Intersectional Deaf Studies Praxis: Alumni Panel

Erik James Escareño, DSW, identifies as a two-spirited, indigenous (Yavapai Apache and Chiricahua Apache), Los Angeleno fueled by social justice and perpetuating meaningful change. Having expertise in the field of mental health, Dr. Escareño specializes in interventions for LGBTQIA2S+ and Deaf folx, HIV advocacy, BDSM advocacy/education, and non-profit development. Dr. Escareño’s skillsets are aimed at creating purposeful social change and positive disruption of injustice for underserved and underrecognized communities.

MJ Jones (pronouns: they/them/theirs), a Southern California native, is a Nationally Certified ASL Interpreter in the Washington, D.C area. MJ has a B.A. in Deaf Studies (Interpreter Education Program track) and a minor in Queer Studies from CSUN. In 2019, they received their M.A. in International Development at Gallaudet University. Additionally, MJ has participated and completed the following trainings: DeafBlind Interpreting Institute and Project Climb Legal Training. By the end of Spring 2022, MJ will have completed the Sexuality and Gender Studies Certificate Program at Gallaudet University and the Certificate in Healthcare Interpreting program at National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID). in ASL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9_k6OtZ3Kw

 John Pak is a doctoral student at UCLA’ s Graduate School of Education and Information Studies with a specialization in Race and Ethnic Studies. As a Deaf student of color, John’s research explores the experiences of deaf students of color and the impact of audist and racial microaggressions in higher education. His research interests centers around the intersections of audism and racial microaggression in education, impacts on deaf students of color, Critical Race Theory and Critical Deaf Theory in education, and Community Cultural Wealth.