Alexander Bulgakov is an interpreter and translator working with Russian, German, and English. After professional training in the Saint Petersburg School of Conference Interpreting & Translation and initial experience as a freelance interpreter on the Russian market, he relocated to Germany to improve his professional skills and to get a Master's degree in Germanic Linguistics. In his field of interest lie such topics as Medicine and Healthcare, Communal interpretation, Human rights, and Humanitarian Affairs. The major part of the outside-the-booth time is dedicated to working on the B languages, powerlifting, and sailing.
Alexander Drechsel is a former conference interpreter who now works in multilingual communications. Hailing from the East of Germany, he studied interpretation at the universities of Leipzig, Mainz-Germersheim, and Pyatigorsk (Russia). In 2007, he took up a position as staff interpreter (German A, English B, French/Romanian C) with the European Commission. After 15 years, he changed gears and joined the communications team at the European Parliament's translation service. Alexander’s passion for language and communication is only matched by his love for cycling and sourdough bread.
Athena Matilsky holds a BA in Spanish interpreting and translation from Rutgers University and a Master's in Conference Interpreting from Glendon College. She is a Federally Certified Court Interpreter (Spn<>Eng), a Certified Healthcare Interpreter (Spn<>Eng) and an Approved Court Interpreter (Frn<>Eng). She was editor-in-chief of Proteus in 2015 and she served as a staff interpreter for the NJ judiciary from 2013-2016. Currently, she works as a freelance interpreter/translator and trains candidates for the state and federal interpreting exams. She owns her own company, Athena Sky Interpreting, where she coaches students on interpreting technique.
Ayumi was born and raised in Japan. She graduated from Kokugakuin University, majored Japanese literature, then worked as a system engineer for a few years in Tokyo. After she realized she needed the language skill, she came to the US to learn English at MIIS English School. She has worked for RWS Moravia as a translator/language tester, and worked for Transperfect as a Language Quality Manager. Now she’s a freelance translator and a graduate student, pursuing her dream to be a Project Manager in the localization field.
Estefania González is from Aguascalientes, Mexico and studied English Language Teaching at Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes. She also have a diploma in translation (English-Spanish), and six years of experience teaching both languages. Starting out as a Spanish-language tutor, she eventually relocated to Leeds, England to work as a Spanish Language Assistant. Since then, her passion for traveling has increased, and she loves to venture around the world and learn about different cultures. She has had the opportunity to visit twelve countries and wishes to visit many more. She hopes to begin a masters degree in the UK in the future.
Education
Korea University, College of Political Science and Economics of Korea University, Seoul, Korea (2009-2018)
B.A., Political Science & International Relations
B.A., Politics, Economics and Law
Syracuse University, Maxwell School of Syracuse University, Syracuse NY (Spring/Summer 2013)
Study Political Science & International Relations
Exchange Student
Professional Experience
Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Republic of Korea (2019 -) Government Official
Kumho Petrochemical Group, Republic of Korea (2018 - 2019) Overseas sales & International Trade Team of Kumho Polychem
Born and raised in a Japanese family in Taiwan, Popeye Lin also features Taiwanese indigenous identity from the mother side. As a half-Japanese/Taiwanese, he has spent over 20 years exploring the power of languages on this island of nature. Taiwanese, Japanese and A-mei language have made him aware of the connection between languages and cultural heritage. After graduating with BA in Foreign Language Instruction, he was sent to Japan to teach English and help Government of Chiba Prefecture as a Taiwanese marketing localizer. After that, he decided to devote himself to teaching English in Cambodia for adult learners at a local school with limited funds due to poor localization plan. This opportunity brought him to MIIS and got him more interested in languages and localization.
Tulsi Patel is a second year M.A. candidate in Translation and Localization Management. She is from Los Angeles where she developed a passion for language and culture from growing up bilingual in a diverse community. She obtained a B.A. in Japanese from the University of Hawaii and studied abroad at Keio University. After graduating, Tulsi moved to Japan to work as a Coordinator for International Relations in Katsuyama City, Fukui Prefecture. Her work largely consisted of direct contact with the local community through cultural events and exchange programs. Driven by connecting people across borders, she found her way to localization. Outside of learning, her interests include foreign TV, music, and traveling.
Vasilii is a third Semester NPTS student, a Fulbright Scholar and an alumnus of the E. Muskie Professional Fellowships Program. While working as a GRA for the CNS DC Office, he focuses on researching current missile technology proliferation, ways to strengthen US-Russian arms control, as well as issues surrounding new advanced reactors. Vasilii is from Russia. Besides his native Russian, and English, he speaks Ukrainian, French and Spanish.
Carles Andreu is a literary translator working from English and German into Spanish and Catalan. He has translated over 200 titles in the last 25 years, including works by Jennifer Egan, Shirley Jackson, Bernhard Schlink, Hans Magnus Enzensberger, Gerald Murnane, Adam Johnson, Yaa Gyasi, Jonathan Safran Foer, and 2021 Nobel Prize Winner Abdulrazak Gurnah. He has lived in Barcelona, Berlin, Moscow, Dublin and Monterey. He has been teaching Translation into Spanish at MIIS since 2018. He holds a BA in Translation and Interpreting and an MA in Comparative Literature. Website: https://carlesandreu.com/
Yelitza Valladares hails from Venezuela but has been living in Puerto Rico for more than 20 years. After obtaining her BA in Software Engineering at UCLA in Venezuela, she worked for PDVSA, the Venezuelan state-owned oil and natural gas company. She works at Evertec, an electronic transactions and technology company that operates in the Caribbean, Latin America, and the US. As a Full Stack Senior Specialist, she specializes in Business Intelligence and Database systems. Among her most important clients are the Department of Labor of Puerto Rico and the Puerto Rico Nutrition Assistance Program. Aside from her professional experience, her biggest passion is traveling with her family.
Zhe (Colin) Luo, MA in Conference Interpretation, MIIS, BS in Computer Science and Technology. Interpreter for the U.S. federal government organizations, Citibank, Wells Fargo, AT&T, PG&E, Tiffany & Co., Stanford Healthcare Center, etc. Patent specifications translator and editor for Huawei via GSL. Simultaneous interpreter for Kapil Kane, iPhone touch screen inventor.
Meinan Liu is a first-year student studying translation and localization management at MIIS. She holds a BA in English Language and Literature from Shenzhen University in China. She’s always been passionate about language and technology. She prides herself on being a cultural intermediary, as she believes in the impact of communications to successfully deal with the barrier of language and cultural differences.
Alex Han (韩林涛) is a lecturer of the School of Translation and Interpreting, Beijing Language and Culture University. He is the Chair of BLCU Translation and Localization Program, leading a team to teach translation technology, localization, programming, and project managment to students majoring in translation. With a strong enthusiasm in language, education and technology, he is now sparing no effort to bring technology to translation education and prepare "future translators" for the language service industry.
Born and raised in China, Renée is currently pursuing a MS in Translation and Interpreting at NYU, after earning a BA in English Literature and Mass Communication from the University of Utah. She has worked in finance, automotive, and education fields, and has served in leadership positions inat several nonprofit organizations. After working for different industries for almost 20 years, she decided to be a professional translator and interpreter and use her linguistic skills to help people from China and USA to maintain excellent relationships.
Océane is a second-year, dual-degree NPTS student with the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, specializing in WMD Nonproliferation, Nuclear Policy and Global Security. Born and raised in the French Riviera, she graduated with a Scientific Baccalauréat with honors in Biology (2018) and a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations (2018-2021). Passionate about cyberspace and crisis management, she completed her undergraduate thesis on Cyberspace Securitization and the Advent of the Runet. Last summer, she followed cybersecurity training in Israel and the Netherlands. Océane speaks French English, Spanish, and Russian.
Professor Cai received rigorous training at one of China’s first undergraduate T&I programs. He views his career as exceedingly rewarding and intellectually stimulating. After completing a MACI at MIIS, Professor Cai served as an in-house translator and interpreter at McKinsey & Company, a global consulting firm. There he traveled extensively across China, supporting numerous consulting projects. Professor Cai provides regular translation and interpretation services to private and social sector clients. He remains confident that translators and interpreters who truly master the strategies and tactics for cross-cultural communication will only play a greater role in the future.
Galina Salnikova is in the dual-degree MA program “Global Policy, Nuclear Security, and WMD Nonproliferation” (between MGIMO University in Russia and MIIS). She holds a bachelor’s degree with honors, having majored in International Relations (International Security) from Far Eastern Federal University (2021). She currently alsoworks at James Martin CNS as GRA at Educational Program. She is an alumna of CNS Critical Issues Forum (2016), and of the Hiroshima-ICAN Academy for Nuclear Weapons and Global Security 2019 (Hiroshima, Japan). She is also a member of CTBTO Youth Group and BASIC Emerging Voices Network. In 2018-2020, Galina also served as an Associate for Public Relations (since 2019 – Senior Associate) at youth-led NGO “Model United Nations of the Russian Far East” (MUNRFE).
Yikai Qiao is an architect and designer from Suzhou, China. He is currently pursuing his master’s degree at Yale University School of Architecture. Having worked in design offices such as Neri & Hu and Tencent Timi Game studio, Yikai keeps his interest in the interdisciplinary design between architecture and digital arts. Besides work, Yikai also participated in several TV shows and is a photographer.
MIIS class 2021 CI / trademark assistant at King & Wood Mallesons / beginner in the IP industry
My name is Sharon Ni. I love reading and photography.
Xiaojing LIU is a first-year student majoring in International Policy and Development. At the same time, she is also a graduate student at Zhejiang University majoring in International Organization and International Communication in which her research interests are on global environmental governance, sustainable development, and international organizations. She holds a BE in Graphic Communication in Wuhan University from which she graduated in 2021 with honors. She was the Vice President of the Student English Correspondent at Wuhan University and has always devoted herself to the service of student organizations. Her passion lies in the area of working as an international civil servant at an international organization, using her skills and knowledge learned from Wuhan University, Zhejiang University, and Middlebury Institute to help disadvantaged and vulnerable people.
Braelyn is completing her bachelor's degree major in Dietetics & Nutrition Health and minor in Psychology at Purdue University. She is a certified China National Personnel Training Nutrition and Health Management Specialist. Her goal is to raise awareness of the importance of nutrition care and nutrition therapy in the general population. Braelyn had started two companies in the past two years in food service management and commodity steel trading as a young entrepreneur. Her company has more than 10 million yuan of working capital. She is passionate about helping her clients and always seeking to learn.
Vice President Human Resources at Sony Europe
Haian Huang is a first-year student majoring in Translation and Interpretation at MIIS. She has earned a BA in English Language and Literature from Shenzhen University in China. Being keen on becoming a professional simultaneous interpreter for international organizations such as the UN, she seizes every opportunity to hone her skills and is more than ready to see how far she can go starting from here at MIIS.
Hongru Xu is a first-year translation student at MIIS. She received her English Language BA from Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman in Malaysia. Her passions include cultural exchange, language learning, and LGBTQ rights.
Sarah Heidrich is a second year Conference Interpreting Student at MIIS. Prior to coming to Monterey, Sarah finished her B.A. in Cultural Studies and Translation at UNC in Córdoba, Argentina and earned a Master's degree in Conference Interpreting from the University of Mainz, Germersheim.
Her curiosity for foreign cultures has led her to travel numerous countries of the Spanish speaking world, among them Guatemala, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay, Peru, and Mexico. Having lived in different places as a student, Sarah will be addressing the opportunities for international students that lie in living outside of well-known metropolitan areas in Latin American countries.
Zhongyue Chao is a translation and interpretation student at MIIS. On knowing about different cultures in travelling, she developed an interest in cross-cultural communication and the ways to promote it. She recognizes that everyone has a story to tell, and good stories are what bring people together. That’s why she joins fall forum as a speaker this year.
Nora Arutyunyan is a graduate student of Translation and Localization Management with a Russian-English language pair. My diverse background in opera, journalism, international relations, and language policy is closely related to different languages and cultures. Here at MIIS I study how to build and improve communication across the world.
Co-Founder of Translators for Elders
T/TI/CI Program Representative, MIIS Student Council 2021-2022
Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey
MA in Translation, Class of 2022
