
Application Period & Deadline
The application process opens on November 14, 2022 at 8:00am CST. The deadline to submit an application is on November 28, 2022 at 5:00pm CST.
Selection & Notification Dates
Individuals selected for the program will be notified by email on December 7, 2022. An announcement will be posted online once all participants have been confirmed.
Schedule for Cohort #2
The program runs for 6 months starting January 5, 2023 into May 1, 2023. Educational phase is from January to May, and the Induction phase is June to
September.

Program Details

What is Project Level Up?
CATIE Center’s Project Level Up: Advancing Healthcare Interpreter Competencies will increase interpreter’s knowledge, skills, and competencies; thereby, reducing the equity gaps in healthcare communication for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind individuals in healthcare settings.

What is the commitment?
The program is free for 35 qualified applicants who are committed to completing the program in its entirety. The program runs for 6 months starting January 5, 2023 into May 1, 2023. The time commitment is estimated to total approximately 131 hours. See complete details below.

Who is Qualified?
All interpreters from diverse backgrounds are welcome and encouraged to apply: including hearing, Deaf, heritage signers, and individuals from underrepresented communities.
See the FAQ below for a complete list of qualifications.
St. Catherine University’s CATIE Center Project Level Up is funded by the US Department of Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration, Award #H160D210004.
The project contents; however, do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1221e-3 and 3474).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time commitment?
The program runs for 6 months starting January 5, 2023 into May 1, 2023. There are two phases of the program:
- An online Educational Phase that totals 96 hours. This includes 8 modules to be completed on Canvas.
- An Induction Phase of 35 hours. This includes 5 hours of observation, 20 hours of interpreting work, and 10 hours of case consultation with a supervisor. This work will happen via a VRI setting or in-person depending on the location of the participant.
What does the program cost?
The program is free for 35 qualified applicants. The program selection criteria is listed below.
Who can apply?
We welcome and encourage all interpreters from diverse backgrounds to apply including hearing, Deaf, heritage signers, and individuals from underrepresented communities.
What is the application criteria?
To qualify for the Level Up program an applicant must:
- Live in the U.S. or U.S. territories
- Possess 3+ years of interpreting experience
- Possess a B.A. Degree or Equivalent (see next question)
- Possess a background and interest in interpreting in Healthcare.
- Have access to appropriate technology for online learning and video conferencing capabilities, e.g., Zoom, GoReact.
- Possess a willingness to work with consumers and colleagues from all backgrounds, including individuals from traditionally underrepresented and marginalized communities including Black and Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC), Heritage Language Signers, and interpreters from rural areas.
I do not have a Bachelor’s Degree or Certification. Can I still apply?
Yes, the equivalence criterion is as follows:
If no baccalaureate degree, on a case-by-case basis and in consultation with RSA, educational equivalence may be used in place of the baccalaureate degree. Educational equivalence includes RID or state certification (with medical interpreting endorsements if applicable).
OR
If no RID or state certification, on a case-by-case basis and in consultation with RSA, life experience may be used in place of the RID or state certification. Life experience may include interpreter training workshops or college courses. Applicants should be able to provide proof of successful completion of educational experiences.
Will program participants earn CEU’s?
Yes, if accepted into the program.
Participants who complete the Educational Phase will earn 9.6 CEU hours.
No partial CEUs will be awarded.
Is the cohort track the only option for participating in Level Up?
Nope! Project Level Up has two tracks: the cohort track and a self-directed track. Check out our self-directed page!
Meet the Team

LaTanya E. Jones
MSM, NIC, MSW, MEd, Principal Investigator/Project Director
LaTanya is a nationally certified sign language interpreter with seventeen years of experience. She has worked in many professional and video relay settings and specializes in healthcare interpreting. Currently, she is the Principal Investigator and Project Director of Project Level Up: Increasing Healthcare Interpreter Competencies at the CATIE Center of St. Catherine University in St. Paul, MN. LaTanya is an adjunct professor in the Interpreter Education Program at the Community College of Philadelphia and has taught at the University of Southern Maine and Camden County College. She presents nationally on topics and issues concerning the sign language interpreting profession.
In addition to interpreting, LaTanya is a pre-licensed professional who offers LGBT+ knowledgeable, trauma-focused psychotherapy, Brainspotting, and problem gambling counseling services to individuals over 18.
A staunch, lifelong advocate for education, LaTanya earned an Associate in Applied Science in American Sign Language/English interpreting from the Community College of Philadelphia, a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the Fox School of Business at Temple University, and continued her studies in ASL Linguistics at Gallaudet University. She had earned a Master of Science in Management from Rosemont College and a Master of Social Work and a Master of Education in Human Sexuality from Widener University.
LaTanya enjoys giving back by volunteering her time and talents. As such, LaTanya sat on the board of the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) as the Member at Large, served as the Region I Representative for RID, and served on the board of the District of Columbia’s chapter of the National Alliance of Black Interpreters (NAOBI-DC). LaTanya served as of the Pennsylvania Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (PARID). In addition, she serves on the Bylaws and Professional Development committees for the Delaware Valley Association of Black Psychologists (DVABPsi), on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee for the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG), and the American Association of Sexuality Counselors, Educators, and Therapists (AASECT). LaTanya holds several professional memberships in organizations focusing on interpreting, Deaf advocacy, Social Work, and mental, behavioral, and sexual health.
In her free time, LaTanya enjoys reading, cooking, learning Arabic, and spending time with family and friends.

Paula MacDonald
M.S, NIC, QMHI, Instructional Designer/Assistant Director
Paula MacDonald, M.S, NIC, QMHI is a reflective English/ASL Interpreter practitioner specializing in; Deaf Professional/Designating Interpreting, legislative, government, conference, mental health and DeafBlind (ProTactile, Tactile and Low Vision) settings since 2009. She holds a Certificate in Deaf Studies, an A.A.S. in English/ASL Interpreting and Transliteration, B.A. in Multicultural Interpreting and a M.S. in Interpreting Pedagogy-completing her teaching practicum at Karl-Franzens University, Graz, Austria. Since 2013, she has worked as an instructional designer and online educator using a variety of learning management systems. She intentionally applies evidence-based best practices to culturally relevant pedagogical, andragogical, and heutagogical curricula design for adult and non-traditional learners.

Taryn Philippi
MSW, LGSW, Program Specialist
Taryn works as a program specialist for the CATIE Center’s Project Level Up grant. She graduated from Gallaudet University in 2013 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Taryn is a LGSW (Licensed Graduate Social Worker) and she obtained her Master of Social Work degree at St. Catherine University in 2022. Taryn has 5+ years of experience working in the mental health field serving Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard of Hearing. She is happy to be a part of the CATIE Center team and its mission to diversify and increase the number of qualified healthcare interpreters.

Anaya Mitra
MPH, Ph.D., Evaluator
Anaya is associate professor of psychology at St. Catherine University. Her area of specialization is biological psychology and she received her doctorate from the University of Florida. Her doctoral work examined the impact of maternal obesity on fetal development, using a rodent model. She also holds a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Florida. Her master’s thesis examined smoking cessation outcomes at the local public health department, following dissemination of information regarding the adverse effects of smoking on one’s health and on one’s wallet. Following her doctoral work, she did a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Minnesota and the Veterans Administration Medical Center. She has been on the faculty at St. Catherine University since 2011, and she joined the CATIE Center in 2017. Anaya’s research interests include neural regulation of energy intake and expenditure and understanding the sociocultural and environmental factors which influence food intake and physical activity. She is also interested in, and learning more about, factors which influence maternal health, especially as they pertain to malnutrition, obesity, and infertility.

Doug Bowen-Bailey
MA, CI & CT, Instructional Designer
As an instructional designer for the Dive In project, Doug seeks innovative ways to support recent graduates on their journey to becoming practicing professionals. He worked on the CATIE Center team from 2017-2021 with the Graduation to Certification program and collaborated on many CATIE projects before becoming a staff member. In addition to working with the CATIE Center, he interprets in the community when he can, provides mentoring services, and serves on the executive board of the Duluth Branch of the NAACP. He received his MA in Interpreting Studies and Communication Equity in 2019 from St. Catherine University with a project focused on understanding best practices for teaching interpreters about power, privilege and oppression.
Doug lives in Duluth, MN with his partner, Holly. His best thinking often happens while he is on a bicycle, and so is grateful for any chance to be out on the roads and trails on two wheels.
Endings and Beginnings
Click on ‘Endings and Beginnings’ to read more about CATIE Center’s announcement on our two new grant projects; Project Level-Up and Dive-In