The Rhode Island Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Board of Commissioners (RICDHH) are pleased to announce the following individuals as finalists for the position of Executive Director of RICDHH: Michelle Cline and Amy Gomme. After a thorough review of their qualifications and experience and meeting with the candidates in interviews, Michelle Cline and Amy Gomme were recommended by the RICDHH Executive Director Search Committee.
The finalists will visit RICDHH offices in person on Monday, March 6, 2023, and interview with the Board of Commissioners. The finalist visit will include tours and meetings with CDHH staff. In addition, the larger community will have an opportunity to meet and learn about each finalist during a community forum held on the evening of March 6, from 6:00-8:00 pm at Rhode Island School for the Deaf (RISD) Gymnasium.
The Rhode Island Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Board of Commissioners wishes to thank the RICDHH Executive Director Search Committee members for their commitment to and support of this process and the staff and community members who contributed to the search process through their participation in facilitated focus groups and survey.
Please watch for updates about the Rhode Island Commission on the Deaf Executive Director search at the following website: http://www.cdhh.ri.gov/.
If you have questions about the search process, please contact Innivee Strategies at [email protected].
About the finalists:
Michelle Cline
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Michelle has a versatile skill set of experiences in counseling, policy work, and advocacy. Michelle obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from the Rochester Institute of Technology and a Master’s in Social Work from Syracuse University. Currently, she is working as a Research Assistant for the Rochester Institute of Technology on the topic of how the COVID-19 Pandemic impacts Deaf Education. Michelle volunteers her time to different advocacy organizations. She has won several awards through her mantra of continuing to BE MAD – Be Empowered to Make a Difference. The advocacy work ranges from early language acquisition to accessible services and addressing gaps in the system. Her career experiences are dedicated to her commitment through work and volunteering with several non-profit organizations focusing on enhancing the lives of the Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, Hard of Hearing, and Late-Deafened communities. Michelle is the first female Treasurer of the National Association for the Deaf and has proactively lobbied and passed a language acquisition bill along with the Deaf Students’ Bill of Rights in New Jersey. Michelle currently resides in Massachusetts and is married to William Cline and have three beautiful children together and is experiencing a nest that is almost empty. She enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and spending quality time with her 3 pups.
Amy Gomme
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Amy Gomme is a native Latinx Deaf New Mexican who was born and raised in the rural region of Northern New Mexico. She also is a first-generation Mexican-American on her mother’s side, coming from a family that immigrated from Mexico. She descends from a family of numerous Deaf members who have resided in New Mexico and Arizona for generations. Amy is a graduate of New Mexico School for the Deaf before continuing on and graduating from the Rochester Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Science. Prior to working for the Deaf Counseling Advocacy and Referral Agency (DCARA), Amy worked for the Community Outreach Program for the Deaf in New Mexico, starting out as a Job Developer and working her way up to Program Director. Amy currently works as the interim Executive Director at the Deaf Counseling Advocacy and Referral Agency (DCARA), where she was previously the Deputy Director. Amy also served on the board of the National Association of the Deaf (NAD), first elected in 2018 as the Region IV Board member and then as Vice President in 2020. During her term, Amy was involved with the Internal Transformative Committee and the Dismantling Racism committee. Amy is incredibly passionate about giving back to the community, especially the one she grew up in. With this passion for her community, she took on multiple roles through the years in her local community as she grew into a leader. These included three local community organizations the New Mexico Association of the Deaf as president, Raíces del Rio Grande (a Latinx Deaf organization) as Vice President, and the New Mexico School for the Deaf Alumni Association, starting with being a secretary and then President. Amy is an avid sports fan, with a goal of touching every sports stadium in the U.S. She has already been to 12 ballparks in the U.S.! Amy is also a passionate geek with a love for Star Wars, Star Trek, Lord of the Rings, and more! She even has a cute doggie named BB-8!
About Rhode Island Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
The Rhode Island Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (RICDHH) is an advocating, coordinating, and service-providing entity committed to promoting an environment in which deaf and hard of hearing individuals in Rhode Island are afforded equal opportunity in all aspects of their lives. For more information about the Rhode Island Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, please visit www.cdhh.ri.gov.
About Innivee Strategies, Inc.
Innivee Strategies provides a systemic framework for organizations to facilitate a strong strategic direction toward the desired vision. Our services include Executive Search & Transition, Governance Training & Consulting, Strategic Planning, Executive Support Systems, Leadership Development, and Guided Facilitation. Please visit our website at www.innivee.com to learn about our clients and their testimonies about how our services have benefited their organizations.
