Alexandria is a Deaf employee at the Department of Justice who carries a rich experience of understanding how the language functions in the interpreting process. She has worked with sign language interpreters for more than thirteen years and is from a Deaf family where signing is the primary mode of communication. She has graduated from Seymour Joseph Institute's Interpreting in Training Program where she and others were the first Deaf CDIs to graduate from the program. Alexandria has taught classes at the Interpreting in Training Program; Ethics in Interpreting, Contrasting of the Interpreting Models, Legal Interpreting, and Working with the Deaf Interpreter. She obtained her Masters of Science in Criminal Justice Administration from Tiffin University and has worked in the Tri-States as a freelance Certified Deaf interpreter.

Carla Mathers practiced law in Maryland and the District of Columbia for over twenty-five years. She currently is an independent consultant teaching legal interpreters, and a practicing legal interpreter. Ms. Mathers’ law degree is from Howard University School of Law and her interpreting degree is from the College of Southern Idaho. She serves on the District of Columbia Courts Language Access Advisory Council and on the American Bar Association’s Advisory Group for Language Access Standards for the Courts. Ms. Mathers was a member of the RID Task Force on Legal Credentialing and of the Maryland Administrative Office of the Courts' Advisory Committee on Interpreters, its Sub-committee on Ethics and its Sub-committee on Testing and Training. Ms. Mathers served as the Legal Program Coordinator for MARIE Center/DOIT Center at the University of Northern Colorado. She served as an adjunct instructor for the Gallaudet University Department of Interpretation teaching legal interpreting. She was Vice President for the Conference of Interpreter Trainers and was on the Board of Directors for the Deaf Abused Women’s Network in Washington, D.C. Ms. Mathers is the author of Sign Language Interpreters in Court: Understanding Best Practices, a text for interpreters, attorneys, and courts to understand the principles underlying ASL court interpreting.

Christopher Tester, Ph.D., is the founder and visionary behind With Direction, LLC. As a Deaf individual with decades of experience in interpreting and consulting, Christopher brings a unique perspective that bridges cultural and linguistic gaps. His work spans various fields, including legal, academic, and corporate settings, where he ensures precise and impactful communication. An accredited International Sign Interpreter with the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) and a member of the International Association of Conference Interpreters (AIIC), Christopher’s expertise is globally recognized. Throughout his career, Christopher has worked with high-profile organizations, including the United Nations and UNICEF, delivering interpretation and consulting services that are both technically accurate and culturally sensitive. He has a passion for enhancing the practice of sign language interpreting and works tirelessly to improve accessibility and inclusivity for the Deaf community. As an educator and consultant, he has shaped conversations about disability rights, interpreting practices, and cross-cultural communication through his workshops and presentations worldwide. His leadership at With Direction, LLC reflects his commitment to elevating communication standards and ensuring that every interaction is clear and meaningful.

Kellynette Gomez brings extensive experience as a social worker, advocate, educator, and community leader, with a focus on advancing community collective care, communication access, and equity for Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. She is an adult service navigator with the Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MCDHH), where she supports clients navigating complex legal, family, social, economic, behavioral, and mental health challenges. In addition to her full-time role at MCDHH, she also serves as an adjunct professor of social work at Gallaudet University. Her career spans direct client services, systems advocacy, and organizational development, with leadership roles that include consulting with Innivee Strategies and serving on nonprofit boards. She is also the founder of the Deaf Job Seeker Network, a Facebook community of over 9,000 members that advances equity through resources, job opportunities, and peer support.

Nigel Howard is an instructor at the University of Victoria in the Department of Linguistics. He is also an adjunct professor at the University of British Columbia in the Department of Linguistics. At Douglas College, he had worked in the Program of Sign Language Interpretation (INTR), and Child, Family and Community Studies (CFCS) for 25 years. Nigel has been an interpreter for nearly 30 years in various settings such as medical, mental health, legal, theatre, community, and conference/workshops locally, nationally, and internationally. He is an Accredited International Sign Interpreter under the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) and World Association of Sign Language Interpreters (WASLI), and is also part of the United Nations team of International Sign interpreters and interprets media. Broadcasting and translating are his forte. Nigel advocates for Deaf communities locally in British Columbia, nationally across Canada and globally around the world in human rights, accessibility, signed languages, and Deaf culture. Such examples are being Vice President of the BC Deaf Community Foundation (DCF) and former executive board member of the World Association of Sign Language Interpreters (WASLI). He provides consultations, educational workshops/training and presentations to various governments and organisations/associations to enhance better understanding, appreciation and awareness of Deaf culture and its signed language. It is a big part of his role as advocate, educator, and motivator. Such examples are “Global Diversity in Deaf Culture”, and “Enculturation and Acculturation: Deaf and Hearing Worlds/Spaces”. Nigel was also part of the Editorial board for the International Journal of Interpreter Editor (for over 10 years).