Mala Poe has an Education Specialist degree (Ed.S.) in Deaf Education: Applied Linguistics as well as a Masters degree in Linguistics, both from Gallaudet University. She earned her Bachelors degree from California State University, Northridge (CSUN) in Deaf Studies with an emphasis on teaching ASL. She has been a member of the Deaf community since 1986, and holds national certification in interpreting from RID and NAD. She is a staff interpreter at the University of California San Diego for the Deaf faculty. Mala hasbeen a Support Service Provider (SSP), interpreter, trainer, co-coordinator and team leader for local, regional and national meetings and events for/with DeafBlind people. She currently serves as past President of the San Diego Chapter of RID (SDCRID) after four years as President and is in her second year as the Professional Development Chair for the organization. On the Regional level, she is RID’s Region V Representative for the Deaf-Blind Member Section. Her passion is providing workshops within her Region exposing students and interpreters to working with DeafBlind people. When not working, she is actively involved with fundraisers and activities relating to the Eric Poe Memorial Fund and going on short rides on her motorcycle.