Melissa Malzkuhn

Biography

Melissa Malzkuhn is a third-generation Deaf storyteller, producer, and activist. She founded and leads the Motion Light Lab at Gallaudet University, where creative literature meets digital technology to transform learning experiences. The Lab’s projects range from bilingual storybook apps, translated into over 20 sign languages, to motion capture projects creating fluent signing characters—advancing resources in sign language. Her work has gained international acclaim, with Dimensions, a 3D animated short film, winning top honors at film festivals. She is a Co-Producer of Here Comes Mavo!, a 3D animated children’s TV show currently in production. Her production company created The ASL App, which teaches conversational American Sign Language and has over 3 million downloads. Melissa is an Obama Fellow, Ashoka Fellow, CripTech Metaverse Lab Fellow, and a 2024 Elevate Prize Winner.