Melissa Malzkuhn is the Digital Innovation and Media Strategies Manager at the Science of Learning Center on Visual Language and Visual Learning at Gallaudet University, in Washington D.C. Visual Language and Visual Learning (“VL2”, vl2.gallaudet.edu) is a premier research center on how deaf children learn to read through using the visual modality, encompassing the following disciplines: neurocognitive science, biology, linguistics, psychology, socio-cultural, and pedagogy. Melissa Malzkuhn leads projects translating research findings into educational resources.

She was the Managing Editor of Deaf Studies Digital Journal (“DSDJ”, dsdj.gallaudet.edu), a peer-reviewed online digital journal in sign language, at Gallaudet University from 2008 to 2012. She currently serves as an Executive Editor, consulting on user experience and long-range plans of the journal.

Melissa Malzkuhn received her MA in Deaf Studies with a concentration in Cultural Studies from Gallaudet University. Her thesis was on the advocacy and community organizing of deaf youth in America, which led to the establishment of a national organization in 2008, Deaf Youth USA (“DYUSA”, www.dyusa.org), serving youth between the ages of 18–30. Melissa Malzkuhn also served on the board of the World Federation of the Deaf Youth Section from 2007–2011 (“WFDYS”, www.wfdys.org). An advocate of the human rights of deaf youth, Melissa Malzkuhn has helped organize national and international camps, given presentations and workshops on differing generations, deaf culture and history, global movement of deaf youth.

Currently, in her post-MA studies, she is pursuing knowledge through the Corcoran School of Art and Design to interact her interests in art and design to cultural experiences in order to explore the telling of interactive stories by transforming the digital or physical space. Melissa Malzkuhn started Motion Lab, a space for experimental media and interactive design, at Gallaudet University, to best explore new techniques in expressing ideas and creating stories for learning.