Wink Smith, PhD, is an Instructor in the Department of Interpretation and Translation at Gallaudet University, part of the School of Language, Education, and Culture. He holds a PhD in Linguistics (2023) and has over 16 years of professional experience as an interpreter, educator, and researcher. His work bridges theory and practice in interpretation, with a focus on cognitive linguistics frameworks, depiction in signed languages, and message analysis. He has presented nationally and internationally, published in RID Views, and developed CEU training programs. Research interests include embodied imagery in depiction, skill development methodologies, and the role of depiction in interpretation. He actively serves on professional committees such as the Certification Council for RID and the Conference of Interpreter Trainers (CIT). Awards include the 2016 NAD Outstanding Service Award and a 2021 Certificate of Appreciation for service in interpretation. Teaching responsibilities span undergraduate and graduate courses like INT-595G Special Topics, INT-736 Professional Practice I, and INT-223 Interactive Discourse Analysis. His recent scholarly contributions explore linguistic structures in signed languages and cognitive frameworks for interpreting.







