Melissa Julien is actively involved in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, where she serves as the Gospel Learning Sub-Committee Chair. She is dedicated to improving accessibility and support within the church community, particularly for ASL programs and individuals with disabilities. Melissa is organized and proactive in her efforts, seeking to streamline processes and ensure effective communication and resources for teaching and learning.

Melissa has a vast background in advocating for the Deaf community including serving as a Deaf mentor, Principal of a school for the Deaf and teaching American Sign Language at a community college. 

Married to Nephi Julien in 2001 and they had 4 children.  They recently relocated to Bixby, Oklahoma where Melissa has been involved with the Deaf community.

aslglchair@gmail.com

Bio and photo coming soon.

Kelli Fletcher, a native of Beaver, UT, experienced a major life change at age nine when she became profoundly deaf. After graduating from Beaver High School in 1999, she moved to Logan, Utah, where she earned her B.S. degree from Utah State University (USU). It was there she met Cory Fletcher—her best friend and the love of her life. They have been married for 25 years and currently reside in Rupert, ID, raising five children (ages 9 to 22, with three still at home).

Kelli is a dedicated educator, currently teaching Career and Technical Education (CTE) at the Idaho School for the Deaf and Blind (IESDB) while pursuing her Master's degree in Deaf Education. Kelli loves teaching middle school and high school students at IESDB. She is passionately committed to advocating for the needs of the Deaf and hard-of-hearing (D/HH) community and building communicative bridges with the hearing world. She is also deeply involved in her church callings, previously serving as an ASL seminary and institute teacher, is actively working to establish a Disability Resource Specialist in her local church stake, and is the Ward Bulletin and Communication Specialist in her ward. 

When not involved in her children’s sports or activities, Kelli enjoys reading gospel-related books, gardening in her greenhouse, playing the piano, spending time with friends, and cherishing moments with her family, especially on the Snake River. 

Pablo Nieves is originally from Puerto Rico, and is hard-of-hearing.

He met the missionaries and joined the Church while living in Manhattan, New York City, in December 1991.

He was Branch President for just under a year in the Manhattan 7th (Deaf) Branch before moving to Utah in the beginning of 1995 to get married.

In 1997, when the Cache Valley Deaf Branch, (now the Cache Valley 1st Branch (ASL)) in Logan, was organized he was called as first counselor in the branch presidency. He also held callings as Elder's Quorum President, Branch President, Stake High Councilor, Young Men's President, Temple Prep instructor, and an ASL Temple ordinance worker. 

He has been married to Michelle Nieves now for over 30 years, and they are the parents of six children, with six grandchildren also.

pdnieves64@gmail.com 

Michelle Nieves is hearing, and began learning sign language in 1992 when she attended Utah State University. She majored in Elementary Education with a minor in Deaf Ed.

She and her husband, Pablo, met at Seven Peaks in 1993, when he went there with a Deaf Symposium activity and she was there with her family. They have now been married for over 30 years and have six children (three girls and three boys) and six grandchildren.

They attended the Cache Valley 1st Banch (American Sign Language) from the time it was organized in 1997 until the beginning of 2020. During that time she held many callings including Primary counselor and teacher, Young Women counselor and teacher, Gospel Doctrine teacher, Relief Society secretary, and Interpreter Coordinator. In addition, she worked as an ASL ordinance worker at the Logan Temple for 8 years.

She is currently back serving as the Relief Society secretary for a second time.

mich.nieves.1970@gmail.com

Robert P. Sutton (Rob) was born in Preston, Idaho. Rob attended the Idaho School for the Deaf. After graduating from the deaf school, he served an ASL mission in the Oakland California Mission. Following his mission, he attended California State University, Dominguez Hills where he earned a B.S. degree in Business Administration. Rob has been married to his better half, Kathy, almost 50 years. Together they have raised three awesome children and fostered two deaf teenagers. In addition to their children, they have seven adorable grandchildren. In his professional life, Rob has held various positions in the fields of business and technology. He retired from El Camino College in 2019. Over the years, Rob has served in many callings including High Councilor, Bishop, Branch President, Branch Presidency 1st Counselor, Branch Mission Leader, Young Men President, Sunday School and Priesthood leader/teacher, Temple Ordinance Worker/ASL Coordinator and in Board of Accessibility (BOA).  He is now serving as High Councilor in Mesa Arizona Stake. He loves being with his family, studying the scriptures, golfing, watching movies and cooking. robsutton10@gmail.com

Kathryn M. Sutton (Kathy) was born in Martinez, California. At the age of two, her parents learned that she was deaf and moved the family to Los Angeles so Kathy could attend an oral school. Upon graduating from Chatsworth High School in Southern California, Kathy made the life-changing decision to attend Gallaudet University. It was at Gallaudet that she became fluent in ASL and developed her identity as a Deaf person. She earned a B.S. degree in Mathematics from Gallaudet and later a M.A. degree in Special Education and Teacher’s Certificate from California State University, Northridge. Kathy has been married to her better half, Rob, almost 50 years. Together they have raised three awesome children and fostered two deaf teenagers. In addition to their children, they have seven adorable grandchildren. In her professional life, Kathy worked as a Deaf teacher for 36 years, retiring in 2009. Kathy has served in many church callings including Stake Primary President, Stake Compassion Leader, Relief Society President, Young Women President, Primary President, teacher in many of the Church auxiliary programs, Temple Ordinance Worker/ASL Coordinator, and temple worker in Gilbert Temple. She is now teaching in Primary. Kathy loves being with her family, studying the scriptures, helping people, crocheting, and sewing. kathy@robandkathy.net

Marla, originally from Los Angeles, California, has been Deaf since birth. She uses American Sign Language (ASL) and attended public schools. Marla completed here education at Gallaudet University, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work. She furthered her studies with a Master of Arts in Deaf Education at Lewis & Clark College and a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and Management at Capella University. With over 30 years of experience, Marla has taught a second language to diverse learners in higher education institutions.

A lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Marla has held various church callings, including in the Young Women, Relief Society, Primary, Sunday School, and Teacher Development programs. These experiences have taught her humility and fostered her growth as a disciple of the gospel.

In her free time, Marla enjoys reading, writing, hiking, walking, and spending time with her two tuxedo cats. She also researches effective teaching and learning practices, continually seeking the best strategies to support her learners' growth and experience. 

Marla is excited to embark on a new journey teaching the Temple Preparation class. This opportunity allows her to transition from the academic world to a spiritually-basedlearning environment. She is eager to do something extraordinary to help members feel prepared to enter the temple sacred space. Her passion lies in equipping others to feel ready and comfortable in such a symbolic learning environment.