Rocky De Buano
Rocky is the founder and director of AZTI, establishing the Arizona’s first Total Immersion program in June of 2003.
Rocky was born and raised in Colorado, where he took his first sign language class. Rocky attributes his fluency in ASL to interaction, instruction and influence by Deaf friends.
Formal education includes:
- A.A.S. in Interpreting and completion of the IPP from Phoenix College
- B.S.E. Special Education, Rehabilitation & Deaf Culture, University of Arizona
- 4 year diploma- Ministerial Studies, Berean University
- RID Nationally Certified Interpreter
Rocky serves as a free lance interpreter and is the owner of Arizona Sign Language Interpreting for the Deaf LLC (ASLID).
If you are an interpreter and would like to obtain work, click here.
Additionally, Rocky is an accomplished public speaker and has presented many workshops on interpreting and Deaf topics. During 2006 Rocky presented two workshops at RID’s region 5 conference in Anchorage Alaska, was the keynote speaker for the Kansas State Interpreters Conference, in addition to many other local, state and national speaking engagements.
To see a listing of Rocky’s current topics click here.
Robin O’Brien
Robin received her B.A. degree from Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. She is currently a full-time American Sign Language Lecturer at Arizona State University. She has taught ASL and Deaf Culture for the past 21 years at local community colleges and universities in both Arizona and Massachusetts. She also works for the Distance Opportunities Interpreter Training Center in Denver, Colorado as a Mentor. She has been a mentor for interpreting students, working to improve and upgrade their skills for the past 8 years. She provides workshops for educational interpreters, has been a consultant for parents of Deaf children, and has spoken to various companies and organizations about ASL and Deaf Culture.
Robin has two beautiful daughters. Nicolette is 9 years old and is hearing and Kay-Lin is 6 years old, from China, and deaf.
Rand Rom
I was born in Bemidji, Minnesota where I spent my early years. I studied at Minneapolis Design & Art College and St. Paul TVI, now named St. Paul College. My professional career in Minnesota began as a Media Artist designing and implementing cartoon animation, storyboard and illustration at Deaf Media Project. As a Commercial Artist for Wendell’s Inc. I designed commemorative coins. Later, at Crosfield Dicomed Inc. I began my work as a Computer Graphics Artist with responsibilities of meeting with clients, assessing their needs, creating and managing computer graphics projects, and presenting concepts and artwork. Upon coming to Phoenix, where I now live, I furthered my education at Glendale Community College studying in-depth technical processes, computer graphic art, photography and 3D animation. While in school here, I began tutoring students in English as a second language and ASL I and II classes. For three years now I have been teaching at Restoration School of Ministry where currently I teach ASL Levels I, II and III classes. In 1980, I had a goal of starting my own business as a professional Computer Graphics, 3D Artist and Designer, hence the beginning of Rom’s Creative Studio. I invite you to visit my newly created website: www.romscreativestudio.net .
Robert DeMayo
Robert DeMayo is a professional actor and is well known for his contributions to Deaf theater throughout the United States. Robert is a native of Connecticut but currently resides in Philadelphia (the city of Brotherly Love). Currently, Robert works at the Amaryllis Theatre Co. as an ASL production artistic associate. Robert has traveled thought out the United States and has performed on numerous stages in a variety of settings. His professional resume of Deaf theatre includes:
- NTID’s Sunshine too
- Cleveland Sign Stage Theatre
- New York Deaf Theatre
- NTD National Theatre of the Deaf
- Robert was instrumental in the founding of a community theatre called “Sound Off” and was a performer in the hit production of “Murder by Pager; Who did it?” and “Jim and Judy’s Deaf Wedding.”
Robert is also known for his work as a freelance performer, ASL consultant, Translator of English based scripts into ASL, and an HIV/ AIDS educator.
Robert has many years’ experience as a total immersion staff member and is known for his unique style of teaching. Robert believes “learning should be fun” and had mastered the art of teaching classifiers, facial expression, mouth morphemes and characterization. This will be Robert’s third year on AZTI staff.
Corey “Cy” Washington
Cy has lived in Sunny Arizona since 2002. He is currently working in the field of Behavioral Health Tech. Previously he worked as an ASL instructor to young students in elementarty schools. He truly enjoys helping people find a better life before it’s too late! He is a graduate of Rochester Institute of Tech (2001) in Rochester, NY and Gallaudet University (2007) in Washington, DC. His major was not what he thought would find job in Arizona, but he is working with people doing what he really enjoys every single day.
And also David Bailey, Jason Gervace, Pamela Boucher (Registrar and Office Manager), and 3 2011 instructors TBA.