Ben Wagenknecht

ODHH Director

601.898.7056 (voice/tty)
bwagenknecht@mdrs.ms.gov

Mr. Ben Wagenknecht was born in Colombia, South America and was adopted. His onset of deafness is unknown but is profoundly deaf and use American Sign Language (ASL). He was raised in Massachusetts at the age of three. He graduated from The Learning Center for the Deaf School in Massachusetts in 1992 and then continued his education by attending Gallaudet University in Washington D.C., where he graduated in 1998 with a bachelor’s degree in social work.

Later, he attended the University of North Texas, where he completed the Graduate school with Cum Laude Honors in 2008 with a master’s degree in rehabilitation. In addition, he attended NAD’s Youth Leadership Camp in Oregon in 1991. He has worked for MS Department of Rehabilitation Services for nearly 21 years (2005), during that time he has not only worked as a Rehabilitation Counselor for the Deaf but also became Director for the Office on Deaf and Hard of Hearing (ODHH) for 18 years now.

His office covers the whole state of Mississippi, including 82 counties as in providing services of Public Awareness, Community Outreach, Communication Service and Advocacy. He has also had the pleasure of sitting on many committees as well, which includes being a Board Member of the Public Service Commission, Project Start, and Hinds Community College’s interpreter program, and Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) as an advisory council. He has worked diligently with, as well as served on the board as a member of Mississippi Volunteer Commission’s Connect1 Summit, the State Rehabilitation Council, MDRS’s Deaf/Blind Taskforce and on many occasions worked with MS Emergency Management Agency (MEMA).

He was also nominated by his peers that year to participate in the 2011 class of LEADRS, an MDRS agency wide program that allows people with expertise in their field to share their knowledge as well as network with other departments for the benefit of all Mississippians. During his leisure time, he likes to read books, play sports, travel, and enjoy nature. He has one amazing and loving son, Bailey.

Koleshia O'Quinn

Administrative Assistant

601.898.7057 (voice/tty)
koquinn@mdrs.ms.gov

Koleshia serves as an Administrative Assistant with the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services, Office on Deaf and Hard of Hearing. In this role, she supports administrative operations and works to advance advocacy efforts for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community.

Koleshia brings more than 11 years of experience from the Mississippi School for the Deaf, where she developed a strong background in administrative support and community advocacy. Her professional experience has provided her with valuable insight into the needs of individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing and the importance of accessible communication.

She is a graduate of Jackson State University and the Hinds Community College Interpreting Training Program. Koleshia is committed to strengthening communication access and supporting initiatives that improve services for individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing.

Driven by the belief that communication access is a right—not a privilege—Koleshia is dedicated to removing barriers and fostering meaningful connections between individuals and the services that empower them.

Amy Hunter

Staff Interpreter

601.898.7052 (voice/tty)
ahunter@mdrs.ms.gov

With over 30 years of experience, Amy is a seasoned sign language interpreter and coordinator with deep roots in the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community. As a CODA (Child of Deaf Adults), she brings both lived experience and professional expertise to her work. She has attended numerous professional workshops and completed college coursework to support ongoing skill development.

Amy has worked with the Office of Deaf and Hard of Hearing (ODHH) for more than 20 years, first serving as a staff interpreter and currently coordinating interpreter registration. Prior to ODHH, she spent nine years with the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services (MDRS) as a staff interpreter.

Committed to continued professional growth, she is scheduled to take the Arkansas Quality Assurance Screening Test (QAST), with the goal of obtaining certification. Her extensive experience, institutional knowledge, and dedication to quality interpreting services continue to be a strong asset to ODHH and MDRS.