Regan Thibodeau will soon be the first native deaf person from Maine to earn her PhD.

According to Regan, there are only 400 deaf people in the country with PhDs and only 700 worldwide. Her degree has a concentration in educational leadership because she wants to inspire other deaf people to pursue a higher education.

Maura Nolin, Director of Interpreting Services at Pine Tree Society, is seen interpreting in Newscenter’s 207 story celebrating Regan’s accomplishments.

Watch the full story here.