, comedy, improv, and storytelling, allowing audiences a glimpse into his warped imagination. He also tours regularly with ASL Comedy Tour, hosted by the nationally acclaimed ASL comedian, Keith Wann. <?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = O />
Crom co-founded ICEWORM, a nationally touring troupe which featured improv and sketch comedy during its 7 year run. He now directs plays as well as acting in them, the latest production being "2258: A Comedy of Cosmic Proportions" the latest of several plays to be produced from Crom’s scripts. Crom currently has a MA in English/Creative Writing.
Lisa Butler
Director of Communications and Research
Full-Time Staff
Lynn Cachey, BFA
Lab Manger
Full-Time Staff
Nina Campbell, AS
Administrative Assistant
Full-Time Staff
Nina currently holds an A.S. Degree in Business Administrations from Rochester Institute of Technology. Nina has been involved in numerous organizations such as Ebony Club (Black Deaf Organization), BACC (Black Awareness Committee Coordination), and a sister of Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority (Tri-Sigma). During her free time, Nina enjoys hanging out with family and friends.
Angela Malcomson CT, NIC-MA
Adjunct Faculty
Angela currently holds a Certificate of Transliteration from the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf as well as credentials from Boys Town National Research Hospital in Educational Interpreting through the Educational Interpreters Performance Assessment. Angela received her BA Degree from Columbia College Chicago in 1996, majoring in American Sign Language - English Interpretation. She is currently pursing a Masters in Interpreting Pedagogy Degree from Northeastern University in Boston. Angela teachers Simultaneous Interpreting: Monologues and Transliteration/Educational Interpreting. Her research interests include language variation and program exit criteria and standards.
Carrie Speakman, MA
Adjunct Faculty
Rev. George V. Hudgins III, MDiv., MTS
Adjunct Faculty
"Tripp" is Pastor at the Community Church of Wilmette which has served as a field education placement for student interpreters. He team teaches Interpreting in Religious Contexts.
Heather Nowicki, BA
Adjunct Faculty
Jennifer Day, BA
Adjunct Faculty
Jennifer Hart, B.S.
Adjunct Faculty
Hi, my name is Jennifer Hart. I graduated from NIU with a B.S. in Deaf Education. I have been with Columbia College on and off since 1999. I currently teach ASL I. I will also be teaching Deaf Culture in the fall. On a personal note, I love animals, reading, writing, acting and photography. I am proud to be a part of Columbia College!
Lissa Treger, BA
Adjunct Faculty
Leandra Williams, MA
Adjunct Faculty
Michael Nesmith, BA
Adjunct Faculty
Patti Phadke, MA
Adjunct Faculty
BA in Mathematics and Secondary Education from Gallaudet College (now known as Gallaudet University) 1982
MED in Deaf Education from Western Maryland College (now known as McDaniel College) 1985
Taught high school math at Mississippi School for the Deaf 4 years
Taught high school math at Colorado School for the Deaf 1 year
Taught ASL classes at Harper College 1 year
Stay at home Mom 15 years
Teach ASL classes at Columbia College 5 years and counting
Enjoy spending time with family, camping trip, reading, and gardening
Sara Bianco, BA
Adjunct Faculty
Susan Elizabeth Rangel, MA
Adjunct Faculty