Chandra Petersen is a Rehabilitation Counselor with Vocational Rehabilitation Services and serves deaf and hard of hearing individuals in 11 counties across Southeast Minnesota. She lives in Mankato with her husband, two daughters, a dog, and two cats. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology and minors in Psychology and Deaf Studies from the University of Minnesota Duluth and a Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Wisconsin Stout. Prior to her start with Vocational Rehabilitation in 2015, she worked for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services as an Administrative Assistant for four years. Chandra began serving on the SE Advisory Committee in 2015 and is currently in her second term.
As a Rehabilitation Counselor, Chandra works to remove barriers and ensure access to jobs and resources for people with hearing loss in Southeast Minnesota and across the state. She works with youth and adults who are deaf or hard of hearing and have a variety of communication methods and needs. She works with students from school districts across the area and Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf. She has experienced barriers in access to interpreters, accessible services, internet and technology, and employment. The needs of people in rural areas of the state are unique and need to be addressed. She looks forward to bringing her perspectives to the board and serving Minnesotans who are Deaf, DeafBlind or Hard of Hearing.
“It is my privilege to serve on the Board and share the perspectives and stories of individuals with hearing loss in rural Minnesota. Their needs are unique and important. I am thrilled to be able to continue being an advocate for access and equality for the people I serve through this platform,” – Chandra Petersen.
