The American Translators Association (ATA) has announced the results of its latest board election, which was held on October 31 at the association’s 65th Annual Conference in Portland, Oregon, United States. Andy Benzo, an English-Spanish legal translator with a 35-year career including standards and teaching work, was elected president-elect for the one-year 2024-2025 term. She previously served as an ATA board director from 2022 to 2024.

Additionally, four new directors were elected to the board:

1. Jaime Russell: A certified healthcare interpreter (CCHI), ATA-certified Spanish>English translator, and licensed interpreter trainer and evaluator
2. Jessie Liu: A freelance court-certified Mandarin Chinese interpreter in the State of California, as well as a court interpreting instructor
3. Romina Marazzato Sparano: A translator, interpreter, medical localization professional, and communication strategist who co-founded the Plain Language Academies
4. Isabel Asensio: A freelance translator and interpreter, as well as a university professor, with over 20 years of experience

Russell, Liu, and Marazzato Sparano will serve three-year terms, while Asensio will hold a one-year term.

“Congratulations to those who won, and thank you to everyone who ran and gave members such a strong slate to choose from,” Karen Tkaczyk, Director of Sales – Life Sciences at Vistatec, wrote on LinkedIn.

Russell called her election to the board an honor. “I look forward to coming together with the rest of the board to work towards making sure the ATA can continue to be a strong, healthy, active, and agile voice of translators and interpreters around the world,” Russell wrote on LinkedIn.

Founded in 1959, the ATA is one of the largest professional associations for translators and interpreters in the United States, with a network of over 8,500 members. The organization supports competence and ethical standards in the profession, provides education, and advocates for language professionals. With this newly elected leadership, the ATA continues its work managing initiatives and resources aimed at addressing changes in the translation and interpreting professions, including technological advancements and shifts in industry demand.