The Directors of the
Robert G. Sanderson Community Center
of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Compiled & Written by Jodi Christel Becker
Published in 2018
Updated in 2023 & 2026
Published in 2018
Updated in 2023 & 2026
Author's Note
Before discussing the directors who have administered the Robert G. Sanderson Community Center of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, I would like to address an important matter regarding historical representation in the Marilyn Tiller Call Conference Room and recognize the contributions of one individual whose service deserves continued acknowledgment.
The Deaf Center has twice removed the portrait of Beth Ann Stewart Campbell despite documented evidence of her service as director. We honor her legacy for her years of dedication to the Utah Deaf community and for her work as an interpreter for Deaf leaders Dr. Robert G. Sanderson and W. David Mortensen. Through her support of their efforts to secure funding and strengthen community services, she played an important role in advancing the vision that ultimately benefited generations of Deaf Utahns.
We respectfully request that Beth Ann's portrait be restored as a visible expression of gratitude and recognition for her many contributions. Restoring her portrait is more than a symbolic gesture. It is an opportunity to acknowledge the lasting impact of her service and to ensure that future generations understand the individuals whose leadership and dedication helped shape the community center's history. Her commitment, loyalty, and tireless advocacy helped pave the way for the vital services and programs that continue to support Deaf individuals and families throughout Utah. By restoring her portrait, we honor not only her memory but also the spirit of service and community involvement that she exemplified.
An excerpt from contemporary newspaper accounts indicates that Beth Ann Stewart Campbell served as director of the Utah Community Center for the Deaf in Bountiful, Utah, from 1985 to 1992, as shown below. During her tenure, she worked diligently to enhance the quality of life for Deaf Utahns by expanding social and recreational opportunities, increasing access to valuable resources, strengthening outreach efforts, and promoting educational programs. Her leadership fostered a greater sense of belonging, empowerment, and community engagement among Deaf individuals throughout Utah.
The restoration of her portrait would appropriately recognize and celebrate her years of dedicated service and the meaningful contributions she made to the Utah Deaf community. It would also help preserve an important chapter in the history of the Robert G. Sanderson Community Center of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing for future generations.
Thank you for your attention and consideration.
Jodi Christel Becker
The Deaf Center has twice removed the portrait of Beth Ann Stewart Campbell despite documented evidence of her service as director. We honor her legacy for her years of dedication to the Utah Deaf community and for her work as an interpreter for Deaf leaders Dr. Robert G. Sanderson and W. David Mortensen. Through her support of their efforts to secure funding and strengthen community services, she played an important role in advancing the vision that ultimately benefited generations of Deaf Utahns.
We respectfully request that Beth Ann's portrait be restored as a visible expression of gratitude and recognition for her many contributions. Restoring her portrait is more than a symbolic gesture. It is an opportunity to acknowledge the lasting impact of her service and to ensure that future generations understand the individuals whose leadership and dedication helped shape the community center's history. Her commitment, loyalty, and tireless advocacy helped pave the way for the vital services and programs that continue to support Deaf individuals and families throughout Utah. By restoring her portrait, we honor not only her memory but also the spirit of service and community involvement that she exemplified.
An excerpt from contemporary newspaper accounts indicates that Beth Ann Stewart Campbell served as director of the Utah Community Center for the Deaf in Bountiful, Utah, from 1985 to 1992, as shown below. During her tenure, she worked diligently to enhance the quality of life for Deaf Utahns by expanding social and recreational opportunities, increasing access to valuable resources, strengthening outreach efforts, and promoting educational programs. Her leadership fostered a greater sense of belonging, empowerment, and community engagement among Deaf individuals throughout Utah.
The restoration of her portrait would appropriately recognize and celebrate her years of dedicated service and the meaningful contributions she made to the Utah Deaf community. It would also help preserve an important chapter in the history of the Robert G. Sanderson Community Center of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing for future generations.
Thank you for your attention and consideration.
Jodi Christel Becker
An excerpt from the newspapers shows that Beth Ann Stewart Campbell was the director of the Utah Community Center for the Deaf in Bountiful, Utah, from 1985 to 1992.
The Legacy of Leadership at the Robert G. Sanderson Community Center of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Dr. Robert G. Sanderson, a Deaf leader and advocate, played a pivotal role in developing services for Deaf Utahns through his work at the Utah Community Center for the Deaf (UCCD) in Bountiful, Utah. Over the years, he served in various capacities, including rehabilitation counselor, coordinator, and director. His dedication to expanding opportunities for Deaf individuals earned him the title of the "Father of Vocational Rehabilitation" within the Utah Deaf community.
Beth Ann Stewart Campbell, a Child of Deaf Adults (CODA), later served as director of the Utah Community Center for the Deaf. Under her leadership, services expanded significantly, helping lay the foundation for the establishment of the Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DSDHH) in 1988. The creation of this division marked a new era in providing specialized services and resources to Utah's Deaf and hard-of-hearing communities. The division was housed at the Utah Community Center for the Deaf in Bountiful.
In 1989, the Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing appointed Gene Stewart, a Child of Deaf Adults (CODA) and vocational rehabilitation counselor, as its Division Director. This position reported to the Utah State Office of Rehabilitation. At that time, two key leadership positions existed within the organization. The Division Director oversaw the division's overall operations and strategic direction, while the Director of the Community Center managed the day-to-day operations of the Utah Community Center for the Deaf.
A significant administrative change occurred in March 1992, three months before the Utah Community Center for the Deaf relocated from Bountiful to Taylorsville. Following the retirement of Beth Ann Stewart Campbell, the position of director was reclassified as program director. Marilyn Tiller Call, a hard-of-hearing advocate and former executive director of the Legislative Coalition for People with Disabilities, applied for and assumed this role (Marilyn Tiller Call, personal communication, December 15, 2023).
Beth Ann Stewart Campbell officially retired on March 13, 1992. She later cited several reasons for her retirement, including the absence of a college degree, limited support from her supervisor, Dr. Judy Ann Buffmire, who had also retired as executive director of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, and challenges she experienced in receiving support from male leaders in positions of authority (Campbell, UAD Bulletin, March 1992; Beth Ann Stewart Campbell, personal communication, December 7, 2023).
Following Beth Ann's retirement, the reclassification of the position helped clarify organizational responsibilities. As program director, Marilyn Tiller Call brought valuable experience and a fresh perspective that further strengthened the center's operations.
Over the years, Gene Stewart and Rusty Wales, a Deaf leader, directed the Utah Community Center for the Deaf under the Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Marilyn Tiller Call was later promoted to Division Director of the Robert G. Sanderson Community Center of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in Taylorsville, Utah. After the Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing merged with the Department of Workforce Services (DWS) on October 1, 2016, Marilyn became assistant director and began reporting through the DWS administrative structure rather than the Utah State Office of Rehabilitation.
This leadership structure continued under Dan V. Mathis, a Deaf director who succeeded her, and it remains the framework for future directors and assistant directors within the Department of Workforce Services.
In 2020, under the leadership of Deaf assistant director Arlene Garcia Gunderson and her team, the Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing was renamed the Division of Services of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. This change reflected an emphasis on Deaf individuals as active participants and leaders within the community rather than simply recipients of services.
The directors and administrators who have served the Robert G. Sanderson Community Center of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing have made lasting contributions to the Utah Deaf community. Through their dedication, leadership, and commitment to public service, they have strengthened programs, expanded opportunities, and fostered a greater sense of community. Their collective efforts have helped make the center an invaluable resource that continues to promote accessibility, inclusion, and empowerment for Deaf and hard-of-hearing Utahns.
Beth Ann Stewart Campbell, a Child of Deaf Adults (CODA), later served as director of the Utah Community Center for the Deaf. Under her leadership, services expanded significantly, helping lay the foundation for the establishment of the Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DSDHH) in 1988. The creation of this division marked a new era in providing specialized services and resources to Utah's Deaf and hard-of-hearing communities. The division was housed at the Utah Community Center for the Deaf in Bountiful.
In 1989, the Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing appointed Gene Stewart, a Child of Deaf Adults (CODA) and vocational rehabilitation counselor, as its Division Director. This position reported to the Utah State Office of Rehabilitation. At that time, two key leadership positions existed within the organization. The Division Director oversaw the division's overall operations and strategic direction, while the Director of the Community Center managed the day-to-day operations of the Utah Community Center for the Deaf.
A significant administrative change occurred in March 1992, three months before the Utah Community Center for the Deaf relocated from Bountiful to Taylorsville. Following the retirement of Beth Ann Stewart Campbell, the position of director was reclassified as program director. Marilyn Tiller Call, a hard-of-hearing advocate and former executive director of the Legislative Coalition for People with Disabilities, applied for and assumed this role (Marilyn Tiller Call, personal communication, December 15, 2023).
Beth Ann Stewart Campbell officially retired on March 13, 1992. She later cited several reasons for her retirement, including the absence of a college degree, limited support from her supervisor, Dr. Judy Ann Buffmire, who had also retired as executive director of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, and challenges she experienced in receiving support from male leaders in positions of authority (Campbell, UAD Bulletin, March 1992; Beth Ann Stewart Campbell, personal communication, December 7, 2023).
Following Beth Ann's retirement, the reclassification of the position helped clarify organizational responsibilities. As program director, Marilyn Tiller Call brought valuable experience and a fresh perspective that further strengthened the center's operations.
Over the years, Gene Stewart and Rusty Wales, a Deaf leader, directed the Utah Community Center for the Deaf under the Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Marilyn Tiller Call was later promoted to Division Director of the Robert G. Sanderson Community Center of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in Taylorsville, Utah. After the Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing merged with the Department of Workforce Services (DWS) on October 1, 2016, Marilyn became assistant director and began reporting through the DWS administrative structure rather than the Utah State Office of Rehabilitation.
This leadership structure continued under Dan V. Mathis, a Deaf director who succeeded her, and it remains the framework for future directors and assistant directors within the Department of Workforce Services.
In 2020, under the leadership of Deaf assistant director Arlene Garcia Gunderson and her team, the Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing was renamed the Division of Services of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. This change reflected an emphasis on Deaf individuals as active participants and leaders within the community rather than simply recipients of services.
The directors and administrators who have served the Robert G. Sanderson Community Center of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing have made lasting contributions to the Utah Deaf community. Through their dedication, leadership, and commitment to public service, they have strengthened programs, expanded opportunities, and fostered a greater sense of community. Their collective efforts have helped make the center an invaluable resource that continues to promote accessibility, inclusion, and empowerment for Deaf and hard-of-hearing Utahns.
Dr. Robert G. Sanderson. Courtesy of the Sanderson Community Center
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 Stewart Campbell. Courtesy of the Sanderson Community Center
Beth Ann Stewart Campbell (CODA)
Director
Utah Community Center for the Deaf
Bountiful & Taylorsville, Utah
1985-1989
Beth Ann became assistant director in 1989 after the Utah Community Center for the Deaf became part of the Division of Services to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, located in Bountiful and Taylorsville, Utah. She retired in 1992.
1985 - 1992
Gene Stewart. Courtesy of the Sanderson Community Center
Gene D. Stewart (CODA)
Division Director (1989-1996)
Utah Community Center for the Deaf under the Division Services to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Bountiful and Taylorsville, Utah.
1989 - 1996
Rusty Wales. Courtesy of the Sanderson Community Center
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 Tiller Call. Courtesy of the Sanderson Community Center
Marilyn Tiller 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. Courtesy of the University of Washington
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. Courtesy of the Sanderson Community Center
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. Photo provided by Arlene Garcia Gunderson
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. Courtesy of the Disability Services Workforce
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. Courtesy of the Disability Services Workforce
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-July 23, 2024
David Lance Pickett. Photo provided by David Lance Pickett
David Lance Pickett (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.
July 23, 2024 to Present
Notes
Beth Ann Stewart Campbell, personal communication, December 7, 2023.
Marilyn Tiller Call, personal communication, December 15, 2023.
Marilyn Tiller Call, personal communication, December 16, 2023.
Marilyn Tiller Call, personal communication, December 15, 2023.
Marilyn Tiller Call, personal communication, December 16, 2023.
Reference
Campbell, Jay. "Beth Ann Resigns As Director of UCCD." UAD Bulletin, v. 15, no. 10. (March 1992): 1.
