The ATA Chronicle - September/October 2024 - 11

Director | Three-Year Term
my native Argentina and
as a Spanish teacher in a
full-immersion program in
the U.S. before making the
transition to the T&I field.
After more than 20 years
as a freelance translator
and interpreter in the
Kansas City, Missouri,
area, I currently live in
Las Cruces, New Mexico,
where I'm employed as a
staff interpreter for the U.S.
District Court of New Mexico.
As a highly motivated
former independent
contractor with over 20 years
of experience in the T&I fields
and currently a part-time
freelance translator, I would
bring a unique perspective
to the discussions. As a
fellow entrepreneur who
understands their needs
firsthand, I would advocate
for my peers in all areas of
T&I, including health care,
law, and education.
During the freelance stage
of my career, I served as a
board member and president
of the Mid-America Chapter
of ATA. This experience
provided me with direct
knowledge of the inner
workings of ATA, the needs
of its T&I professionals, and
the benefits of membership.
I also had the opportunity to
work with extremely qualified
colleagues, learn from their
perspectives, and advance the
objectives of our local chapter
and ATA.
During that time, and as
a result of my passion for
education and interpreting, I
designed a legal interpreting
certificate program for
a community college in
Kansas, where I was one of
the instructors for about
10 years. As someone
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particularly interested
in language access and
language justice, I was a
member of the Language
Access Committee for the
state of Missouri. More
recently, I've become
acquainted with, and
wholeheartedly embraced,
the promotion and
understanding of standards,
qualifications, and
certification requirements
for translators and
interpreters who work in
the educational field. These
efforts serve to advance
bilingualism, student
achievement, and better
home-school connections.
In closing, I'd like to
add that I understand the
unique challenges T&I
practitioners face, as well
as the pivotal role ATA
can play to support and
encourage best practices,
professional development
and training, and strong
professional standards. I'm
adept at working as part of a
team to set and accomplish
short- and long-term
goals, and, if elected, I
look forward to working
with fellow ATA Board
members representing other
languages and regions of the
U.S. I would like to ensure
that ATA has a seat at the
table as our professions
undergo increasingly
rapid change as we face
the challenges that AI and
technology bring to our
daily work.
Thank you for your
consideration! I hope to
get your vote and look
forward to serving ATA's
membership and advancing
the T&I professions.
JAIME RUSSELL, CT
russell.jaime@gmail.com
I'm an ATA-certified
Spanish>English translator,
a certified Spanish health
care interpreter (Certification
Commission for Healthcare
Interpreters), and a licensed
interpreter trainer. I recently
launched my own business,
Amethyst Language
Solutions, LLC, to focus on
interpreting, translation,
and training. Originally from
the Washington, DC, metro
area, I lived in Argentina
for 15 years (where my
T&I experience began) and
currently reside outside
Raleigh, North Carolina.
I divide my time between
freelance work and being the
interpreter services education
specialist at UNC Health, the
largest health care network
in North Carolina. At UNC
Health, I develop in-house
training for staff interpreters,
language access education
for hospital employees, and
language vetting protocols
and assessments for
providers. In 2023, I presented
sessions at the annual
conferences of both ATA and
the California Healthcare
Interpreters Association. I'm
preparing to take the North
Carolina court interpreter
oral exam at the end of
2024, which, hopefully, will
serve as the start of my legal
interpreting activities. I also
spent many years working in
nonprofits and philanthropy,
so I'm well aware of the ins
and outs of that sector.
In terms of my involvement
with ATA, I currently serve
on the Board of Directors,
filling an unexpected vacancy
that occurred in February
2024. I also serve on the
Finance and Audit Committee
(independent from the Board
position). I would be honored
to be re-elected to my
position on the Board, which
is why I decided to run for a
complete three-year term
during this election cycle. I'm
already fully committed to
the Board activities. It would
be a true privilege to continue
to be a part of this extremely
hard-working, dedicated
group, which diligently
strives to protect and advance
the interests of translators
and interpreters.
I'm a member of ATA's
Spanish Language Division,
Interpreters Division, and
Medical Division. I also serve
as treasurer on the board
of directors of the Carolina
Association of Translators
and Interpreters, an ATA
chapter. I believe strongly
in the power of professional
associations and know that
without people advocating for
our professions and carrying
out such important work,
our professional standing
in the sector will suffer,
especially in light of recent
technological advances.
It's critical that we
continue strengthening
and broadening the support
ATA offers its members and
related professionals, as well
as increasing the visibility of
our professions. ATA truly is
American Translators Association 11
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The ATA Chronicle - September/October 2024

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