When I found a home in ATA many moons ago, I was nurtured by members of the Spanish Language Division, the Business Practices listserv, and the Interpreters Division.
ATA is a place for professionals who want to grow. We can do that through continuing education, but most importantly by asking questions and joining discussions with our colleagues. At ATA, I’ve found a group of colleagues who will support me whenever I need help.
As your Board member, I’ll endeavor to improve working conditions and professional standards for translators and interpreters, support young talent, and interact with government officials to promote best practices for our profession.
As a matter of fact, years ago, I was a member of the ATA team that provided advice to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security regarding interpreting and translation. I would like this to happen routinely. More recently, I was part of a team in the Interpreters Division that wrote job descriptions for interpreters and translators and sketched out boundaries for artificial intelligence (AI) in interpreting. Our work was published on the Resources page of ATA’s Interpreters Division website. These resources are now being used by government officials.
Today, the world is asking whether we can be replaced by AI. I’ll be there to defend our work and show the risks incurred by using AI willy-nilly. ATA has the subject matter expertise to address today’s pressing concerns. When someone has questions about translation or interpreting, ATA should be the first place that comes to mind.
I look forward to your vote so I can support ATA members. Below are some facts about my professional experience.
Certifications:
- ATA-certified Spanish<>English translator
- Washington State certified court interpreter (Spanish)
- National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters-certified medical interpreter (Spanish)
Past Leadership Experience:
- ATA Interpreters Division Administrator
- ATA Spanish Language Division Assistant Administrator
- ATA Savvy Newcomer blog founder
- Spanish Editors Association President
- Oregon Society for Translators and Interpreters President
- Oregon Council for Healthcare Interpreters Vice President