Undergraduate Students and Volunteers

Jules Dauphinee is a Junior at UC San Diego studying psychology and sociology as a double major, with a focus on social inequality. Her areas of interest include disability studies, Deaf Gain, and the overlap between communication disorders and the critical period for language production. As a member of the disability community herself, she hopes to foster research that promotes discussion, advocacy, and equality for those who have been disadvantaged by stigma, prejudice, and ableism. Jules hopes to pursue a Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy and become a therapist for those on the Autism Spectrum, using ASL as a means to bridge communication gaps.

Haley Helms is a junior majoring in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences with a minor in Counseling and Social Change. Her areas of interests include Deaf studies and culture; she became interested in this topic through ASL classes and Dr. Emmorey’s class Sign Languages and Deaf Culture. Haley wants to pursue a career in audiology and is involved with SDSU clubs such as NSSLHA and SAA.

Ayden Kpormegbey is a junior majoring in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences with a minor in Honors Interdisciplinary Studies at San Diego State University. Her area of interest involves the study of language deprivation and early intervention, specifically regarding the acquisition of American Sign Language. She was introduced to this topic through ASL classes, where she also developed a desire to pursue Speech Language Pathology as a career, while addressing existing disparities within the field. Ayden is also the Assistant Director of the A.M.A.N.I. Project, which is an after-school mentorship program designed to provide academic and creative support to Black students attending predominantly white/minority Black elementary schools in San Diego.

Zella Pangle is a sophomore studying Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, with a Honors
minor in Interdisciplinary Studies as well as a minor in Child and Family Development. Her areas
of interest include the cultural perspectives of the Deaf Community in a hearing world, as well as
the cultural backgrounds and differences in sign languages around the world. She was
introduced to these topics while taking ASL classes throughout high school. Zella is currently
considering speech pathology or audiology for her future field. As a hard-or-hearing individual,
she is passionate about working with children and advocating for sign language use in the
formative years.