2021 WSRID Board
(From left-right, top to bottom: Anna Mansell-Karagiannis, Elizabeth Bass, Mark Hoshi, Gabby Hopkinson, Caroline Allen, Claudia Kienholz, Paula Bazinet, Rhesa Durgin, Michelle Miles, & Kristin Deverin)
"The Board members of WSIRD are committed to action that will promote and ensure equity and inclusion of all diverse people, and we know this is not possible until we can ensure that racism has no presence in our organization. We strive to work in partnership with organizations and individuals who share these same priorities, and we welcome the participation of all members in this process." Equity Commitment Statement WSRID Officers:President Anna Mansell Karagiannis
Vice President Kristin Deverin
Secretary Elizabeth Bass
Treasurer Paula Bazinet
Deaf/DeafBlind Community Member-at-Large Gabby Hopkinson
Immediate Past President Caroline Allen
Current office term: JAN 2021 – DEC 2022
WSRID Directors:Claudia Kienholz
Mark Hoshi
Michelle Miles
Rhesa Durgin
Student Director [position vacant]Are you currently an ITP student or do you know one? If so, consider inquiring about this position for next year! |
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.
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.
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! 
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.
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.
Originally from southern California, near the National Center on Deafness at CSUN, Claudia started taking ASL classes while in high school and graduated from ITP at LA Pierce College. She moved to Seattle in 1984, began working and volunteering as an interpreter in the Deaf and DeafBlind communities and earned IC certification in 1985. She later returned to school and worked as a registered nurse in a variety of settings while still doing some interpreting work part time. She returned to interpreting full time in 2010 and is preparing for recertification. Claudia began working on WSRID's Bylaws Review Committee in 2015. She has served on two other boards in the past and is looking forward to working with WSRID's board to serve all members and the Deaf and DeafBlind communities around the state. Claudia loves community, cats, and homegrown veggies. She is grateful to all of the Deaf, DeafBlind, and interpreting mentors who have shared so generously over the decades. She is also grateful to her mother, who passed on a passion for social justice, a commitment for volunteering, and a respect for the nitty gritty details of organizational documents. And she is in awe of, and inspired by, the transformative and life-giving power of the earth.
Mark Hoshi has served multiple terms as a WSRID director (starting back in the 80's and 90's) and has also served as the WSRID Deaf/DeafBlind community representative. He is a former ASL instructor at SCCC and is formerly RSC (now called CDI) certified. Mark is also a staunch supporter of the interpreter’s process and growth and demands professional integrity and continuous self-assessment. In addition, he is a licensed commercial electrician who enjoys surfing, fishing, camping, traveling, concerts, and reading books. Mark runs the children’s program at the Deaf Family Retreat (Ellensburg) and is co-director and senior facilitator for the Deaf Teen Leadership camp at CISPUS. And last, but not least... he has been to over 225 Grateful Dead shows!
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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