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.