Sherry Williams (Lyman, SC) is currently an adjunct professor both at Spartanburg Community College and Converse College. She has worked at the South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind for many years as a counselor, transition coordinator, and teacher. She received her MA in Sign Language Education from Gallaudet University and her BSW in Social Work from the Rochester Institute of Technology. Sherry serves on the SC Department of Education Advisory Council on the Education of Students with Disabilities and previously served on the SC Protection and Advocacy Board of Directors. She is a member of the Upstate Association of the Deaf (UAD), SC Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (SCRID), National Association of the Deaf (NAD, and the American Sign Language Teacher’s Association (ASLTA). She is the recipient of the SCAD Most Distinguished Service Award (2013) and the NAD Golden Hand Award (1997). Sherry has been active in SCAD for several years, serving in numerous officers’ positions. She sees SCAD as the primary advocacy organization for the Deaf Community in South Carolina to ensure that all Deaf people have the same rights and access as hearing people. In her spare time, Sherry enjoys hiking, backpacking, gardening, quilting, and oil painting. She is married to Roger Williams and has six children, four of whom are Deaf.
Vice President
Glenda F. McCary (Inman) is a graduate of South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind (SCSDB) (1972). She holds a degree from Piedmont Technical College in Secretarial Science. She is currently employed with the SCSDB as an ASL instructor for the employees. She is a member of the Upstate Association of the Deaf (UAD), the South Carolina Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (SCRID), the National Association of the Deaf (NAD), and American Sign Language Teachers’ Association (ASLTA). She is the former Miss Deaf SC of 1975-77. Glenda has previously served as SCAD’s President. She believes SCAD should be like an insurance company: They are there for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and will fight to protect your rights in every possible way. Glenda enjoys cooking, catering, reading, traveling and spending time with her granddaughters.
Secretary/Treasurer
Andrea Martinez-Johnson (Columbia, SC) graduated from Texas School for the Deaf. She attended Gallaudet University and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in May 1991. She is currently employed as an Instructional Assistant in the Deaf and Hard of Hearing classroom with Richland District One and has been there for 19 years. In addition, Andrea is an ASL Instructor at the University of South Carolina in Columbia. She previously served as SCAD Secretary (2001-2007), SCAD President (2007), SCAD Vice President (2008), Multicultural Outreach Services Chairperson (formerly under SCAD), SC American Sign Language Teachers Association (SCASLTA) Officer and Member, SouthEast Athletic Association of the Deaf (SEAAD) Secretary (2016-2018), Deaf Women United (DWM) Committee Member, SC American Sign Language (ASL) Taskforce Committee Member, SC Black Deaf Advocate Member, and Midlands Association of the Deaf Member. Andrea volunteers for Beginning SC, for Camp Wonder Hands as Counselor and Co-head Counselor. She received several awards from National Association of the Deaf (NAD) and SC Association of the Deaf (SCAD). For 24 years she was married to her late husband, Christopher Johnson, who was well known in the South Carolina Deaf community. Andrea enjoys traveling, photography, and spending time with her cat King Jax.
Past President
Leonard Earl Wright (Pauline, SC) is retired from South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind (SCSDB) where he worked as a Testing and Textbook Coordinator. He is an adjunct Professor at Converse College in Spartanburg. He serves on several advisory boards, such as Tri-State Seminary of the Deaf, and PEPNet-South. He is a member of the Upstate Association of the Deaf (UAD), the South Carolina Baptist Conference of the Deaf, the National Association of the Deaf (NAD), Cedar Springs Education Association, and First Baptist Church in Spartanburg. He is the recipient of numerous awards from SCSDB, his church and the community. Earl believes in advocating strongly for all Deaf and Hard of Hearing of all ages. His most rewarding experience has been helping to improve the quality of education among the Deaf/Hard of Hearing students across the State of South Carolina. His hobbies include gardening, traveling, being PaPa to his three grandchildren, raising farm animals and reading. He married his wife Debbie, originally from South Dakota, in 1974 and has two daughters, two sons-in-law, two grandsons and a granddaughter.
Midlands Member At Large
Ronald Howell (Columbia, SC) is a graduate of SC School for the Deaf and the Blind. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology at Gallaudet University. Retired from US Postal Service after twenty-seven years and served as President of SC Black Deaf Advocate in 2012. He is a long time member of SCAD, a member of National Association of the Deaf (NAD), Midlands Association of the Deaf (MAD), and SC Black Deaf Advocate (SCBDA). Ronald enjoys reading and fitness in his spare time.
LowCountry Member At Large
Jennifer Powell (Johnsonville, SC) received her Bachelor of Science degree at Gallaudet University with a major in Homemaking. She received her Masters of Arts degree at Western Maryland College in Deaf Education. Jennifer retired as a Teacher of the Deaf after thirty years and is a strong advocate for the Deaf community. She has ten years of case manager skills and is currently a professional Science Technician. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, sewing clothes, and reading books.
