Rian Gayle serves as the Director of Disability Access Services at Western Oregon University, bringing a wealth of expertise in both Deaf interpretation and advocacy within the disability, entertainment and social justice sectors.

In addition to his current role, Rian has previously advised Western Oregon University’s Black Students Union and Disability Union. He has also contributed to the field through his service on the board of the Oregon Association of Higher Education and Disability (ORAHEAD) and currently sits on the Advisory Board for the Telecommunication Device Access Program (TDAP) under the Public Utility Commission. Furthermore, Rian is a former commissioner on the Oregon Disabilities Commission within Oregon’s Department of Human Services.

Rian earned his Master’s Degree in International Development for Persons with Disabilities from Gallaudet University in 2010. Before moving to the United States, he was actively involved as a Disability Advocate and Researcher with the Jamaica Association for the Deaf from 2010 to 2014, drawing upon his own experiences growing up in Jamaica.