Appointments made to Advisory Council on Deaf and Hard of Hearing

LANSING, Mich. - Gov. Rick Snyder has appointed Odessa Carter, of Redford, Jamie Maes-Eischen, of Troy, and Freida Morrison, of Troy, to the Advisory Council on Deaf and Hard of Hearing. He also reappointed Brenda Neubeck, of White Lake, and Laura Scott, of Ann Arbor, to the council.

The 13-member council, housed within the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, advises the department on matters pertaining to deaf, deaf-blind and hard of hearing persons. 

"These individuals bring pertinent and extensive experiences to this council," said Snyder. "I am confident their work will continue to support Michigan's deaf, deaf-blind and hard of hearing citizens."  

Appointed:

Carter is retired after serving as a special education teacher in Detroit for 34 years. She holds a bachelor's degree in deaf education from Michigan State University and a master's degree in education from Wayne State University. Carter will represent deaf and hard of hearing individuals and replaces Jill Gaus.

Maes-Eischen is a deaf and hard of hearing school-to-work coordinator and evaluator for New Horizons Rehabilitation Services Inc. in Auburn Hills. She received a bachelor's degree in psychology from Madonna University and a master's degree in counseling from Oakland University. Maes-Eischen will represent individuals knowledgeable in the field of deafness and replaces Daniel McDougall.

Morrison is an American sign-language specialist and a shared reading project co-coordinator at the Michigan School for the Deaf in Flint. She serves as the membership coordinator for the Michigan Deaf Association and as president of the Michigan School for the Deaf Alumni Association. Morrison attended the Michigan School for the Deaf, Cambridge Business School and Oakland Community College. She will represent deaf and hard of hearing persons and replaces Larry Trayner. 

Reappointed:

Neubeck is the program director and case manager for Deaf H.E.A.L. & Shield, a Deaf Community Advocacy Network program which provides general and medical case management to deaf and hard of hearing individuals in Southeastern Michigan. She holds bachelor's degrees in health services administration and sign language studies from the University of Detroit-Mercy and Madonna University, respectively.

Scott is an attorney and counselor at the University of Michigan Law School, where she provides career counseling and program development services to assist students with job placement. Previously, she served as director of Michigan Hands & Voices, a nationwide non-profit organization that supports children and families who are deaf or hard of hearing. Scott earned a bachelor's degree in government and politics from George Mason University in Virginia and a law degree from Howard University in Washington, D.C.

Appointees will serve three-year terms that expire Jan. 18, 2015, and their appointments are not subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.

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