Cheryl Heppner

Executive Director of NVRC

Best known as Executive Director of the Northern Virginia Resource Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Cheryl Heppner has worked as librarian, writer/editor, public-relations consultant, Northern Virginia Regional Outreach specialist for the state’s Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Pidgin Signed English teacher at Shenandoah University, and author—with numerous articles in Deaf-oriented and community publications, and a memoir, Seeds of Disquiet: One Deaf Woman’s Experience (1992). Deafened as a child, she signs, speechreads, and uses a cochlear implant. Her responsibilities include overseeing and managing staff, contractors, grants, educational and advocacy programs, networking, and sharing information with other Deaf-oriented organizations and agencies. Among other leadership achievements and honors, she was appointed to Gallaudet University’s Board of Trustees in 2006.