Board of Directors

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• Board of Directors

Getting to know the current board of directors for the National Association of Blind Students.

The National Association of Blind Students is here to help state student divisions grow and prosper. To meet this goal, we have created nine regions to help you network with nearby states and gain a personal contact with one of our board members. Feel free to contact your regional representative with any questions or ideas you may have.

Arielle Silverman, President:

I was born and raised in Phoenix, AZ, and went to college at Arizona State University after graduating from high school. When I started I majored in biology and wanted to eventually go to medical school, but later I decided that I wanted to become a psychologist, so I ended up graduating with a double major in biology and psychology. Toward the end of my college career I also spent a semester studying in Melbourne, Australia, which was lots of fun and greatly enriched my college experience. After I graduated from ASU, I spent seven months in training at the Louisiana Center for the Blind and then started grad school at the University of Colorado in Boulder. I'm working on a Ph.D. in social psychology and researching ways to help members of minority groups, especially kids in school, overcome the effects of prejudice and become high achievers. After graduation I will probably continue this line of research as a psychology professor. In my (rare) free time, I enjoy reading, journaling, dining out, and practicing yoga.

I have been blind since birth, but I didn't know much about the NFB until I was in ninth grade and an online friend urged me to join the NABS email list. I became curious about the NFB, but I wasn't sure if I should get involved because people kept telling me that the group was just a bunch of crazy blind radicals. Nevertheless, my mom and I went to national convention when I was sixteen to try to figure out what the NFB was really like. I will never forget the mock trial, put on by the NFB Lawyers' Division, that I watched on the second day of convention. Each year's mock trial makes fun of a real discrimination case against the blind, and this one was about the grief suffered by a bunch of blind people who weren't allowed to ride rides at an amusement park without sighted escorts. The skit reminded me of the many times in grade school when I was forbidden to do things because of my blindness-like playing certain sports in P.E., doing a science experiment or even sitting in the back of the school bus with the "cool" kids. When this happened to me I would often get angry and try to argue with the teachers to be treated like everyone else, but it never did any good-in fact, I usually ended up getting in trouble! As I grew up I began to think that maybe I had no choice but to accept my supposed limits as a blind person. Yet at the convention, I found people who were fighting all the battles I always wanted to fight but didn't know how-and they were winning! I knew immediately that this was where I belonged, and since then my friends and mentors in the NFB have taught me how to stand up for myself and for the blind everywhere, and how to live a life where blindness is truly no big deal.

Karen Anderson, First Vice-President:

Sean Whalen: Second Vice-president Committee: Student Slate
Region: Great Lakes; Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois

Janice Jeang, Secretary

I am a graduate of Texas A& M University, where I received my Bachelors degree in both Sociology and Psychology. I am currently attending the University of California Berkeley, as a first year Masters student, in Public Policy. I have been active in both the Texas Association of Blind Students, where I served on the board for four years, as well as serving with the California Association of Blind Students, where I was temporarily appointed to the position of Secretary. I have had the privilege of winning both State and National scholarships with the National Federation of the Blind, and feel quite honored to sit on the NABS board with so many other stellar students. I have a guide, with whom I have worked with for going on six years. i would love to get to know everybody and discuss guide vs. cane, and the importance of good cane skills, as an absolute priority. Hope to get to meet everybody!

Nijat Worley, Treasurer Committee: Fundraising
Region: Mountain; Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Colorado

Isaiah Wilcox, Board Member Committee: Fundraising
Region: Southern; Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas

I am a 20-year-old junior studying at Morehouse College, where I am majoring in Business Administration, with a concentration in Management. I am a recipient of the National Federation of the Blind Scholarship.

I was born in Columbus, Georgia, and later moved to Macon, where I attended the Georgia Academy for the Blind. My mentor, Mr. Robert Smith, along with many others from the National Federation of the Blind of Georgia, was a source of encouragement throughout my educational process and also told me about the National Federation of the Blind.

I am looking to get my masters degree in Computer Forensics and one day own my own firm. Computer Forensics deals with the analysis of computer related crimes, specifically investigating cyber criminals, and how they use email, websites and other means to defraud the Internet community. One of the biggest tasks for Computer Forensic Specialist is the job of protecting the Internet from computer hackers.

Overall, I am dedicated to motivating, improving, and inspiring the lives of others to reach their highest potential educationally, professionally, and personally.

Meghan Whalen, Board Member Committee: Website
Region: Heartland; Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Nebraska

I am entering my final year at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. I am majoring in English with an emphasis in creative writing. I love reading and writing poetry, short stories and pretty much everything else. I live off campus, and I enjoy spending time with friends, cooking, baking and getting lots of exercise. I am president of the Wisconsin Association of Blind Students and am on several other boards within the NFB as well. I am looking forward to being the voice for those who aren't ready to raise theirs yet.

Domonique Lawless, Board Member Committee: Student Slate
Region: Northwest; Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming

Darian Smith, Board Member Committee: Membership
Region: Southwest; Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico

I was born, raised, and currently live in San Francisco, California. However I can proudly say that I’ve traveled the country a little bit. I’ve been to Washington State, Oregon, Colorado, Texas, New Mexico, Alabama, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Kentucky, among other locations. In addition to my obvious love to travel and explore, I love spending time with friends and family, Playing and watching sports (including my almost religious watching of wrestling), Singing, and my listening to /mixing of music. Those who know me best would probably describe me as driven, passionate, yet funny, random and fun-loving.

I was a summer student in Colorado in 2001-2002, and served as a student delegate in the 2003 youth leadership forum for people with disabilities in Sacramento. I am a Graduate of the Colorado center for the blind, a former CCB summer instructor, and am a recent graduate of the National Civilian Community Corps (AmeriCorps NCCC) - an AmeriCorps program, that engages youth in national and community service and develops their leadership skills. While in “N-triple C”, I built trails in Boulder, Colo. Assessed community needs in South Texas, did construction work in Alabama, and worked with at-risk youth from Denver, Colo. introducing them to service by working with them to address local community needs. In the fall, I am planning to return to City college of San Francisco, where I am looking to continue with my general education towards an associates in sign language, then to an bachelors in Recreation, and a masters in orientation and mobility. I am proud to say that my successful experiences have been supported by those who have taught me at the CCB, to believe, that your ceiling is always higher than you think. And as well, the relationships I’ve formed within the NFB, that have kept me focused and have given me comfort. I am very excited to be here and support and empower Students to realize their dreams, because belief stokes the fire, that drives us to succeed!