New England Translators Association
30th Annual
Translation and Interpreting Conference

                                                                                                                     

ACADEMIC DIVISION
April 18, 2026
Room 2540 (Second Floor)

Time			Presenters  & Presentation Titles
10:05-11:05			Student Panel “Translating community: Student perspectives on language access, interpretation, and advocacy” ●       Candace Chan ●       Ian Visnick ●       Dayani Chavarria Orellana
11:20-12:20			Student Panel “Social media, business, and administrative translation” ●       Gloria Aragon Lopez ●       Viviana Zuleta ●       Yesenia Perez Velez
1:30-2:30			Kenneth Kronenberg, “Translating the Enemy: What translation of Nazi documents can tell us about the present day”
2:45-3:45			Stephanie Sosa, “Bombilla, pajilla, popote, or sorbete: The search for a ‘neutral’ Spanish when translating for a Latin American audience” Diego Mansilla, “On becoming a certified translator”

10:05-11:05

Student Panel “Translating community: Student perspectives on language access, interpretation, and advocacy”

 

Abstract: This panel brings together three student practitioners whose work highlights the vital role of translation and interpretation in advancing language access and community engagement. Candace will discuss her internship with the Office of Language and Communication Access (OLCA) in the Boston Mayor’s Office, focusing on the translation of public-facing materials related to tax preparation and civic access. Her work underscores how translation functions as a key tool for equitable participation in public services. Ian will present on his experience as a first-time interpreter, providing live Spanish-to-English interpretation for a visiting historian speaking on the cultural history of the Day of the Dead. He will reflect on the preparation process as well as the need for adaptability in high-pressure, live settings. Dayani will offer a perspective grounded in her experience as a student in the Translation Studies Track, presenting on the concept of language justice as explored in the course “Building Language Justice.” She will reflect on key frameworks and areas of inquiry within language justice, considering how they shape emerging practitioners’ understanding of equity, access, and advocacy in multilingual communities.

 

11:20-12:20

Panel “Translation in social media and in global business communication”

 

●       Gloria Aragon Lopez, “Translation and social media: How machine translation is shaping online communication and the future of the translation profession”

 

Abstract: This paper discusses some of the challenges involved in administrative translation between English and Spanish and the importance of using the correct terminology when translating documents to ensure terminological consistency across multiple documents. This paper will also discuss what it means to be a competent translator particularly when translating legal documents.

 

 

●       Viviana Zuleta, “Bridging global business communication”

 

Bio: Viviana Zuleta is a bilingual Spanish–English professional with a background in healthcare and business.  She is currently pursuing a Master’s in Product Management with a Life Sciences concentration at Merrimack College.  She is completing translation studies at UMass Boston and is interested in commercial and medical translation. Her work focuses on how language and culture influence business communication in global contexts.

 

Abstract: This presentation examines the role of commercial translation in global business communication. It highlights the importance of adapting not only language but also cultural meaning when translating marketing and business content. The presentation discusses key challenges, including maintaining brand voice, addressing cultural differences, and ensuring audience engagement. It also explores strategies such as localization and transcreation, as well as the use of translation tools and technologies. The analysis demonstrates how effective commercial translation contributes to stronger brand identity, improved customer trust, and business success in international markets.

 

●       Yesenia Perez Velez, “Navigating different legal systems and terminology in administrative translation”

 

Bio: Yesenia Perez Velez is an experienced administrative professional at Greater Boston Legal Services, with over 15 years of dedicated work in the nonprofit sector. She is currently a senior pursuing her bachelor’s degree in psychology while also completing translation studies in Spanish-to-English at UMass Boston. Passionate about advocacy and community impact, Yesenia plans to further her education by earning a master’s degree in public policy. Outside of her professional and academic pursuits, she enjoys camping and fishing with her family. She lives by the belief that “knowledge is power.”

 

Abstract: In today’s society, communities face many challenges navigating different legal systems and the use of legal terminology, especially when it comes to a foreign language. In this presentation, the speaker will discuss some of the challenges involved in administrative translation between languages, in particular English to Spanish translation. The presentation will focus on why is it important to use the correct terminology when translating documents and what are some examples of official translation done over time, documents, governing bodies, companies or public authorities, as well as why such translations should be done correctly ensuring terminological consistency across multiple documents.

 

 

1:30-2:30

Kenneth Kronenberg, “Translating the Enemy: What translation of Nazi documents can tell us about the present day”

Bio: Ken Kronenberg has been a German-to-English translator for more than 30 years. He translates in the area of intellectual and cultural history, with a specialty in handwritten diaries and letters. He is now working on placing translated Nazi eugenics and educational materials in the context of recent political developments. Ken was president of the New England Translators Association from 1997-2001, and served on its board for many years.

Abstract: People mainly know about the Nazi war machine, the concentration camps, and the Holocaust, but very little about the ideas that set these in motion. Through my translations of Nazi eugenics and educational materials, and of Heinrich Krieger's 1936 Das Rassenrecht in den Vereinigten Staaten (Race Law in the United States) I will examine some key elements of Nazi ideology, and how some of those ideas have reemerged in the current politics of the United States. I will also discuss translation issues that arise when translating material of this sort.

 

 

2:45-3:45

Stephanie Sosa, “Bombilla, pajilla, popote, or sorbete: The search for a ‘neutral’ Spanish when translating for a Latin American audience”

Bio: Stephanie Sosa Duran is a Spanish to English translator and author of young adult and middle grade fiction. While she is currently based in Boston, she grew up in Mexico, which gave her an in-depth knowledge of Mexico's culture and slang, as well as its particular style. She specializes in literary translation, particularly translation of books geared to younger audiences, as well as in technical translation of land policy research and articles. She has a bachelor's degree in English, with a specialization in short stories, and a bachelor's degree in French, with a specialization in medieval literature, from Amherst College, as well as a master's degree in Publishing and Writing from Emerson College. She is currently halfway through the Online Spanish-English Translation Certificate program at UMass Boston. She has worked as an editor on both English and Spanish texts, and is also fluent in French. She is represented by Jennifer Azantian at the Azantian Literary Agency.

Abstract: Any native Spanish speaker who has spoken to someone from another Spanish-speaking country has had a moment of confusion when they hear a different word instead of the one they expected. Geographic differences in Spanish are common, so when translating a piece of writing from English into Spanish with the intention of sharing it with several countries in Latin America, one must ask several questions: Is it possible to use a form of Spanish that can be understood in all of Latin America? Does a “neutral Spanish” exist? What does the Spanish language lose when a translator removes regional differences? This research paper will seek the answers to all these questions for those who seek to translate without an “accent” and who intend on sharing the translation with a wider audience living in several countries.

Diego Mansilla, “On Becoming a Certified Translator”

Bio: Diego Mansilla, PhD, is the director of the Spanish-English Translation Program at the University of Massachusetts Boston. He has been a grader (English into Spanish) for the ATA Certification Program since 2016. His areas of research are translation pedagogy, collaboration in translation, and online education. He is an ATA-certified English-to-Spanish translator with more than 20 years of experience.

 

Abstract: In this presentation, Diego will talk about ways to become a certified translator. He will discuss the most common mistakes candidates make when taking the ATA Certification Exam (English into Spanish) and will offer tips and strategies to prepare for and take the exam.