ASL Festival 2026 Workshop

MJ Bienvenu, A native ASL signer, originally from Baton Rouge, LA, MJ received her BA in English and MA in Linguistics from Gallaudet in 1974 and 1983, respectively. She received her Ph.D. specializing in Linguistics/Lexicography from Union Institute and University in 2003. She is a professor in the Department of ASL/Deaf Studies at Gallaudet University. MJ is presently serving as Chair of Gallaudet’s Sesquicentennial celebration. MJ has conducted workshops on topics of bilingualism, ASL, Culture, empowerment, LGBT, -isms, and interpretation. On a personal level, MJ loves spending time with her wife, and their dogs and cats and reading and traveling.

Alexander Wilkins, Alexander Wilkins, PhD, is an Assistant Professor at UMass Chan Medical School, where he is also the co-Director of the DeafYES! Center for Deaf Empowerment and Recovery at UMass Chan. His program of research focuses on a community-engaged approach to developing resources for mental health and behavioral health care for deaf and hard of hearing individuals. He also provides outpatient mental health services for deaf and hard of hearing individuals.

A third-generation Deaf bilingual committed to ending language deprivation and advancing linguistic equity. She holds a Master’s degree in Language and Literacy Education from Boston University and a Bachelor’s in Business Management from Rochester Institute of Technology. As Director of Translation and Communications at the ASL Education Center, she supports accessible and inclusive K–12 education.