Melissa Malzkuhn is an American deaf advocate and founder of Motion Light Lab at Gallaudet University. [1] [2] [3] She was a 2018 Obama Fellow. [4] [5] [6]
Malzkuhn was born Deaf, [4] and is the third generation in her family to be deaf. [7] She grew up in a family where everyone could communicate with American Sign Language. [8] Her father enjoyed storytelling, and encouraged the children in the family to tell stories with signs. [8] She is originally from Fremont, California. [9]
Malzkuhn completed an MFA degree in visual narrative at the School of Visual Arts in New York City in 2015. [4] She earned a master's degree from Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., in 2009. [10]
Within the Motion Light Lab, Malzkuhn uses motion-capture tools to create "signing avatars" used in interactive digital apps for deaf children. [8] [11] The Motion Light Lab is a hub within the Science of Learning Center on Visual Language and Visual Learning (VL2) at Gallaudet University, which is funded by the National Science Foundation. [11]
Malzkuhn's story, The Baobab, is for young children and is a bilingual story presented in both English and American Sign Language. [12] The Baobab is part of the VL2 Storybook App series, which is designed, managed, and co-created by Malzkuhn. [12] A review in the Journal of Education in 2016 recognized the appeal of The Baobab to children "whether Deaf or hearing", calling it a "well-crafted tale" well suited for instruction and creative inspiration, with a bilingual glossary that is "both intriguing and informative". [12] When schools closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Motion Light Lab team released one VL2 Storybook App available for free each week. [13]
Malzkuhn helped to launch the Deaf Studies Digital Journal, and served as managing editor and co-executive editor. [9] In 2022, Malkuhn's artwork was displayed as part of the "Exploring Deaf Geographies" exhibit at the Pyramid Atlantic Art Center in Hyattsville, Maryland. [14]
Melissa Malzkuhn is an American deaf advocate and founder of Motion Light Lab at Gallaudet University. [1] [2] [3] She was a 2018 Obama Fellow. [4] [5] [6]
Malzkuhn was born Deaf, [4] and is the third generation in her family to be deaf. [7] She grew up in a family where everyone could communicate with American Sign Language. [8] Her father enjoyed storytelling, and encouraged the children in the family to tell stories with signs. [8] She is originally from Fremont, California. [9]
Malzkuhn completed an MFA degree in visual narrative at the School of Visual Arts in New York City in 2015. [4] She earned a master's degree from Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., in 2009. [10]
Within the Motion Light Lab, Malzkuhn uses motion-capture tools to create "signing avatars" used in interactive digital apps for deaf children. [8] [11] The Motion Light Lab is a hub within the Science of Learning Center on Visual Language and Visual Learning (VL2) at Gallaudet University, which is funded by the National Science Foundation. [11]
Malzkuhn's story, The Baobab, is for young children and is a bilingual story presented in both English and American Sign Language. [12] The Baobab is part of the VL2 Storybook App series, which is designed, managed, and co-created by Malzkuhn. [12] A review in the Journal of Education in 2016 recognized the appeal of The Baobab to children "whether Deaf or hearing", calling it a "well-crafted tale" well suited for instruction and creative inspiration, with a bilingual glossary that is "both intriguing and informative". [12] When schools closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Motion Light Lab team released one VL2 Storybook App available for free each week. [13]
Malzkuhn helped to launch the Deaf Studies Digital Journal, and served as managing editor and co-executive editor. [9] In 2022, Malkuhn's artwork was displayed as part of the "Exploring Deaf Geographies" exhibit at the Pyramid Atlantic Art Center in Hyattsville, Maryland. [14]