The ALRID Board of Directors
The ALRID Board of Directors is made up of active and dedicated ALRID members who may be practicing interpreters, students, public agency staff and private organizations; and representatives from the Deaf community who utilize language service providers.
Member Participation at Board Meetings
Members of the ALRID, and stakeholders within the interpreting and Deaf communities, wishing to address the board shall arrange to do so by giving notice (preferably in writing) to the board president in advance of the meeting. The board provides members of the ALRID, and stakeholders within the interpreting and Deaf communities, with opportunities to address the board at the conclusion of the agenda. Members of the ALRID, and stakeholders within the interpreting and Deaf communities, should limit their comments to three (3) minutes and confine comments to matters under the board’s jurisdiction and authority. Stakeholder groups who wish to speak to the board shall designate a spokesperson.
For questions regarding upcoming ALRID Board meetings, please contact Melvin Walker at melvin.walker@rehab.alabama.gov or 256.353.2754.
ALRID Board Members
President: Melvin Walker, 2010-2012 (Second Term)
Melvin Walker has been a nationally certified interpreter since 2001. His certifications include CI, CT and NAD: Master. He has worked as a community interpreter for nineteen years with a wide range of experience. Melvin is currently employed by the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services as a sign language interpreter. He was Governor appointed to the Alabama Licensure Board for Interpreters and Transliterators beginning his term on January 1, 2006 and served two terms as the Board Chairman. Melvin has served on the Alabama Registry of Interpreters Board as President since 2008 and was on the professional development committee as Chair for three years prior to that. Before being appointed as the PDC chair he served as the affiliate chapter compliance committee chair for two years. Melvin has his Masters degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from Auburn University, Certified Rehabilitation Counselor through the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification and his Bachelors of Science degree in Psychology from Athens State University. He has received various interpreting awards with the most recent being the “Outstanding Interpreter of the Year Award” by the South East Regional Institute on Deafness and the “Interpreter of the Year Award” by the Council of Organizations Serving Deaf Alabamians in 2005. Melvin has a long history of Deaf family members including his parents and his wife. He is the father of six amazing girls and enjoys spending time with family most of all.
Vice President: Sue Graham, 2010-2012
Sue Graham, daughter of Deaf parents, Deaf Grandparents and Deaf Aunts/Uncles. Nationally RID Certified for over 35 years. Sue has worked at the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind, AT&T Relay Services and is currently employed with Sorenson Communications in the Birmingham VRS Center. Sue has taught American Sign Language and Interpreter training at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, AIDB Regional Center in Birmingham and St. John's Episcopal Church for the Deaf. Sue also was the director for the Connie Reasor Deaf Resource Center in Virginia and is the Founder/Director for Handful of Love. Sue has received several honors including the prestigious Women of AT&T Lifetime Achievement Award and the Business and Professional Women's Organization "Woman of the Year" award. Sue currently serves as Vice-President of ALRID. Sue lives in Sylacauga, AL with her husband, Johnny and their 5 rescued dogs and one cat.
Treasurer: Karen Gunter, 2010-2012
Secretary: Sereta Campbell, 2010-2012
Sereta Campbell has served as the Region II Interpreter Coordinator for the Department of Mental Health Office of Deaf Services for the past two years. Originally from Virginia, Sereta comes to Tuscaloosa, Alabama by way of Illinois, with several stops along the way including Minnesota and Kentucky. Sereta spent the first part of her career in post secondary educational settings including New River Community College in Virginia, Virginia Tech and the University of Minnesota. For the past several years she has spent her timew working within state government agencies serving the Deaf population. Sereta is an approved Local Test Administrator (LTA) for the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf and is the Supersite Coordinator for the testing site in Tuscaloosa. Sereta is certified through RID with her CI/CT and recently received her Mental Health Interpreter Qualification (Q-MHI).
Member at Large: Cheryl Willis, 2006 - 2012
Member at Large: Jodie Jernigan, 2008 - 2014
Member at Large: Susan Gordon, 2010 - 2016
AAD Liaison: Amy Peterson, 2009-2011
Amy Peterson is currently the Communication Specialist at Bailey Deaf Unit at Greil Memorial Psychiatric Hospital in Montgomery, AL. She holds CDI and a provisional certification in ASLTA. She obtains her bachelor degree in Elementary Education with concentration in Deaf Education from Jacksonville State University. Currently, Amy is taking graduate classes to obtain Masters in Education – Adult Learning. Amy is an Adjunct Instructor at Troy University for the American Sign Language/Interpreter Training Program. She lives in Prattville, AL with her husband, Jimmy and 2 girls, Mary Ann and Elizabeth.
