2024 WSRID Board
From left-right: (front) Helena Cahill, Drew Pidkameny, Anna Mansell Karagiannis, Rogan Shannon, Shanta Corra, (back) Franki Thornton, & Claudia Kienholz)
"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 Drew Pidkameny
Current office term: JAN 2024 – DEC 2025 Secretary Claudia Kienholz
Treasurer — Currently Vacant
FYI: If you or someone you know is qualified and would like to serve their fellow interpreters and this organization, do not be shy. Please reach out to Anna or one of the other board members and let them know. You can find qualification requirements on the BYLAWS page. Current office term: JAN 2024 – DEC 2025 Deaf/DeafBlind Community Representative — Sandra Carr
At this time my passion is based on the dwindling rate of in-person interpreters for the Deaf. As an advocate, I have had to advocate for the Deaf at various times and in various situations to ensure that the Deaf have the best possible access to communication as they can get. I realize that time changes and the rising of other communication needs have put a serious lack in the “warm body-on site“ interpreter pool. If nothing else I would like to offer my support in the efforts of WSRID, WSAD, and WASCLA (in which I’m also a Board Member) to see what we, as a collective group, can do to remedy the shrinking population of Sign Language interpreters. Current office term: JAN 2024 – DEC 2025
WSRID Directors:Franki Thornton
Shanta Corra
Rogan Shannon
Student Director Helena Cahill
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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.
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.
This area is reserved for our future treasurer to share a little about their background and vision for WSRID. We look forward to welcoming them aboard as soon as possible!
Since become totally Deaf in 1981, I have come to rely on sign language interpreters in different capacities. I have always been very grateful for the men and women who have dedicated themselves to serving the Deaf in this way. Although I am not totally reliant on sign language interpreters, I have taken advantage of every possible communication device/mode that a Deaf person like myself could possibly access, which includes a CI. I have, over the years, had experience with Certified and Non-Certified Interpreters (PSE as English is my first language) and have always respected the resource available to me.
I came to the field of interpreting through my relationships with Deaf/HH community in California, and found the Deaf community in Washington after my graduation from the interpreting program at California State University, Northridge (CSUN). I was drawn to the region by its vibrant Deaf theatre and arts scene, and have been here ever since appreciating and supporting that work. After 13 years of working I am looking for a way to engage with my field more deeply. I hope that WSRID can be an opportunity for me to give back to the community and profession that have guided me through my young adult life. I come to this position primarily with curiosity and enthusiasm, and believe deeply that the greatest strength we have as a profession is our relationships with one another and our community. I would use this opportunity to better acquaint myself with the community I serve and with the hope of bringing new insight to the practice and presence of WSRID as an entity through relationship building and resource development. I believe that my own experiences and my desire to understand others' can be an asset to the organization. I want to know what our profession--in this place, at this time--needs most and am excited about working creatively to meet that need.
Shanta Corra, NIC, is a freelance interpreter living in Walla Walla. A Washington native, she graduated from SCCC’s ITP in 2001, and from the University of Washington with a degree in Spanish in 2003. Shanta spent time living abroad both in Spain and Ireland, but this is her first time living in the eastern part of Washington State, where she moved in 2020. Used to the relatively large number of resources and other interpreters she could access in the Seattle area, she is looking forward to developing more support and opportunities for connection for the interpreters in Eastern Washington as well as being able to relay needs, concerns and ideas to WSRID. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, contemporary dance and spending time with her family and friends.
As someone who grew up in the Pacific Northwest, surrounded by interpreters (including my parents!) and now am one myself, I want to continue working with and uplifting the interpreting community. I’ve been part of many different boards and I joined the WSRID board as a director just over a year ago. I’ve enjoyed connecting with more interpreters in our community outside of who I regularly work with. I will be bringing my years of experience as a professional interpreter, my many years of using interpreters, and years of seeing behind the scenes growing up at the table. I’m excited to see what I can do for the Washington interpreter community! 
My name is Helena Cahill. Born and raised in Washington state, I grew up in Woodinville then moved to Monroe. I started taking ASL with Linda Bontrager, my teacher for six years, from junior high to college. Inspired by Linda and the community she introduced me to, I decided to continue my education whereby I earned an associates degree from EvCC. I’m now a senior in Idaho State University’s ITP in Meridian, Idaho. My goal has always been to move back to Washington and serve the community that supported me for so many years. I believe joining WSRID as the student representative would be the next step in forwarding my goal. It would be an honor to work with the other members of WSRID to not only serve the Deaf community, but also support the students who wish to continue their learning as I did along with interpreters who I hope to work with one day.
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