About the Board
UAD’s Board meets 10 times a year on the 2nd Wednesday of every month (except July and December) at 5:00 pm virtually via Zoom.
Occasionally meetings are held in person at the Robert G. Sanderson Community Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (aka Deaf Center) at 5709 S 1500 W Taylorsville, UT 84123.
We strongly encourage you to check the UAD Facebook page or subscribe to UAD’s mailing list to be informed of the location of the board meeting and for the Zoom link if the meeting will be held virtually.
Board members are elected at the biennial UAD Conference to serve a two-year term.
2024-2025 Board Members
Ashli-Marie Grant
President
Ashli-Marie was born in Alaska and is a Tlingit (Native Alaskan). She was raised in Washington State. She got involved in local politics when she was twelve years old. She has loved community involvement and advocating ever since. She attended Rochester Institute of Technology and now lives in Salt Lake City, where she works for Sorenson Interpreting Services. She loves traveling, reading, chatting with friends, watching movies, and playing with her deaf dog, Buzz.
Eric Bryant
Vice President
Eric was born Deaf in Naples, Italy and moved back to Connecticut at age three, where he graduated from the American School for the Deaf. After earning a degree at the Rochester Institute of Technology, he had a successful 23-year career in construction. He went on to earn a master’s degree in real estate development and finance at the University of Utah and currently is establishing a real estate development business here in Utah. He gives back to the community by volunteering with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources as a Hunter-ED instructor and the NRA as a CCW Instructor. He enjoys fly fishing, hunting, camping, long-range precision shooting, archery, reading, drawing, and woodworking. Go Utes!
Rachel Enggas
Secretary
Born and raised in suburban Chicago, Rachel graduated from Hersey High School before moving to Utah, where she fell in love with the mountains. Now working as a Deaf Mentor, Rachel is passionate about supporting the Deaf community. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, volleyball, and reading.
Ryan Layton
Treasurer
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Board Member
We currently have a vacancy on our Board. Get in touch if you’re interested in serving with us.
Jodi Becker Kinner
Board Member
Jodi Becker Kinner was born in Germany and grew up as an Air Force brat. She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work from Gallaudet University. After moving to Utah with her spouse, Duane, who is a native of the state, she began working as an accessibility advisor, providing classroom accommodations for college students with disabilities since 2000. Jodi, a proud parent of two Deaf children, Joshua and Danielle, has a personal understanding of the challenges that fueled her advocacy for deaf education. As a community historian, joining the UAD is her way of giving back to the Utah Association of the Deaf for all they have done for us, which we take for granted. She enjoys reading, watching documentaries, collecting Demijohns, and researching history.
Kristi Lee Mortensen
Board Member
This Utah native with multiple degrees and certificates has dedicated her career to counseling, teaching, and guiding individuals, especially the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, being influenced by her father, W. David Mortensen. She served on the 2002 Salt Lake Olympic Committee and now serves on the UTA Committee on Accessible Transportation. She’s also a Life and Health Coach and is known as the “Jet-setter Deaf Grandma.” Happily married to her ‘Big Bird’ for 40 years, she enjoys writing, reading, sewing, sports, canning, gardening, and recently added a greenhouse.
Kenz Smith
Board Member
Kenz, a Deaf and Queer native of Salt Lake City, has dedicated her life to uplifting her community. With 13 years of experience as a Certified Nurse Assistant, she transitioned to becoming a Deaf Mentor at USDB PIP and is now an outreach program coordinator for Sego Lily. Kenz is passionate about volunteering her time to support the LGBTQIA+ community and ensure that Deaf and LGBTQIA+ individuals have the resources and connections they need. She’s also a puzzle master, PS5 gamer, basketball enthusiast, and enjoys cooking and watching criminology shows in her free time.
Morgann Smith
Board Member
Morgann Smith was born and raised in Utah before they left for DC and received their bachelor’s and master’s degree in social work from Gallaudet University. Currently Morgann works as the 988 VP Program Manager for DeafLEAD. Morgann is passionate about educating community members on mental health and LGBTQ+ matters. As a UAD Board Member, Morgann hopes to make collaborative efforts in educating and advocating for ongoing community wellness. In their free time, they enjoy spending time in nature.