Lori Civello

Nationally Certified Interpreter (NIC)

Academic Instructor

Practitioner of Integrated Model of Interpreting (IMI)

MENTAL HEALTH INTERPRETER PORTFOLIO

Lori Civello (she/her) is a Sign Language interpreter, mentor, instructor, and student. She holds her National Certification with the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. (RID). Lori is a lifelong learner and practitioner. She grew up in Queens, NY with Deaf parents, and attended Union County College in NJ to obtain her associate's degree in ASL-English Interpreting. She then went on to complete her bachelor’s degree in Interpreting and Professional Communications from Sienna Heights University, where she also received a master's degree in Higher Educational Leadership. Lori continues her learning and builds her practice on the Integrated Model of Interpreting (IMI), a cognitive and self-reflective approach that makes space for people to analyze their work within a non-evaluative, organic framework that puts the community first. Lori is most proud of her participation at the Etna Project, a yearly retreat-style gathering that allows participants to disarm and connect with themselves and the work, guided by Betty Colonomos.

Professional Statements

Mission Statement: To foster a thriving and inclusive community of Sign Language interpreters by providing exceptional mentoring, promoting ethical leadership, and championing the highest professional standards in the field of ASL interpreting.

Vision Statement: To champion a world where Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard of Hearing communities thrive through seamless communication access, empowerment, and cultural understanding.

Goals: To establish a transformative space that fosters collaboration, innovation, and a deep understanding of the Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard of Hearing communities, leading to seamless communication access and the empowerment of these communities.

Education

Education and Certification

2015 – 2017 Siena Heights University Masters Higher Education Leadership

2013- 2014 Siena Heights University BA ASL – English Interpreting

Minor: Professional Communications

Academic Achievement List

Magna Cum Laude, High Honors 4.0 GPA

Alpha Sigma Lambda, National Honor Society

2010 – December 2011 ~ Union County College – Associates Applied Science; American Sign Language – English
Phi Theta Kappa, Honor Society
Psi Beta, Honors in Psychology

Certifications and Exams

2012, 7 March NIC Written
2013, 2 February SLICE Test
2013, 27 September EIPA

2015, July NIC Performance

Interpreting
2011 Union County College Practicum/ Internship

EMPLOYMENT
September 2012 – Current Freelance Interpreter

WORKSHOPS COORDINATOR / ASSISTANT (for CEUs)
2012 - 2018 North New Jersey Interpreter Chat
2015 DB-TIP First Online Deaf-Blind Conference
2016 #ASLSongChallenge 1
2017 #ASLSongChallenge 2
2018 NJRID Regional Conference - Lunch and Learn with RID DPI
2022 #ASLSongChallenge 4
2021- Current Support Facilitator Betty Colonomos

Mentoring
2023  CORE Interpreters, Coach

2022 SLR’s Mentorship Program (SLR-MP)
2023 SLR’s Mentorship Program (SLR-MP)
TRAINING
2015 - Mentoring Approaches - ASLIRS Mentors
2019 Mentoring - Frederick Community College, Student Mentoring
2019 - The Etna Project- Maryland 2019-2020,
2020 Mentoring - Bilingual Mediation Center
2021 - Etnaesque Spring 2021
WORKSHOPS COORDINATOR / ASSISTANT (for CEUs)
2017 & 2018 UCC Taxi Peer Mentorship
2022 - Summer Gish Study Session

DeafBlind
EMPLOYMENT
2012 – 2015 The College of New Jersey, Support Service Provider
2013 – 2015 Project Specialist/Coordinator North for the Support Services
Provider/Assistant & North New Jersey Regional Manager
TRAINING
2011 Union County College - DeafBlind Interpreting & Interpreting Strategies
2012 SSP Training - TCNJ
2013 Mentorship Interpreting-Sign Language Resources, NYC - Susan Morgan
2014 Pro-Tactile: Understanding Touch Techniques to Facilitate Communication with Deaf-Blind People
2014 Interpreting Strategies to Facilitate Interactions/DB
2016 Touch Signals Hybrid course
2017 Traveling the World through the DB Lens
2023 Protactile Theory Certificate Program
WORKSHOPS COORDINATOR / ASSISTANT (for CEUs)
2015 DB-TIP First Online Deaf-Blind Conference
2015 TCNJ SSP - Introduction to Haptics and PT co-host with Kathy Gabry

Adjunct Lecturer, Sign Language Interpreting Program
EMPLOYMENT
2015-2017 Union County College: HUD 105 - Applications in Interpreting, Theory, and Practice
2018-2020 Montclair State University Courses: Interpreting Theory and Practice, Deaf-Blind Interpreting Strategies.
2020 -2023 Frederick Community College Course: INTP 224, English to ASL Interpreting
2021- Current Georgia State University: American Sign Language to English Interpreting I & II

2023 - Current staff/ Designated Interpreter for Learning Science/ Deaf Studies Program
TRAINING
2015 Mentoring - Union County College, Cindy Williams Ph.D., Student mentoring
2018 Teaching - Montclair State University, Cindy Williams, Ph.D. ASL - English, Discourse Analysis
2019 Teaching - Montclair State University, Eileen Forestal Ph.D., Ethics in Interpreting.

Mental Health Interpreter Training

2023 August - Mental Health Interpreter Training (MHIT) Alabama

2023 September - MHIT Asynchronous Courses A1-A5

2023 November - Qualified Mental Health Interpreter Certification Practicum

RID Continuing Education Activities Transcripts https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-yvIA0cUhUAGkOVcmXwXQgObXPe7CJlt/view?usp=sharing

Interpreting

MHIT