2023 WSRID Board
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"The Board members of WSRID 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 Krystal Sanders
Secretary Claudia Kienholz
Treasurer Mark Hoshi
Deaf/DeafBlind Community Representative Gabby Hopkinson
WSRID Directors:Kristin Deverin
Rogan Shannon
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! Email Anna |
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 weather here in the PNW. Returning to ASL several years after college, Anna feels fortunate to have graduated amongst the “last class” of ITP students at SCCC in 2013. She is excited to continue her journey on the WSRID board, focusing her efforts on community strengthening and professional development for interpreters here in Washington. Prior to joining the board in October of 2017, Anna helped coordinate the Professional Development Committee-West (2014-2018), was a contributing member of the Bylaws Committee (2016-2018), and served as one of the conference co-coordinators for our “Make it Matter” joint conference with WSAD in 2019. She is honored to be serving in her second term as board president.
Krystal Sanders was born and raised in the Kansas City, Kansas metro area. In 2018, she put on her ruby slippers and moved to the Emerald City, Seattle, to work for her current employer as a staff interpreter. She started her interpreting journey in 2013 as the first and only Deaf student in the Johnson County Community College’s ASL to English Interpreting Preparation Program where she graduated and became certified in 2015. As a mother of four, Krystal is a firm believer of the tripod of life: Family (lungs), work (brain), and community (heart). She started serving the community on boards at JCCC as a first-year representative for the Student Kansas Association of Interpreters in 2013, and she hasn’t stopped. Since then, she has served on several boards and conferences in different capacities. Today, she serves as a board member for DBSC and vice president for WSRID. Let’s meet for coffee!
Claudia Kienholz, associate member, began her love of interpreting work as an ITP student in Southern California more than 40 years ago. Since graduating ITP and moving to Washington in 1984, she has worked in a range of staff and freelance community settings with Deaf and DeafBlind adults, and more recently, children. She received IC certification in 1985, which expired while she was working as a registered nurse. She's grateful to be interpreting full time again and is preparing for recertification. As a long time member of WSRID, she began serving on the Bylaws Committee in 2015, and has just completed a two-year term as a director on the board. She is honored to begin her first term as secretary and thrilled to be able to collaborate with an amazing group of committed professionals.
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!
Gabby Hopkinson moved to Seattle from her home state of California 13 years ago and became heavily immersed in the Seattle and Washington scene. In the first year of the pandemic, she moved to Vancouver, Washington with her three Deaf sons and enjoys living across the river from Portland while working locally and nationally as a Deaf Interpreter. 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 Deaffriendly, 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.
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.
Rogan Shannon is Washington raised, a PNW person to the core. Growing up, they were always told that he should become a Deaf interpreter, but they didn't listen (what kid does?) and they didn't want to be the same as his parents who have both been professional interpreters. Of course, he's been working professionally as a Deaf interpreter for four years, primarily DeafBlind interpreting. They've been approved as a QDI in Washington, and look forward to becoming certified! Rogan's been following interpreter organizations and news for much longer than they've been working as one. They look forward to having the opportunity to bring their years of experience as a professional interpreter, his many years of using interpreters, and years of seeing behind the scenes growing up to the table and seeing what he can do for the Washington interpreter community!
Rhesa Durgin grew up with a HOH mother. At 13, she asked her mom to learn sign language 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 as each discontinued their program. After a seven-year intermission, a Deaf woman encouraged Rhesa to rejoin the Deaf community. This led to her meeting the state standard for 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’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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