| Meet our Georgia Hands & Voices Board of Directors |
Terri Patterson: Parent
Chapter Support Coordinator Hands & Voices
Executive Director Georgia Hands & Voices
terri@gahandsandvoices.org
Terri and her husband have two children, a 14-year-old daughter, Molly, and an 11 year old son, Riley,
who was diagnosed with bilateral profound hearing loss at 2 months. They live in Acworth, GA. Terri
has worked as a Parent Educator for Babies Can’t Wait and has coordinated several family events
and workshops for her district’s early intervention program. She is also involved in both local and state
Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) task forces and is often asked to provide the parent’s
perspective as a speaker for regional and national conferences. She is a member of the AAHBEI
(American Association for Home-Based Early Interventionists) Governing Board, as a parent
representative. She is also a parent representative on the GA/FL (SOTAC) PEPNet Board. She is also
acting as a Chapter Support Coordinator for Hands & Voices at the national level.
Jennifer Taylor Jezyk: Parent, Board Chairperson
jtjezyk@bellsouth.net
Jennifer and her husband Neal are parents to five-year-old Jamie and two-year-old Abby. Abby was
diagnosed at birth with unilateral hearing loss through Newborn Hearing Screening. Her hearing loss
was later determined to be caused by Enlarged Vestibular Aqueduct Syndrome, a condition that often
results in further hearing loss. Since then, Jennifer has been dedicated to helping Abby learn to
communicate and develop language, navigating the networks of early interventionists, audiologists,
ENTs, SLPs and beyond. A public relations professional, Jennifer is aware of the importance of, and
committed to bringing awareness of Hands & Voices to parents, professionals and legislators in
order to strengthen support for children with hearing loss throughout the state.
Ginny Bowling: Parent
vsbowling@aol.com
Ginny is the mother of two boys who are Deaf and her pride and joy. Ginny earned her bachelor’s
degree in Child Development from the University of Tennessee. After graduation Ginny focused on
early education, teaching preschool and public school kindergarten for a number of years. Ginny later
attended the Sign Language Interpretation Program at Georgia Perimeter College. Ginny has since
earned her national certification as a sign language interpreter and has worked in a wide variety of
settings, from elementary to post secondary as well as community, legal and medical settings. Ginny
has been a Parent Advisor with GA PINES for the past 8 years and also serves as the liaison to GA
PINES Deaf Mentor Program.
Carianne Muse, MPH: Parent
muse_carianne@bah.com
In 2009, her infant daughter was diagnosed with a binaural, profound hearing loss and has received
one cochlear implant in May of 2010. Carianne is a Lead Associate at Booz Allen Hamilton who has
over 11 years of experience in public health research and consulting. Since August 2003, she has
been working closely with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) centers and offices as a strategic
planner, management analyst and public health analyst. Several of her early consulting projects
involved working as a contractor with the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental
Disabilities, and specifically the Division of Developmental Disabilities where the Early Hearing
Detection and Intervention (EHDI) program lies within the federal government. Carianne has been
serving on several children’s health-related boards for the past 6 years, including serving as the
Camp Twin Lakes Strategic Planning Committee Lead from 2007-2008. She also participates on the
Georgia 2020 committee and on the National Joint Commission on Infant Hearing.
Deborah Fields-Harris: Parent, Sponsorship Chair
Fields-harrisd@comcast.net
Deborah is a married, mother of 16-year-old son with congenital hydrocephalus manifested by cortical
visual impairment, mild hearing loss, seizure disorder, mild displegic cerebral palsy and other
neurological involvements. She is also the Family Support Coordinator for the Georgia Sensory
Assistance Project (formerly the Georgia Deaf blind Project). She currently sits as a member on the
State Advisory Panel for Special Education, she is the Chairperson for the Georgia Deafblind
Stakeholders & Advisory Council and has been a member of Parent to Parent of Georgia’s Board of
Directors.
RaDora J. Dinnan, Au.D., CCC-A: Secretary
Radora@gahandsandvoices.org
RaDora is currently an Audiologist with Pediatric ENT of Atlanta. She was diagnosed with bilateral
hearing loss at age two, and has worn hearing aids since that time. Because of her experiences, she
chose to work with the pediatric population in order to work with both the patients and their families.
Cindy Dunn-Kearly MA/Deaf Education: Treasurer
CDunnKearly@aol.com
Cindy lives in Augusta with her husband, Don and her stepson, William. She is a Teacher of the Deaf
and Hard of Hearing for Columbia County Public Schools. Cindy also serves as a Parent Advisor for
Georgia PINES. Cindy has worked in the field of Special Education for 20 years, and has been a
Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing since obtaining her Master’s degree from Gallaudet
University in 2003.
“I feel it is important to inform, empower and support families so each and every child who is deaf or
hard of hearing has the opportunity to reach their fullest potential.”
Clare Sullivan, MEd.
clare7982@gmail.com
Clare is recently retired from her position as the Education Program Manager of Georgia Parent Infant
Network for Educational Services (Georgia PINES) via the Department of Education. She is now a
Part-Time Instructor for Georgia State University and a Georgia PINES Parent Advisor She has many
years of experience working with deaf and hard-of-hearing children and families including state
residential programs, state day school programs, local education programs and Georgia's Universal
Newborn Hearing Screening and Intervention Program. Helping families realize their child's potential
is her passion. Her favorite past-time is hiking in the mountains or any National Park.
Dr. Frank Nesbit, Ed: K-12
FNesbit@doe.k12.ga.us
Frank Nesbit is the Georgia Department of Education’s consultant for programs for students who are
Deaf and Hard of Hearing. He has worked with deaf students in schools since 1987, with experience
that includes employment at Gallaudet University, Atlanta Area School for the Deaf, and as a teacher
and administrator within local school systems. He holds professional certification as a Teacher of the
Deaf, as an Educational Interpreter, and as a Director of Special Education with a Master’s degree in
Deaf Education and a Doctorate in Management of Programs for Children and Youth. His federally
supported professional learning projects focus on improving the achievement of all students who are
deaf and hard of hearing.
Chapter Support Coordinator Hands & Voices
Executive Director Georgia Hands & Voices
terri@gahandsandvoices.org
Terri and her husband have two children, a 14-year-old daughter, Molly, and an 11 year old son, Riley,
who was diagnosed with bilateral profound hearing loss at 2 months. They live in Acworth, GA. Terri
has worked as a Parent Educator for Babies Can’t Wait and has coordinated several family events
and workshops for her district’s early intervention program. She is also involved in both local and state
Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) task forces and is often asked to provide the parent’s
perspective as a speaker for regional and national conferences. She is a member of the AAHBEI
(American Association for Home-Based Early Interventionists) Governing Board, as a parent
representative. She is also a parent representative on the GA/FL (SOTAC) PEPNet Board. She is also
acting as a Chapter Support Coordinator for Hands & Voices at the national level.
Jennifer Taylor Jezyk: Parent, Board Chairperson
jtjezyk@bellsouth.net
Jennifer and her husband Neal are parents to five-year-old Jamie and two-year-old Abby. Abby was
diagnosed at birth with unilateral hearing loss through Newborn Hearing Screening. Her hearing loss
was later determined to be caused by Enlarged Vestibular Aqueduct Syndrome, a condition that often
results in further hearing loss. Since then, Jennifer has been dedicated to helping Abby learn to
communicate and develop language, navigating the networks of early interventionists, audiologists,
ENTs, SLPs and beyond. A public relations professional, Jennifer is aware of the importance of, and
committed to bringing awareness of Hands & Voices to parents, professionals and legislators in
order to strengthen support for children with hearing loss throughout the state.
Ginny Bowling: Parent
vsbowling@aol.com
Ginny is the mother of two boys who are Deaf and her pride and joy. Ginny earned her bachelor’s
degree in Child Development from the University of Tennessee. After graduation Ginny focused on
early education, teaching preschool and public school kindergarten for a number of years. Ginny later
attended the Sign Language Interpretation Program at Georgia Perimeter College. Ginny has since
earned her national certification as a sign language interpreter and has worked in a wide variety of
settings, from elementary to post secondary as well as community, legal and medical settings. Ginny
has been a Parent Advisor with GA PINES for the past 8 years and also serves as the liaison to GA
PINES Deaf Mentor Program.
Carianne Muse, MPH: Parent
muse_carianne@bah.com
In 2009, her infant daughter was diagnosed with a binaural, profound hearing loss and has received
one cochlear implant in May of 2010. Carianne is a Lead Associate at Booz Allen Hamilton who has
over 11 years of experience in public health research and consulting. Since August 2003, she has
been working closely with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) centers and offices as a strategic
planner, management analyst and public health analyst. Several of her early consulting projects
involved working as a contractor with the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental
Disabilities, and specifically the Division of Developmental Disabilities where the Early Hearing
Detection and Intervention (EHDI) program lies within the federal government. Carianne has been
serving on several children’s health-related boards for the past 6 years, including serving as the
Camp Twin Lakes Strategic Planning Committee Lead from 2007-2008. She also participates on the
Georgia 2020 committee and on the National Joint Commission on Infant Hearing.
Deborah Fields-Harris: Parent, Sponsorship Chair
Fields-harrisd@comcast.net
Deborah is a married, mother of 16-year-old son with congenital hydrocephalus manifested by cortical
visual impairment, mild hearing loss, seizure disorder, mild displegic cerebral palsy and other
neurological involvements. She is also the Family Support Coordinator for the Georgia Sensory
Assistance Project (formerly the Georgia Deaf blind Project). She currently sits as a member on the
State Advisory Panel for Special Education, she is the Chairperson for the Georgia Deafblind
Stakeholders & Advisory Council and has been a member of Parent to Parent of Georgia’s Board of
Directors.
RaDora J. Dinnan, Au.D., CCC-A: Secretary
Radora@gahandsandvoices.org
RaDora is currently an Audiologist with Pediatric ENT of Atlanta. She was diagnosed with bilateral
hearing loss at age two, and has worn hearing aids since that time. Because of her experiences, she
chose to work with the pediatric population in order to work with both the patients and their families.
Cindy Dunn-Kearly MA/Deaf Education: Treasurer
CDunnKearly@aol.com
Cindy lives in Augusta with her husband, Don and her stepson, William. She is a Teacher of the Deaf
and Hard of Hearing for Columbia County Public Schools. Cindy also serves as a Parent Advisor for
Georgia PINES. Cindy has worked in the field of Special Education for 20 years, and has been a
Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing since obtaining her Master’s degree from Gallaudet
University in 2003.
“I feel it is important to inform, empower and support families so each and every child who is deaf or
hard of hearing has the opportunity to reach their fullest potential.”
Clare Sullivan, MEd.
clare7982@gmail.com
Clare is recently retired from her position as the Education Program Manager of Georgia Parent Infant
Network for Educational Services (Georgia PINES) via the Department of Education. She is now a
Part-Time Instructor for Georgia State University and a Georgia PINES Parent Advisor She has many
years of experience working with deaf and hard-of-hearing children and families including state
residential programs, state day school programs, local education programs and Georgia's Universal
Newborn Hearing Screening and Intervention Program. Helping families realize their child's potential
is her passion. Her favorite past-time is hiking in the mountains or any National Park.
Dr. Frank Nesbit, Ed: K-12
FNesbit@doe.k12.ga.us
Frank Nesbit is the Georgia Department of Education’s consultant for programs for students who are
Deaf and Hard of Hearing. He has worked with deaf students in schools since 1987, with experience
that includes employment at Gallaudet University, Atlanta Area School for the Deaf, and as a teacher
and administrator within local school systems. He holds professional certification as a Teacher of the
Deaf, as an Educational Interpreter, and as a Director of Special Education with a Master’s degree in
Deaf Education and a Doctorate in Management of Programs for Children and Youth. His federally
supported professional learning projects focus on improving the achievement of all students who are
deaf and hard of hearing.
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What works for your child is what makes the choice right.
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