Directors of the
Sanderson Community Center
Compiled & Written by Jodi Becker Kinner
Published in 2018
Updated in 2021
Updated again in 2023
Published in 2018
Updated in 2021
Updated again in 2023
Initially, the Directors of the Community Center for the Deaf in Bountiful, Utah, were Dr. Robert G. Sanderson and Beth Ann Stewart Campbell. Over the years, Dr. Sanderson has worked as a "rehab man," counselor, coordinator, and director. He was widely regarded as the "Father of Vocational Rehabilitation."
When the Division of Services to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DSDHH) was created in 1988 and housed in the Utah Community Center for the Deaf (UCCD) in Bountiful, Utah, the services expanded. Soon after the DSDHH was established in the same year, Jim Hilber, hearing and a long-time Vocational Rehabilitation counselor, was appointed Division Director. He soon stepped down due to political reasons. In 1989, Gene Stewart, CODA, a long-time Vocational Rehabilitation counselor, was named Division Director of the DSDHH and reported to the Utah State Office of Rehabilitation. The DSDHH had two bosses: the Division Director and the Director. The administration divided responsibilities between the Division Director and the Director. Beth Ann Campbell, CODA, was the Director of the Utah Community Center for the Deaf at the time. Her position and role as Director remained unchanged under Gene's administration, and she reported to him. Three months before the Utah Community Center for the Deaf relocated to Taylorsville, Utah, in June 1992, the position of program director was created. Beth Ann stepped down as the Director when Marilyn T. Call, who is hard of hearing and former Executive Director of the Legislative Coalition for People with Disabilities, applied for the position (Marilyn T. Call, personal communication, December 15, 2023). In the absence of her former boss, Dr. Judy Ann Buffmire, retired Executive Director of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, and due to a lack of college degrees and support from males in positions of authority, Beth Ann Campbell retired in March 1992 (Beth Ann Campbell, personal communication, December 7, 2023). Following Beth Ann's retirement, the position of Director of the Utah Community Center of the Deaf was changed to Program Director to define roles and responsibilities more clearly. Marilyn filled the program director position (Marilyn T. Call, personal communication, December 16, 2023).
Gene Stewart and Rusty Wales, Deaf, directed the Utah Community Center for the Deaf under the Division of Services to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Marilyn T. Call was later promoted to the Division Director of the Robert G. Sanderson Community Center of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in Taylorsville, Utah. After the Division of Services to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing merged with the Department of Workforce Service (DWS) on October 1, 2016, Marilyn became Assistant Director. She began reporting to the DWS rather than the Utah State Office of Rehabilitation. The chain of command remained the same for Dan V. Mathis, Deaf, when he became the next Director. It also applies to the rest of the future Assistant Director working under the DWS.
In 2020, the Division of Services to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing was renamed the Division of Services of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing under Arlene Garcia Gunderson, Deaf, as an Assistant Director.
The portraits of the directors are exhibited on the wall in the Marilyn T. Call Conference Room. The portrait of Beth Ann Campbell has been removed from the conference room twice due to a misinterpretation of her job description despite several newspaper articles confirming her as the Director of the Utah Community Center for the Deaf in Bountiful, Utah. In observance of and gratitude for her years of service as an interpreter for Deaf leaders Dr. Robert G. Sanderson and W. David Mortensen in their legislative lobbying efforts to fund the Utah Community Center for the Deaf and oversee the UCCD in Bountiful, Utah, as a Director, it is fitting that her legacy be carried on from one generation to the next. We request that her photo be returned to the wall where it belongs. If not for her commitment, dedication, and contribution to the community center, the Utah Deaf community might not have been able to utilize the services offered by the Sanderson Community Center to this day.
When the Division of Services to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DSDHH) was created in 1988 and housed in the Utah Community Center for the Deaf (UCCD) in Bountiful, Utah, the services expanded. Soon after the DSDHH was established in the same year, Jim Hilber, hearing and a long-time Vocational Rehabilitation counselor, was appointed Division Director. He soon stepped down due to political reasons. In 1989, Gene Stewart, CODA, a long-time Vocational Rehabilitation counselor, was named Division Director of the DSDHH and reported to the Utah State Office of Rehabilitation. The DSDHH had two bosses: the Division Director and the Director. The administration divided responsibilities between the Division Director and the Director. Beth Ann Campbell, CODA, was the Director of the Utah Community Center for the Deaf at the time. Her position and role as Director remained unchanged under Gene's administration, and she reported to him. Three months before the Utah Community Center for the Deaf relocated to Taylorsville, Utah, in June 1992, the position of program director was created. Beth Ann stepped down as the Director when Marilyn T. Call, who is hard of hearing and former Executive Director of the Legislative Coalition for People with Disabilities, applied for the position (Marilyn T. Call, personal communication, December 15, 2023). In the absence of her former boss, Dr. Judy Ann Buffmire, retired Executive Director of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, and due to a lack of college degrees and support from males in positions of authority, Beth Ann Campbell retired in March 1992 (Beth Ann Campbell, personal communication, December 7, 2023). Following Beth Ann's retirement, the position of Director of the Utah Community Center of the Deaf was changed to Program Director to define roles and responsibilities more clearly. Marilyn filled the program director position (Marilyn T. Call, personal communication, December 16, 2023).
Gene Stewart and Rusty Wales, Deaf, directed the Utah Community Center for the Deaf under the Division of Services to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Marilyn T. Call was later promoted to the Division Director of the Robert G. Sanderson Community Center of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in Taylorsville, Utah. After the Division of Services to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing merged with the Department of Workforce Service (DWS) on October 1, 2016, Marilyn became Assistant Director. She began reporting to the DWS rather than the Utah State Office of Rehabilitation. The chain of command remained the same for Dan V. Mathis, Deaf, when he became the next Director. It also applies to the rest of the future Assistant Director working under the DWS.
In 2020, the Division of Services to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing was renamed the Division of Services of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing under Arlene Garcia Gunderson, Deaf, as an Assistant Director.
The portraits of the directors are exhibited on the wall in the Marilyn T. Call Conference Room. The portrait of Beth Ann Campbell has been removed from the conference room twice due to a misinterpretation of her job description despite several newspaper articles confirming her as the Director of the Utah Community Center for the Deaf in Bountiful, Utah. In observance of and gratitude for her years of service as an interpreter for Deaf leaders Dr. Robert G. Sanderson and W. David Mortensen in their legislative lobbying efforts to fund the Utah Community Center for the Deaf and oversee the UCCD in Bountiful, Utah, as a Director, it is fitting that her legacy be carried on from one generation to the next. We request that her photo be returned to the wall where it belongs. If not for her commitment, dedication, and contribution to the community center, the Utah Deaf community might not have been able to utilize the services offered by the Sanderson Community Center to this day.
Dr. Robert G. Sanderson (Deaf)
Coordinator (1965-1983)
Services to the Adult Deaf
Dr. Sanderson was appointed as the first state coordinator of services to deaf people in the United States
Director (1983-1985)
Utah Community Center for the Deaf
Bountiful, Utah
1965 - 1985
Beth Ann Campbell (CODA)
Director
Utah Community Center for the Deaf
Bountiful & Taylorsville, Utah
1985-1992
Gene Stewart (CODA)
Division Director (1989-1996)
Utah Community Center for the Deaf under the Division Services to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Bountiful & Taylorsville, Utah
1989 - 1996
Rusty Wales (Deaf)
Division Director
Utah Community Center for the Deaf under the Division Services to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Taylorsville, Utah
1996 - 2001
Marilyn T. Call (Hard of Hearing)
Division Director (2001-2016)
Utah Community Center for the Deaf and later renamed the Robert G. Sanderson Community Center of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing under the Division Services to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Taylorsville, Utah
Marilyn became an Assistant Director after the Division of Services to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing was moved under the Department of Workforce Service on October 1, 2016. She retired on December 15, 2017.
2001 - 2017
Division Director (2001-2016)
Utah Community Center for the Deaf and later renamed the Robert G. Sanderson Community Center of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing under the Division Services to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Taylorsville, Utah
Marilyn became an Assistant Director after the Division of Services to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing was moved under the Department of Workforce Service on October 1, 2016. She retired on December 15, 2017.
2001 - 2017
Dan V. Mathis (Deaf)
Assistant Director
Robert G. Sanderson Community Center of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing under the Division Services to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Taylorsville, Utah
March 5, 2018 - April 16, 2019
Annette Stewart (Hearing)
Interim Assistant Director
Robert G. Sanderson Community Center of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing under the Division Services to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Taylorsville, Utah
April 16, 2019 - January 10, 2020
Arlene Garcia Gunderson (Deaf)
Assistant Director
Robert G. Sanderson Community Center of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing under the Division Services of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Taylorsville, Utah
January 13, 2020 - July 16, 2021
Eric Roux (Hearing)
Interim Assistant Director
Robert G. Sanderson Community Center of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing under the Division Services of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
August 4, 2021 - June 8, 2022
Sarah Brenna (Hearing)
Director of the Utah Services of Rehabilitation, oversees the DSDHH and provides support to the Robert G. Sanderson Community Center of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing with the assistance of four managers until the assistant director is hired.
The managers were Pamela Mower, Melanie Sperry, Annette Stewart, and Jes Nelson-Julander.
June 9, 2022-Present
Notes
Beth Ann Campbell, personal communication, December 7, 2023.
Marilyn T. Call, personal communication, December 15, 2023.
Marilyn T. Call, personal communication, December 16, 2023.
Marilyn T. Call, personal communication, December 15, 2023.
Marilyn T. Call, personal communication, December 16, 2023.