2019 WSRID Board
From left–right: Paul Glaser, Kristin Deverin, Rhesa Durgin, Elsa Svensson, Anna Mansell Karagiannis, Caroline Allen, Gabby Hopkinson, Paula Bazinet, Mark Hoshi, & Elizabeth Bass (Not pictured: Michelle Miles)
WSRID Officers:President Caroline Allen
Video greeting by Caroline • Email Caroline Vice President Anna Mansell Karagiannis
Video greeting pending... • Email Anna Secretary Elsa Svensson
Video greeting by Elsa • Email Elsa Treasurer Paula Bazinet
Video greeting by Paula • Email Paula Deaf/DeafBlind Community Member-at-Large Mark Hoshi
Video greeting by Mark • Email Mark Immediate Past President Paul Glaser
Paul Glaser, MSE, CDI, was the first Deaf WSRID President in WSRID history (4 years) and has now moved to the position of Immediate Past President. Before that position, he was a WSRID director and treasurer for several years. He was also the co-chair for the 2018 RID Region V Conference. Paul is an Interpreter Education specialist at Sorenson Communications more than 2 years now. He was a high school and college math instructor for Deaf students for over ten years. He has a teaching certificate in advanced mathematics, deaf education, and American Sign Language. Outside of his teaching, for over 20 years, Paul has been interpreting for Deaf/DeafBlind people, presenting various workshops, and mentoring interpreters. He has a bachelor's degree in math and communication studies from Gallaudet University and a master's degree in deaf education from Rochester Institute of Technology. When he can, Paul enjoys traveling (especially to various towns in Alaska with his partner), collecting National Park Service stamps, photography, and drinking different kinds of coffee. Video greeting by Paul • Email Paul
WSRID Directors:Elizabeth Bass
Video greeting by Elizabeth • Email Elizabeth Kristin Deverin
Video greeting by Kristin • Email Kristin Gabby Hopkinson
Video greeting pending... • Email Gabby Michelle Miles
Video greeting pending... • Email Michelle Rhesa Durgin
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Caroline Allen, NIC Advanced is a Deaf Parented Interpreter. She has been serving on the WSRID Board since 2013 as a Director, Secretary, and now President. Born & raised in Spokane, Washington, she has an enormous amount of pride in the fact that ASL is her first language. Her professional career started as a community interpreter in 1989 and she says her proudest professional accomplishment was when she became nationally certified by RID in 2008. Caroline has been active with the WSRID Professional Development Committee-East, frequently presenting at the Deaf Teen Leadership Camp, and is currently involved with the annual hAndSfuL of Stories event in Spokane. Her heart is dedicated to the field of sign language interpreting, educating the public about the use of interpreters, and having a healthy relationship within the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, & Deaf-Blind community at large. When she is not focused on interpreting, Caroline is embracing the role of being a daughter to the sweetest Deaf person she knows.
Anna Mansell Karagiannis, NIC, is a freelance sign language interpreter living in Seattle. A Wisconsin native, and graduate of the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (2007 BFA), Anna tries to never complain about the rain. Returning to ASL several years after college, Anna feels fortunate to have graduated amongst the “last class” of ITP students at SCCC. She is excited to continue her journey on the WSRID board, recently accepting the position of vice president, and to contribute her skills and experiences to support community strengthening and professional development for interpreters here in Washington. Prior to joining the board in October of 2016, Anna coordinated the Professional Development Committee-West (2014-2018), and contributed as a member of the Bylaws Committee, (2016-2018). When not working or volunteering, Anna spends her time with her young family and good friends. Although she’s not sure what a hobby really is, she thinks spending time with people she loves, eating, drinking, and laughing, are hers.
Elsa Svensson is a certified sign-language interpreter with degrees in both interpreting (AA, SCCC 1994) and special education (M.Ed., WWU, 2000). She worked for seven years as a resource room teacher on her beloved Vashon Island before working for almost ten years in video relay. Her current interpreting work is in post-secondary settings and freelancing throughout Snohomish, Skagit, and Whatcom Counties. Elsa became a member of the Seattle Choral Company this year, and enjoys many hobbies including swimming, hiking, writing, working on her container cabin, and hanging out with her two cats, Sampsa and Fafnir, in their too-big house in Arlington. A lifelong Washingtonian born and raised in Edmonds, Elsa feels a deep affinity for her home state and is honored for this opportunity to serve the Deaf community and her fellow interpreters.
Paula Bazinet, NIC, SC:L, Ed:K-12, from Kennewick is honored and excited to be continuing her work on the WSRID Board of Directors. Paula sees her membership on the Board as a way to give back to the Deaf and Interpreting communities who have taught her so much and who continue to allow her to have such a rewarding and exciting career. Paula has a bachelor's degree in business & social work, and is the former executive director of the SouthEastern Washington Service Center of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (2006-2010). It is her work in that role that has prepared her to serve as our current treasurer. In her rare free time, Paula enjoys traveling with her family, crocheting, and reading.
Mark Hoshi is the Deaf or DeafBlind community representative member at large for WSRID. He is a former ASL instructor at SCCC and is formerly RSC (now called CDI) certified. Mark previously served three or four terms as a director on the WSRID board in ’80 and early ’90. He is also a staunch supporter of interpreter’s process and growth and demands professional integrity and continuous self-assessment. In addition, Mark is a licensed commercial electrician and currently serves as a chairperson for TADA! He enjoys surfing, fishing, camping, traveling, concerts, and reading his NOOK. Mark runs the children’s program at the Deaf Family Retreat (Ellensburg) and is a senior facilitator for the Deaf Teen Leadership camp at CISPUS... last but not least... he has been to over 225 Grateful Dead shows!
As a Navy wife and mother, Elizabeth has had the opportunity to experience many different “mini” careers, mainly involving art, computers, and (believe it or not) mechanics. A new opportunity presented itself every time her husband transferred to a new duty station. These experiences have worked together to give her a unique background. After graduating ITP in 2011, Elizabeth went to work at the Deaf-Blind Service Center to increase her language and cultural experience while using her previous office and Braille skills to support the DeafBlind community she dearly loves. In 2015, she started working as an educational interpreter. She looks forward to what the future holds as a wife, mom, grammie; and, as an interpreter and friend to the Deaf/DeafBlind Community! Elizabeth is now serving a second term on the WSRID Board of Directors. 
Kristin Deverin, NIC, is a freelance interpreter living on the Olympic Peninsula. Her first ASL classes were in a rural city in northern Nevada. After earning a BA in criminal justice, she made her way up to Washington, where she meet a Deaf women who encouraged her to pursue interpreting. She started volunteering with WSRID while she attended ITP at SCCC. After finishing ITP with Sorensen’s School to Work program, Kristin relocated to San Diego to be with family. There she was involved with SDCRID Bylaws committee and Young Professional Interpreting Network (YPIN) committee. After returning home a few years ago, she is now ready to roll up her sleeves and give back to the interpreting and deaf communities by joining WSRID. When she is not with her partner backpacking in the Olympic Mountains, or trying to get her passport full of stamps, Kristin enjoys spending time with friends and hosting Airbnb guests on her farm.
Gabby Hopkinson moved to Seattle from her home state of California 13 years ago and has been heavily immersed in the Seattle and Washington scene ever since. She has a bachelor’s in psychology from Gallaudet and a master’s in rehabilitation counseling from San Francisco State, and has enjoyed involvement in local organizations namely Deaf-friendly, Deaf Spotlight, ADWAS, HSDC and more. She left her 9-5 gig as the Human Resources Director at HSDC to become a stay at home mother to her three Deaf sons and that was when a long time DeafBlind friend threw her the idea to become a Deaf Interpreter. She’s never looked back. She’s been working steadily as a Deaf Interpreter in different settings, and is eagerly working towards her certification. As a Deaf person and a Deaf Interpreter, she has experience being on both ends and one of her goals is to continue to bring all the communities closer together. She gets a kick out of traveling, being outdoors, photography, running her Etsy shop Happy Shock, being a mother to her amazing sons, and much more.
When asked to sit down and write about herself, Michelle Miles, NIC, said, “So many things come mind. However I have a good feeling you really don't want to know how my kids think that sometimes I am too strict of a mom, how I enjoy going dancing to some groovy disco, or how much I love to watch Gordon Ramsey cooking shows. I am an RID certified interpreter. A career I love and feel lucky to have! I graduated from SCCC many years ago, the same as so many interpreters in this area. One thing I love about interpreting is that I get an opportunity to work in many different venues. I have worked and continue to work in K-12, VRS, and as a freelance contractor (which has given me the most varied of opportunities). I love volunteer work. I believe it gives me an outlet to give back to the community. I have had extensive volunteer experience with working with the Deaf Blind Service Center (DBSC) as president, vice president, secretary, and general board member. I worked with them for approximately seven years. I also worked as secretary and general board member for the Washington Quarter Midget Association (WQMA) for 4 years. In my spare time, I love to travel. I take at least one trip a year somewhere new. Spending time with my family is very important. I have 5 kids; 3 grown and on their own and 2 still at home (a junior and a senior graduating this year). With my family and career, I took time of from volunteer work, but I want to jump into the pool again with both feet! I want to be more active in WSRID and with the continuing support we should have for each other in our field. I believe strongly in nurturing our own. It begins with us, and WSRID is a forum where we can continue that support and grow with each other."
Rhesa Durgin grew up with a HOH mother. At 13, she asked her mom to learn ASL with her. While her mom was only able to attend a few classes, Rhesa fell in love with sign. After that, she continued taking ASL classes - jumping to four different colleges because each discontinued their program. After a seven-year intermission, a Deaf woman encouraged Rhesa to rejoin the Deaf community. This led to her passing the EIPA, attending many workshops and Deaf gatherings to improve skills, and to establish a proud career as an educational interpreter. Rhesa loves to spend time with family and friends… and to learn. She can usually be found at Deaf events or interpreter trainings. She’s honored to serve on WSRID’s board and give back a little of what the Deaf and interpreting communities have given her!
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