Dr. Risa Shariff

• Provided cultural input to speakers to help parties who did not speak similar languages communicate with and understand one another.
• Maintained message content, tone, and emotion as closely as possible.
• Provided oral interpretations for clients during special events, successfully maintaining pace with native speakers to deliver real-time comprehension of ASL presenters
• Facilitated communication between law enforcement personnel and individuals involved in crimes such as witnesses, persons of interest, and suspects.
• Built and maintained relationships with clients to boost possibility of future collaborations.
• Interpreted remotely through video conferencing or phone to facilitate communication between parties unable to meet in person.
• Prepared for interpreting tasks by researching and gathering information about tasks beforehand.
• Used knowledge of accepted ethical guidelines to interpret confidential and sensitive information.
• Utilized active listening skills and cultural sensitivity to convey accurate interpretations.
• Offered language instruction to help clients improve language skills.
• Provided language translation and customer service skills to clients in various business sectors.
• Kept up-to-date with industry-specific terminology and jargon to accurately interpret technical and specialized language.
• Collaborated with other interpreters to cross-check accuracy of interpretations.
• Collaborated with other interpreters to effectively team in a supportive manner to maximize interpreting effectiveness
• Communicated with clients to understand interpreting needs and provide best service possible.
• Developed strategies to perform accurate and consistent translations.
• Collaborated with team to translate series of documents from English to other languages.
• Assisted foreign language-speaking clients with inquiries.
• Monitored progress of translation projects and reported issues to appropriate personnel.
• Maximized quality control of translated documents.
• Stayed current on new expressions and cultural changes impacting language translation.
• Interpreted conversations simultaneously to help both parties conduct business, handle medical needs

MENTAL HEALTH NTERPRETING EXPERIENCE

• In-patient (group and social interactions; individual meetings with care team)
• Out-patient
• Group Therapy
• Crisis Video Relay Service calls (suicide attempts)
• Psychiatrist appointments (medication, diagnosis, screenings, questionnaires)
• Psychologist appointments
• Substance Abuse groups
• Nurse practitioner appointments
• Emergency 911 calls

• Content Specialist (World Language) Grades 6-12 at the Montgomery Virtual Academy FY24
• Supervisor of World Languages both middle school and high school courses
• Completion of Observing and Analyzing Teaching I
• Acclimated two new teachers to MCPS
• Helped to create culturally responsive instrument for planning and informal observation guide measuring use of culturally relevant pedagogy during informal observations school-wide
• Chaired the MCPS American Sign Language county-wide curriculum revision team for ASL 1-2
• Served on PLCs: Instructional Leadership Team, English 9 & 10, Grade 9 team, Advisory team and Connections team
• School Assignments: Montgomery Virtual Academy (2021-present; started program), Rockville HS (2019-2021) and Winston Churchill HS (2011-2019-started program)
• Differentiated Instruction for students with a wide range of special education needs including: ADHD, ADD, Emotional Disabilities, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Independent Life Skills Program and Down Syndrome
• Enabled all students to access the curriculum regardless of language, learning, or behavior barriers
• Worked with and supervised paraprofessionals to make the classroom accessible to students with more severe special education needs
• Implemented an intensive small-group, guided approach to instruction to meet the needs of all learners
• Served as National Program Operations- ASL Honor Society (American Sign Language Teachers’ Association)
• Appointed to the editorial board of the Journal of American Sign Language and Literature
• Sponsored: American Sign Language Honor Society and American Sign Language United Club for people not enrolled in ASL (2011-2020; 2018-2020 respectively)
• Prepared and implemented lesson plans covering required course topics.
• Planned dynamic lessons to increase student comprehension of books and literary concepts.
• Utilized multimedia strategies and technology to convey information in fresh and interesting ways.
• Prepared comprehensive English curriculum for multiple classes.
• Worked with other teachers to support struggling students and provide thorough help to rectify comprehension issues.
• Participated in professional development opportunities to stay up-to-date on teaching best practices and enhance educator skills.
• Created and implemented activities to foster critical thinking skills of students.
• Developed innovative lesson plans to engage students in American Sign Language and English language learning.

• Government agencies,
• Processed visual and audible information to convey complex concepts, unusual vocabulary and unexpected information.
• Exercised tact and diplomacy in dealing with sensitive, complex employee issues, and situations.
• Interpreted voice-to-sign and sign-to-voice modes to accurately convey thought, intent, and spirit of speakers.
• Identified barriers and assisted in resolving communication problems between deaf and hard-of-hearing employees and managers.
• Attended training programs to improve professional knowledge and interpretation skills.
• Facilitated communication between deaf or hard of hearing individuals and hearing people
• Collaborated in planning meetings to better serve Deaf and hard of hearing in all settings.
• Provided cultural input to speakers to help parties who did not speak similar languages communicate with and understand one another.
• Stayed current on new expressions and cultural changes impacting language translation.
• Collaborated with team to translate series of documents from English to other languages.
• Monitored progress of translation projects and reported issues to appropriate personnel.
• Interpreted conversations simultaneously to help both parties conduct business, handle medical needs or manage personal concerns.
• Developed strategies to perform accurate and consistent translations.
• Facilitated communication between law enforcement personnel and individuals involved in crimes such as witnesses, persons of interest, and suspects.
• Maintained message content, tone, and emotion as closely as possible.
• Platform arenas, Education sites (elementary-Ph.D.),
• Medical appointments and hospitals,
• Video Relay Service,
• Video Remote Interpreting
• Mental health environments,
• Legal environments,
• Recreational environments,
• Religious settings, Experience on Deaf/Hearing teams,
• Close vision,
• Tactile Interpreting, Video Relay Interpreting,
• Mentor to novice interpreters who are now nationally certified
• Interpreter Scheduler for two non-profit organizations

• Coordination of entire university interpreting needs (including several conferences), CUED speech transliteration and CART schedules across five campuses
• Consistently achieved a 100% fill rate of interpreting assignments, including last minute assignments saving the university thousands of dollars in agency fees and last minute charges
• Completed 33% of all substitution assignments for absent interpreters ensuring the university's compliance with the ADAA
• Supervised, evaluated, and hired 25 interpreters and transliterators
• Provided direct interpreting and transliterating service to undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral level students
• Provided direct interpreting to Deaf and hard of hearing faculty and staff
• Completed all billing within departments and outside contracting agencies
• Created monthly budgetary status reports for executive members of leadership team
• Presented disability workshops to parents, faculty and disability professionals
• Chaired five search committees for crucial positions within Office of Disability Services
• Chaired a contract evaluation committee
• Received a recognition award from supervisor for management of acute mental health situation involving a student