Staff
Julie Armendariz
Interpreter Coordinator
Julie.Armendariz@utb.edu
Julie Armendariz received her degree from the American Sign Language and Interpreter Training Department at San Antonio College. She was hired on as a Staff Interpreter and remained at SAC for two more years. In 2005, she was hired on as a part-time staff interpreter at UTB/TSC. The following year, she accepted a position as a full-time Staff Interpreter with Disability Services at the university. She currently holds a Level II certification with DHHS-BEI and resides in Harlingen with her husband and son.
Angelica Hernandez
Interpreter for the Deaf, NC
Angelica.M.Hernandez@utb.edu
Angelica Maria Hernandez, a Brownsville native, is a SODA (Sibling of a Deaf Adult). At the age of six is when her family was introduced to the Deaf Community. Her sister got very ill at the age of one year and three months. Doctor's didn't realize she was deaf until her second opinion at the age of three. This is when their lives changed for the better. Having to communicate with her sister is how she started her training as an Interpreter. She never realized this is what would become her career in the future.
Angelica (Angie) graduated from Homer Hanna High and went straight to work in Brownsville, TX, Jefferson, WI, and Laredo, TX. In September of 2007 she started working at The University of Texas at Brownsville as a part-time employee and after two years she is now a full time employee. She has also started attending classes in Fall of 2009. Angelica’s goal is to gain an Associate’s degree in Social Work and Bachelors in Sociology. Her inspiration to come to college was primarily fueled by wanting the best for her “little man” and secondly was viewing the students that she interprets for. Her goal is to strive for the best in her career so that in the end it will better not only her life but the life of her son.
Carol Arroyo
Interpreter for the Deaf, NC
Carol.Arroyo@utb.edu
Carol Arroyo acquired her knowledge of ASL by her daily interaction with her brother who is Deaf as well as social involvement with the Deaf Community. She began her professional interpreting career with the Brownsville Independent School District (BISD). After working five years with school district Carol was offered a part-time staff Interpreter position at UTB/TSC. Since then, she has successfully and happily transitioned into full-time employment.
Maria Cabanillas
Interpreter for the Deaf, NC
Maria Vasquez, born and raised in Brownsville, TX, also hard of hearing herself, began interacting with the Deaf community in 2006. As a hard of hearing individual, her ability to grasp the visual language of American Sign Language was almost natural. She progressively learned American Sign Language and began acquiring knowledge in the field of Interpretation by attending a sign language bible study group in which deaf, hard of hearing, and sign language interpreters attend. Her consistent interaction with the Deaf community proved true that the best way to acquire a language is to be fully immersed. After only seven months of signing with the Deaf, she was invited to work as a part-time interpreter for UTB/TSC. Beginning as an interpreter positioned in the vocational/technical programs she has now become an important asset to our senior Bachelorette seeking students. After working part-time for two and a half years, half-time for a little under a year, she accepted a full-time position as an Interpreter for the Deaf in 2010.
Frank Slovak
Interpreter for the Deaf, NC
Frank Slovak resides with his wife in Brownsville, Texas. He began his interpreting career as a contract interpreter substituting for various schools ranging from Elementary to High School levels in the Rio Grande Valley. He began working for UTB/TSC in 2009, as a part time interpreter, and within two years obtained a full time staff position. Frank has passed the BEI Test of English Proficiency and is currently working on passing the Performance Test to become certified in the state of Texas under DARS DHHS-BEI Program. He keeps his skills sharp by attending a Sign Language Christian Congregation (the reason he started learning American Sign Language) in Harlingen, Texas and routinely attends workshops throughout Texas.
Susy Garza
Interpreter for the Deaf, NC