Biographies

Karen Owens, M.S., CI/CT, currently serves as the President of the Arkansas Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (ARID). A second-generation practitioner and Child of Deaf Adults (CODA), Karen’s professional journey is rooted in a lifelong commitment to the Deaf community and a deep-seated appreciation for Deaf culture.

With a career spanning over 25 years, Karen earned her initial credentials through the Arkansas Quality Assurance Screening Test (QAST) in 1998, followed by National Certification from the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) in 1999. Her extensive field experience includes diverse settings such as government, corporate business, and mental health. Beyond her direct interpreting work, Karen is a dedicated mentor who finds great fulfillment in collaborating with and supporting colleagues across all levels of experience.

Laura (she/her) is a veteran American Sign Language interpreter with 30 years of dedicated experience and a deep-rooted passion for the Deaf community. A graduate of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s Interpreter Training Program (BA, 1998), Laura earned her RID certification in 1999 and has since become a leader in her field, serving as the President of the Arkansas Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (ARID) from 2003 to 2005.

After a decade of impactful work as a community interpreter, Laura transitioned to Video Relay Service (VRS) with Sorenson, where she has spent the last 20 years facilitating communication for the Deaf and hard-of-hearing. Beyond her interpreting work, she is a committed mentor who finds great fulfillment in guiding the next generation of ASL professionals.

Outside of her professional life, Laura is an avid explorer of Arkansas’s state parks as a member of the "Club 52" and an accomplished stained glass artist. She resides in Arkansas with her husband and is the proud mother of two young adults, Leigha and Walker.

Dr. NeCol Whitehead currently serves as Member at Large (District 3) and Chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee for the Arkansas Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf. She is deeply committed to advancing equity, professional excellence, and inclusive practices within the interpreting community.

Dr. Whitehead is the Deputy Director of Sources for Community Independent Living, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering individuals with disabilities to live independently and fully participate in their communities.

Her connection to the disability and brain injury communities is both professional and deeply personal. After surviving a major car accident, she sustained a traumatic brain injury and permanent vision loss, retaining only peripheral vision in her left eye. Through early life challenges and her recent diagnosis of severe arthritis, Dr. Whitehead has developed a profound understanding of living with chronic disability. These lived experiences provide her with meaningful insight into the physical, emotional, and systemic barriers individuals with disabilities face and continue to shape her advocacy, leadership, and commitment to peer support.

In addition to her executive leadership role, Dr. Whitehead is an American Sign Language interpreter with a longstanding dedication to serving the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing community. She is recognized for her collaborative spirit, positive energy, and unwavering commitment to equity and inclusion. Through board service and community leadership, she works diligently to foster culturally responsive practices and build stronger, more inclusive professional and community networks.

Jamie Watts holds a QAST 5/4 and brings several years of interpreting experience to her role as Member-at-Large 2. She holds an Associate’s Degree in American Sign Language and a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology with a focus on Applied Behavior Analysis. Her work spans various settings, though she’s passionate about artistic environments and mental health interpreting.

Jamie joined the ARID Board with a strong desire to contribute to meaningful change and to help shape the future of the interpreting profession in Arkansas. In addition to serving as Member-at-Large 2, she operates ARID’s social media presence to help foster community engagement and communication. Active in the community and a frequent volunteer, she believes in fostering connection, accountability, and growth within the field.

Outside of interpreting, Jamie finds joy in writing, photography, creativity, and spending time in nature. She also values spending time with her three dogs when at home. Mental health advocacy remains close to her heart and is a guiding force in both her personal and professional life.

Hailey Sollis currently serves as the Member-at-Large (MAL) for District 3 of the Arkansas Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (ARID). Originally from Altus, Oklahoma, Hailey relocated to Little Rock in 2018 to provide her daughter, Everlyn, with greater access to the Deaf community and the Arkansas School for the Deaf (ASD).

This personal connection ignited Hailey’s passion for American Sign Language and advocacy, leading her to pursue a career in professional interpreting. A 2025 graduate of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR) Interpreter Education Program, Hailey is a dedicated practitioner committed to continuous professional development. She is an active presence within the local Deaf community and is honored to serve ARID in her leadership role, where she focuses on fostering connections among interpreters across the state.