Career Paths

• Full-time or part-time Interpreting in a variety of settings
  • Colleges and Universities
  • Public Schools
  • State Agencies
  • Hospitals and other medical/mental health institutions
• Freelance Interpreting

Transferring to a 4 year College or University

NECC provides an excellent starting point for students interested in pursuing Deaf Studies or Interpreting.

Some college websites for students likely to transfer:

• Boston University for a bachelor’s degree in Deaf Studies or master’s degree in Deaf Education.
• College of the Holy Cross for a bachelor’s degree in ASL and Deaf Studies.
• Northeastern University for a bachelor’s degree in ASL/ Deaf Studies or ASL/English Interpretation.
• University of Southern Maine for a bachelor’s degree concentration in ASL/English Interpreting.
• Gallaudet University for a bachelor’s or master’s degree in Interpretation or a bachelor’s degree in American Sign Language or Deaf Studies
• University of New Hampshire at Manchester for a bachelor’s degree in Sign Language Interpretation.
• National Technical Institute for the Deaf at the Rochester Institute for Technology for a bachelor’s degree in ASL/English Interpretation

Upon completion of a degree, interpreters take the Massachusetts Interpreting Screening exam in order to qualify to work in the state of MA and NH.

After a few years of experience, national certification may be pursued through the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf.

Program Coordinator

Kevin Fleese, M.Ed Professor, Program Coordinator

Phone: VP 978-241-7049
Email: kfleese@necc.mass.edu

Faculty

Kevin Fleese, M.Ed Professor, Program Coordinator

Phone: VP 978-241-7049
Email: kfleese@necc.mass.edu

Larry Stephen, M.S. Adjunct Professor

Phone: VP 978-241-7053
Email: lstephen@necc.mass.edu

Diane Mele, M.A., LMHC, ICTC, NIC

Phone: V 978-556-3359 VP 978-241-7056
Email: dmele@necc.mass.edu

Kim Sampson, Deaf Studies Program Assistant

Phone: V 978-556-3667 VP 978-377-8033
Email: ksampson@necc.mass.edu

Faculty Biographies

Larry Stephen, M.S.

Larry is originally from the southernmost Caribbean islands, Trinidad and Tobago. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University, Northridge and a Master of Science from McDaniel College (formerly known as Western Maryland College). He is an alumnus of Marie Philip School at the Learning Center of the Deaf in Framingham, Massachusetts. He is an author of “Courage in our Hearts”; the story about a Deaf immigrant discovered new adopted land in America with his family members and blossomed into a scholar/an athlete with family supports. He is involved state, regional, national, and international conferences such as the World Congress of the World Federation of the Deaf and Deaflympics (Deaf Olympics). He is traveling extensively around the world. He is a co-director of American Sign Language at Wheelock Family Theatre in the city of Boston.

His educational and professional credentials include:

• Master of Science in Deaf Education, McDaniel College
• Bachelor of Arts in Geography, California State University at Northridge
• A Keynote Speaker, American Society of Deaf Children Conference in Indianapolis
• Member, American Sign Language Teachers Association
• Member, International Sign Language Teachers Organization
• Member, The World Federation of the Deaf
• Athlete & Delegate, Summer Deaflympics & Pan American Deaf Sports Games

Kevin J. Fleese, M.Ed.

Faculty Member, Deaf Studies Program

Kevin Fleese has been teaching in the Deaf Studies program at Northern Essex Community College since 1994. He is the second Deaf professor to receive their tenure in New England.

Prior to becoming a faculty member at NECC, he was a software specialist and taught computer classes at Digital Equipment Corp in Santa Clara, Ca and Marlborough, Ma.

His first experience teaching in American Sign Language was at Vista College in Berkeley, CA where he taught for four years. Kevin was a part of the implementation of the nationally acclaimed “Signing Naturally” ASL immersion curriculum which is so widely used across the US today, serving as one of the first ASL instructors to field test that program.

His educational and professional credentials include:

• Masters of Education in Deaf Studies; Boston University
• Bachelors of Arts in Communication Arts; Gallaudet University
• Bachelors of Science in Business Administration; Gallaudet University
• Seasoned presenter of workshops and trainings relating to Deaf Studies, ASL Linguistics, and Deaf Culture
• Implemented state screening for interpreters for the state of New Hampshire
• Served as a member of the New Hampshire Licensure Board by appointment of the Governor of NH

Diana Mele, MA, LMHC, ICTC

Diana Mele holds a Masters of Arts Degree from Gallaudet University, Washington, DC and has worked professionally within two distinct disciplines; the field of Sign Language Interpreting and Human Services professions for more than 30 years. She holds her national credentials from the Registry of Interpreters of the Deaf (RID) in addition to having earned her license as a Mental Health Counselor in the state of Massachusetts. She is a tenured member of the faculty and has taught at this institution in both disciplines since 1996. She has worked to train students in career paths in the field of Sign Language Interpreting as well as Human Services and Social Work professions.

Her educational and professional credentials include:

• Associate of Arts Degree: Deafness Communication – dual emphasis – Human Services Program – Northern Essex Community College
• Bachelor of Art Degree: Psychology – Flager College, St. Augustine, Florida
• Master of Arts Degree: Mental Health Counseling – Gallaudet University, Washington, DC.
• Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), State of Massachusetts
• Massachusetts State Screened Interpreter – (1980)
• Registry of Interpreters of the Deaf : Interpretation Certificate /Transliteration Certificate ICTC (1983)
• Transliteration Certificate (1986)
• National Interpreter Certification (2008)