About Dr. Risa Amacker Shariff, CI/CT

​​

 

Dr. Risa Amacker Shariff, CI/CT (she/her), is a nationally certified interpreter and educator with over two decades of interpreting work. Dr. Shariff is a passionate practitioner in the interpreting field, with extensive experience in Video Relay Service (VRS), freelance, and religious contexts. She is the founder and CEO of Skillful Interpreting, LLC.

 

Dr. Shariff earned the first Ph.D. in Critical Studies in the Education of Deaf Learners from Gallaudet University. Her dissertation examined the educational experiences of Leaders who are DeafBlind from their elementary to postsecondary years. 

​

Her teaching expertise spans diverse educational settings, serving Deaf, hard-of-hearing, and hearing students. Her teaching experience at the secondary and postsecondary levels has also spanned over two decades.

​

Dr. Shariff has held leadership roles as a supervisor of interpreters and a World Language department chair, where she was responsible for evaluating teacher effectiveness. She mentors novice and pre-service interpreters and teachers. She has also contributed to the field through her former service on the editorial board of the Journal of American Sign Language and Literature.

​