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Hijrah Hamid, MPA, NIC
Coordinator, Interpreting Services
Student Center East, Suite 205
P:404-413-1560 | F:404-413-1563
Hijrah Hamid is a nationally certified sign language interpreter with more than a decade of experience across the country and globe, specializing in post-secondary and professional education settings. A long-time Panther, she earned an associate’s degree in Sign Language Interpreting from Georgia Perimeter College and a bachelor’s degree in Spanish Language and Literature from Georgia State University. Hijrah completed her master’s degree in Public Administration at Reinhardt University where her capstone research examined modern racial and socioeconomic segregation in schools and the criminalization of homelessness. Her volunteer work includes service to the Deaf and interpreting communities on the local and national levels, including serving as vice president of the Georgia Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf and, later, the Region II representative of the Interpreters and Transliterators of Color member section of the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf.
Holly Jackson, M.Ed.
Staff Interpreter, Interpreting Services
Student Center East, Suite 205
P:404-413-1560 | F:404-413-1563
Holly Jackson is a highly qualified sign language interpreter with more than a decade of experience, specializing in post-secondary and video relay. She completed her bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Clark Atlanta University, Summa Cum Laude, and worked as an IT Consultant for 10 years before returning to school to pursue a budding passion for American Sign Language. She earned a certificate in Sign Language Interpreting from Georgia Perimeter College then became the second African American to graduate from the University of North Florida master’s program in Special Education with a concentration in ASL/English Interpretation. An avid learner, Holly has studied at Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults (New York) and Gallaudet University. She has volunteered at various national, regional and local conferences, annually presents at Career Day for K-12 students, and served two years as Editor for Georgia Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf where her work earned the national Silver Scribe Award. Holly joined as a Staff Interpreter in 2013 and thoroughly enjoys working with students and collaborating with faculty and staff; for her, the continuous exposure to extra linguistic knowledge from working in classrooms of such assorted content is very gratifying.
Holly Crawford
Access Coordinator, Captioning Services
Student Center East, Suite 205
P:404-413-1560 | F:404-413-1563
Tina Vires, M.Ed.
Director
Student Center East, Suite 205
P:404-413-1560 | F:404-413-1563
At St. Ambrose University, Tina Vires earned a M.Ed., with a unique focus on providing access for post-secondary students with disabilities. She holds a B.S. in Business Management from Limestone College. She is a member of the national Association of Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD), where she co-chairs the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Coordinators Special Interest Group. She also belongs to the GA and SC state affiliates, and previously served as the SC AHEAD President. She previously held positions as Director, Office of Accessibility at Limestone College and Winthrop University, where she hosted and chaired the inaugural SE Regional AHEAD Conference, with a Social Justice theme. At the national, state and local levels, Tina has presented on many topics including ADA Coordinators: 7 Essential Components, Investigating ADA Complaints. Animals on Campus, Access Q&As, etc.
Tina enjoys an eclectic assortment of activities, including reading across all genres, hiking and appreciating all things “nature”.
“I am in competition with no one. I have no desire to play the game of being better than anyone. I am simply trying to be better than the person I was yesterday”.
~ Selena Gomez
Mark Gross, Ed.S.
Assistant Director
Student Center East, Suite 205
P:404-413-1560 | F:404-413-1563
Melba Richards-Garcia, M.S.
Administrative Coordinator
Student Center East, Suite 205
P:404-413-1560 | F:404-413-1563
Melba Richards-Garcia completed a B.A. degree from Hunter College City University of New York in Human Communication and Sociology. She earned an M.S. degree in Guidance and Counseling from Long Island University in Brooklyn, NY. She has numerous work experience in the social service field, working with the Georgia Department of Human Services, Department of Family and Children Services for ten plus years providing essential services for youth in the foster care system. Following that, she has worked as a supervised therapist administering mental health counseling and behavioral health services to individuals and families experiencing crisis in a community setting. Currently, she supports the Access and Accommodation Center in assisting students toward success with accommodations leading to retention and graduation at Georgia State University.
Donna Hardaway, CLC, ALC
Administrative Coordinator
Student Center East, Suite 205
P:404-413-1560 | F:404-413-1563
Donna Hardaway is a graduate of Georgia State University and is currently pursuing a Licensed Professional Counselor certification and her master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling through Walden University. She earned her bachelor’s degree at Georgia State University. She started her career in Virginia as a healthcare recruiter for eight years at one of the largest healthcare organizations in the Tidewater area. She transitioned into education within the same organization, recruiting students for nursing, surgical and cardiology technologist programs. In 2011, she began assisting the Access and Accommodations Center and worked into her current role as Administrative Coordinator for Testing. Her nationality is of the Cherokee Native American heritage. Her goals have always been to give excellent customer service to students, faculty, staff, and incoming guests. Her passion is guiding and counseling young adults towards their desired goals and aspirations. One of her favorite quotes is by Mya Angelou, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
Andrea Wilkinson
Administrative Assistant
Student Center East, Suite 205
P:404-413-1560 | F:404-413-1563
Andrea Wilkinson joined the Access & Accommodations Center, Atlanta campus in September 2019, as an Administrative Assistant. She previously worked at City University of New York, College of Technology as a CUNY Office Assistant, serving in four different departments, including Biology, where she assisted students with understanding course requirements, and the Business Office, supporting the Executive Director. As a hardworking professional with over ten years of experience in the field of Administration, she sees every opportunity as a steppingstone to something greater. She attended CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College, New York, and completed a program in Administrative Professional Studies. She plans to continue her studies and complete her BA in Public Administration. Andrea enjoys serving others and always seeks an opportunity to give back; hence, she volunteered with several organizations including CUNY Citizenship and Immigration Services, and most recently with Dekalb Youth Services. She enjoys reading, cooking and travelling.
“If you can imagine it, you can achieve it, if you can dream it, you can become it” William Arthur Ward.
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