Christine Nakahara: A Back-of-the-Bus Kind of Leader

Title: Christine Nakahara: A Back-of-the-Bus Kind of Leader
Author: Lauren Jourdonnais
Date: 11/15/2025
Type: Text
Language: eng
Keywords: interpreting; empathy; justice
Rights: Western Oregon University Library has determined, as of 11/15/2025, this item is in copyright, which is held by the author. Users may use the item in accordance with copyright limitations and exceptions, including fair use. For other uses, please ask permission from the author.; https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en
Identifier: maiscasestudies111325a
Abstract: Christine Nakahara is an American Sign Language (ASL)/English interpreter, mentor, and educator located in the Bay Area of San Francisco, California. She has been in the interpreting field since 2008. Working behind the scenes rather than in the spotlight is her style, hence the self-identified term “back-of-the bus” kind of leader. Her passion and respect towards cultural differences and her efforts to support ethnically diverse communities of interpreters are at the center of her work, providing mentorship holistically and naturally to her mentees.