The ATA Chronicle - September/October 2024 - 13

Director | Three-Year Term
communications, outreach,
and engagement strategies
to support the district's
strategic plan.
I'm deeply committed to
language access and language
justice as key components of
racial equity in education. I've
been recognized nationally
for my work and impact
in this area, receiving the
2024 Award of Excellence
for our MESD branding and
the National School Public
Relations Association's 2024
Award of Merit-Marketing
Material. In 2023, I was
shortlisted for the Think
Global Awards under the
category " Language Industry
Person of the Year. " I received
EdWeek's " Leaders to Learn
From in K-12 " award in 2022
and the Language Access
Visionary Award in 2021.
With a law degree and postgraduate
certificate from
Mexico and a certificate in
brand management from the
University of London, I bring
a combination of education,
passion, and professional
experience I believe will
benefit ATA and its members.
The Association has provided
me with a vital sense of
community and connection
with fellow professionals and
I'm eager to contribute to its
continued success.
As a Board member, my
priorities will include:
Strengthening ATA's
Educators Division:
Expanding membership and
offering more educational
and networking opportunities
while fostering cooperation
and information exchange
among members.
Policy Advocacy: Engaging
with policymakers to advance
legislation that supports
language access, justice, and
www.ata-chronicle.online
fair practices, especially in
light of emerging technologies.
Enhancing Language Access
and Equity: Implementing
initiatives that ensure
equitable language access
across fields. This includes
developing comprehensive
language support resources,
promoting multilingual
communication, and
addressing barriers faced by
non-English speakers.
It would be a privilege to
represent ATA members on
its Board of Directors. Thank
you for your consideration.
How? First, by
ROMINA MARAZZATO
SPARANO
romina@languagecompass.com
While you may know me as a
plain language advocate, my
professional journey has taken
many twists and turns. (And
since you're at ATA, chances
are your journey has as well!)
I'm running for a director
position on ATA's Board to
help members like you stay
relevant in today's everevolving
language services
landscape through systems,
education, and networking.
Whether you're a student,
newbie, or experienced
professional, I want to help
you work smarter, learn
better, and network stronger
to transition into a new
career stage or niche.
listening to your needs
to guide ATA's resource
development. Second, by
continuing my work toward
professionalization in
three areas: credentialing,
standards, and legislative
action. Third, by fostering a
culture of innovation to help
you implement evidencebased
practices through
continuing education on
our craft and business, stay
abreast of industry trends
through expert presentations,
and connect with one another
through diverse networking
opportunities on and offline.
Let me share a bit about
myself. My professional
journey began in science,
transitioned to translation and
interpreting, then to medical
localization, and is now
focused on communication
strategies and artificial
intelligence (AI). I also
layered teaching into my
practice, including launching
an innovative program at
the Middlebury Institute
of International Studies at
Monterey, co-founding the
award-winning multilingual
Plain Language Academies,
and developing a brand-new
AI in Writing program. And I'm
constantly learning! Along the
way, I got married, had three
kids, moved across countries
and states, and learned to
dance tango!
This experience of growth
and rebirth makes me a
candidate ready to serve
you. I've had to adapt to
new environments, find
ways to make complex
information accessible to
diverse audiences, learn and
implement new technologies,
and synthesize diverse
experiences to propel clients,
organizations, and my family
forward. This is what I want
to help you do.
My leadership experience
includes serving in various
roles at ATA: as a member of
the Nominating Committee
for ATA's Spanish Language
Division, Twitter (X)
admin for the Science
and Technology Division,
and the Basic Credential
Committee (ad hoc) and
Standards Committee at
the association level. I've
also served at organizations
such as The Institute of
Localisation Professionals,
ACES: The Society for
Editing, Plain Language
Association International,
and International Plain
Language Federation.
I believe systems like
standards and legislation
are key for professional
excellence and growth.
I've helped develop
language standards at the
International Organization
for Standardization (ISO)
and ASTM International.
Since participating in
Language Advocacy Days
before Congress to promote
multilingual education, I've
continued working with my
congressional representative
to strengthen languagerelated
laws.
In all these roles, I've
served alongside dedicated,
talented, and passionate
colleagues, agreeing and
disagreeing but always
listening to each other,
learning, and sharing ideas to
better serve our communities.
If you choose me as Board
director, I aim to serve and
support you in an
environment of continuous
growth to help each other
become the best translators
and interpreters we can be.
Thank you for considering me
as your candidate.
American Translators Association 13
http://www.ata-chronicle.online
The ATA Chronicle - September/October 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The ATA Chronicle - September/October 2024
