Vergena Chee, ’24, grew up in the small town of Pine Hill, New Mexico. Trees framed the lush landscape, with majestic rock formations in the far distance. The tight-knit community, part of the Ramah Navajo Reservation, taught her to be proud of her cultural and artistic heritage.
Growing up in a small Navajo community, Chee didn’t know what opportunities the future would bring. Her journey eventually took her from New Mexico to Washington, D.C., where she studied art at Gallaudet University. Today, she’s an enthusiastic teacher at Phoenix Day School for the Deaf (PDSD). Her path is proof that love, family support, and access to education helps deaf children achieve their dreams.
Pine Hill to Santa Fe
Chee is the only deaf family member among her parents, five siblings, and relatives. As a child, her parents tried to teach her the Navajo language, but it didn’t stick. The family communicated at home the best they could through gestures and home signs.
When Chee was two years old, the Superintendent of New Mexico School for the Deaf (NMSD) visited the family home. Ron Stern, ’73, could see that Chee was eager to understand the world around her. Access to language, he knew, would help her connect with her cultural heritage through books and stories, building deeper bonds with the people in her life.
Two years later, when Chee was four years old, Stern returned. This time, he brought his wife Hedy Udkovich-Stern, G-’74, a family support specialist at NMSD.
“The initial impression both Ron and I had upon meeting her as a small child was the level of curiosity and desire to understand what was going on in her environment,” says Udkovich-Stern. Still, Chee’s parents were reluctant to send their daughter to NMSD in Santa Fe, hours away from home.
Chee continued to experience challenges with communication and access to language. Eventually, her parents decided to take her to visit NMSD. When they saw that Chee would have access to language, education, and deaf peers, they knew that it was the right place for her. Stern and Udkovich-Stern assured Chee’s family that she was in good hands.
“I wouldn’t be where I am today if Ron and Hedy hadn’t visited my family when I was little,” says Chee. “They saw something special in me and believed I deserved a better future with access to language, education, and opportunities.”
Taking off
Chee entered NMSD as a shy seven-year-old who didn’t know American Sign Language (ASL). With the support of her peers and teachers, she quickly learned ASL, gained confidence, and began to engage with the world around her. Stern and Udkovich-Stern helped take care of Chee while she was away from home, always encouraging her to learn and believe in herself.
“Once Vergena picked up ASL and recognized its place in bilingual acquisition, she really took off,” says Udkovich-Stern. “Museums and galleries provided her with a new visual perspective that she immediately latched onto.”
“Even when I faced challenges, their love and support helped me keep going,” Chee says. “I am forever grateful for everything they have done for me and my family. They will always hold a special place in my heart, and I hope they know how much they mean to me.”
Leaving home wasn’t easy for Chee or her mother. They missed each other deeply, but Chee’s mother knew how important it was for her daughter to have access to language and education. Even when money was tight, she made the long journey to Santa Fe to visit Chee and remind her that she was loved and supported.
As she continued her education at NMSD, Chee never imagined that one day she would attend Gallaudet University. Stern, Udkovich-Stern, and her immediate family continued pushing her to follow her dreams. After graduating from NMSD in 2018, Chee began a new chapter at Gallaudet in Washington, D.C.
Artist at heart
Being far from home and adjusting to college life came with challenges. In early 2020, one week before the COVID-19 pandemic, Chee made the difficult decision to withdraw from Gallaudet to focus on her mental health. In 2021, she found the courage to return and continue working toward her degree. She carried her family’s love and support with her.
“My family always believed in me,” says Chee. “Especially my late brother and sister. They encouraged me to finish school and never give up on my dreams. Returning to Gallaudet was one of the most important decisions I’ve made. I’m proud that I kept going even when things were hard.”
Chee’s Navajo heritage, the traditions her family taught her, and her experiences visiting museums and cultural events in D.C. inspired her to study art. She majored in Art and Media Design (now called Art and Visual Communication Design), with a minor in Art History.
“My love for art and history began when I was a little girl. My parents shared stories about my Navajo family, culture, tradition, history. Those childhood memories mean so much to me because they helped me understand where I came from and feel proud of my heritage.
“When I was younger, Hedy also took me to museums and cultural events, where I had opportunities to learn about different cultures and the stories behind artwork. I remember being curious about how people expressed their history, beliefs, and tradition through art. Looking back, I realized how much those childhood experiences shaped who I am today.”
Indigenous pride
In 2024, Gallaudet’s National Deaf Life Museum opened a groundbreaking exhibit called “We, Native Deaf People, Are Still Here!” The space was developed in partnership with Indigenous Deaf community members. Chee first got involved with the project as a student intern. Tabitha Jacques, ’06, the Director of Arts, Culture, and Experience (ACE) at Gallaudet, was so impressed with the internship that Chee was asked to continue on as a co-curator for the Decolonize and Indigenize Art Exhibition. She worked with her mentor Robin Massey, ’90, and famed Indigenous Deaf artist Nancy Rourke.
Say Jacques, “There are so very few of us in the deaf community who are trained in the art of curating. I was very happy to pass on the knowledge and skills that I had gathered over the years to Vergena. I know that she will apply those skills and pass it on to the next generation as well. I look forward to seeing what exhibitions Vergena curates down the road.”
In her role with the Deaf Life Museum, Chee sought out Indigenous Deaf artists across the country and coordinated the delivery of artwork to the museum. The walls in the space are carefully adorned with a tapestry of unique art that reflects the Indigenous Deaf experience.
“Our goal is to show that Indigenous artists are still here,” says Chee. “There are many of us out there. We’re proud of who we are.”
Chee didn’t just help curate the art in the exhibit. She contributed to the collection, as well, melding Indigenous tradition with her love of history. “Art has always been meaningful to me because it tells stories, memories, and connects us to our culture and history, just like the stories my family shared with me growing up, “ says Chee.
Living legacy
As a deaf child, Chee learned how important it is to have access to language and education. Now, as a teacher at Phoenix Day School for the Deaf, her childhood experiences inspire her to help young deaf students develop their language and learning skills. Her identity and culture are particularly meaningful in the Phoenix area, where there is a robust Navajo community.
Udkovich-Stern is delighted to see Chee come full circle. “We are absolutely proud of Vergena and of everything she has accomplished. She really fought for herself while maintaining her integrity in herself, Indigenous identity, and place within her family circle.”
Chee’s Navajo name is Ya’dez’bah, meaning “special lady.” She honors the name through her strength, resilience, and love for her community. Looking back on her time at Gallaudet, she is grateful for the experiences and people who helped her achieve her goals.
Says Chee, “Gallaudet is different from other universities because it gave me a place where I truly belonged. I was part of a community where people shared similar experiences, and I had full access to communication, education, and Deaf culture. Gallaudet helped me become more confident, proud of my Deaf identity, and connected to the deaf community. It also gave me opportunities to grow, build friendships, and achieve my dreams.”
Ready to live your artistic dreams? Check out Gallaudet’s Art and Visual Communication Design program.
