Ella Mae Lentz
Ella Mae Lentz (born May 5, 1954) is a Deaf American author, poet, teacher, and advocate. Biography. Lentz was born in Berkeley, California, to two deaf parents. Her brother was also deaf. Lentz graduated from the California School for the Deaf (currently the California School for the Deaf, Fremont) in Berkeley in 1971. After graduating, she attended Gallaudet University where she received dual bachelor's degrees in Drama and English, graduating in 1975. Lentz has done research on American Sign Language (ASL) at several research institutions, including Northeastern University in Boston, the Salk Institute in San Diego , and the University of California, San Francisco. ASL Presents was founded by Lentz in 2007, located in Hayward, California. The company focuses on the how to coach, consult, present, perform, and teach ASL and Deaf Culture curriculum. Written production. Lentz has developed training material as well as educational material such as: Poetry. Lentz is widely known in the deaf community for her poetry. Many people have analyzed and studied her poems. Family. Lentz' partner is Judy D. Gough. They have five children, the youngest being Deaf, and ten grandchildren, of whom three are Deaf.