FRESNO STATE — Nancy Sager, a Fresno State alumna and lifelong advocate for the deaf and hard of hearing community, has made a very generous donation to The Silent Garden program at Fresno State. The program, part of the College of Health and Human Services, helps support families, educators, and student’s in Central California’s deaf and hard of hearing community. Additionally, Sager’s gift will help fund the program’s endowment and provide a full time director to guide its work.
Journey Rooted in Advocacy
American Sign Language plays a vital role in deaf education, a cause championed by Nancy through her advocacy and support.
First, Sager’s journey into deaf education began in her childhood. Growing up in South Sacramento in the ’60’s, she didn’t initially see college as an option. Therefore, it wasn’t until middle school, a teacher got her interested in learning that she could pursue a higher education. Sager then eventually majored in anthropology at the University of California, Santa Barbara. There, she came upon a passion for culture and language.
During her senior year, a guest speaker introduced her to the idea of teaching deaf students. This was the moment that changed the course of her life.
From that moment, Sager dedicated herself to learning American Sign Language (ASL). To begin, she attended community classes and later took private lessons from friends in the deaf community. This then led her to Fresno State, where she earned her master’s degree in deaf education in 1977. Furthermore, she completed interpreter training at American River College in 1979.
Deep Connection to Fresno State
In addition, Sager’s connection to Fresno State is still strong. Through her involvement with The Silent Garden program, she continues to support the deaf and hard of hearing children. This program provides free educational resources, conferences, and scholarships for students studying deaf and education interpreting.
Dr. Paul Ogden, founder of The Silent Garden, spoke about the impact of Sager’s support.
“The Silent Garden is thriving, thanks to Nancy’s generosity. Her dedication to the field of deaf education continues to inspire others.”
Lifetime of Achievements
In turn, Sager spent over 14 years as a teacher of the deaf, followed by several years in administrative and consulting roles. Transitioning to a more policy-focused position, she played a key role in creating California’s Newborn Hearing Screening program. Thus, insuring that children with hearing loss get the support they need early on. Not to mention, she also fought to improve teacher certification for those working with deaf students.
Though she has many achievements, Sager says her proudest work is with parents.
Nancy Sager (Photo Credit: Fresno State Website)
Supporting parents as they raise deaf and hard of hearing children has been the most rewarding part of my career,” she said.
Honored for Her Work
Lastly, in 2017, Fresno State honored Sager with the Outstanding Alumni Award from the College of Health and Human Services. Just recently, Sager donated $250,000 to The Silent Garden. This very generous donation ensures that her legacy will continue to help the Central Valley’s deaf and hard of hearing community for years to come.
Looking ahead, The Silent Garden will host its annual Scarlett’s Park Conference on September 20th-21st. The conference will be focusing on deaf and hard of hearing children with special needs. This event will be a testament to the continuing impact of Sager’s generosity and lifelong commitment to the community. To register or learn more, visit The Silent Garden website.
