ADVISOR

Damara Goff Paris, Ed.D. is an Associate Professor and RSA Grant Director at Emporia State University’s Counselor Education program since 2014. She was the doctoral program director of Lamar University’s Deaf Studies/Deaf Education program for several years and taught in higher education courses prior to this part-time for over 15 years. Dr. Paris has worked in professional capacities for private, non-profit, corporate, and government agencies, including counseling and managing the Connection Program (a non-profit mental health facility for Deaf individuals), program management of the Telecommunication Access Programs at the Oregon Public Utility Commission, and National Marketing Director for Sprint Relay. During her tenure at the Connection program, she served as an advocate for individuals who were in incarcerated or went through the criminal justice system as defendants and served as an expert witness on some cases. She is editor and contributor for a book recently published by Gallaudet Press titled “Deaf People in the Criminal Justice System: Selected Topics on Advocacy, Incarceration and Social Justice. A lifelong advocate for Deaf individuals, particularly Deaf women, and Deaf Native Americans, she has provided support to these populations and was awarded the NAD Randall McClleland Memorial Award, OAD Woman of the Year, and Deaf Women of Achievement Award. She currently serves as the Immediate Past President of ADARA.