Board of Directors
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Chair
Nattalia Paterson, PhD
Chicago, IL
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Term: June 2023 – June 2025
Nattalia brings over twenty years of experience as a freelance Portuguese conference interpreter and translator, catering to a diverse range of corporate, academic, medical, governmental, and diplomatic clients. In 2018, Nattalia joined NAJIT, shifting her focus to judiciary interpretation. She holds court certifications in twenty states and is qualified to interpret for U.S. federal courts, courtesy of her affiliations with the U.S. Department of State and TAALS.
Since stepping into her role as a director on the NAJIT Board in 2023, Nattalia has spearheaded initiatives to enhance the organization’s efficiency, streamline processes, foster volunteer engagement, and forge stronger connections with translation and interpretation associations and other stakeholders nationwide. She is actively involved in devising a sustainable growth strategy for NAJIT, while nurturing emerging leaders within the association to ensure project continuity. Nattalia’s overarching goal is to position NAJIT as the foremost advocate for continuing excellence and professional recognition. She also wants the association to be more active in setting standards and best practices for court interpretation.
Beyond NAJIT, Nattalia is also a member of several other professional associations in the United States and Brazil. These include TAALS, ATA, AAPTI, MATI, DVTA, NOTIS, CHICATA, CCHI, and ABRATES. Academically, she holds a doctoral degree in Linguistics from Northwestern University, where her research centered on Bilingual Speech Processing, and a bachelor’s degree in Language and Linguistics from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, where she specialized in Conference Interpretation and Translation.
Nattalia resides in the Chicago area with her husband, Mark, and their black cat, Jake.
Vice-Chair
Yadira Call
Santa Clara, UT
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Term: May 2024 – June 2026
Yadira serves as the President of Certified Spanish Interpreters, based in Santa Clara, Utah, where she works as an interpreter and a translator. She holds court certifications in the States of Arkansas, Utah, and California. Her proficiency extends to conference interpreting and forensic interview translations.
In an effort to contribute to the professional development of her peers, Yadira has innovated by developing CafeVoz, a free web application designed to assist interpreters in creating audio flashcards in various languages. This application reflects her commitment to advancing the field of interpretation and translation through technology.
She is an active member of the Language Access Committee of Utah, where she represents the interests of interpreters within the state. She also works to further the understanding of the profession and has provided interpreter perspectives and “shadowing” opportunities to judges. She shares relevant NAJIT publications to new coordinators so they can be prepared to make assignments in an appropriate manner.
Yadira’s journey in certified court interpretation commenced in 2010. Over the years, she has rendered her linguistic services in multiple states.
Beyond her professional pursuits, Yadira treasures her roots in the state of Chihuahua, Mexico, where she lived for over thirty years. She values the time spent visiting family in Mexico, and cherishing moments with her five children and four grandchildren.
Director
Janis Palma, PhD
San Antonio, TX
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Term: September 2024 – June 2025
Janis Palma is a professional English-Spanish interpreter and translator with over 43 years of experience working as both staff and independent contractor in state and federal courts. She is certified by NAJIT, the U.S. Courts, and is a Texas Master licensed interpreter. She holds a Ph.D. in Language Studies, a Master’s in Legal Studies (MLS), and an M.A. in Caribbean History and Literature. Janis Palma has been a volunteer with the National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators (NAJIT) since 1986 and was awarded a Life Membership in 2006. She has taught, written, presented at conferences, and published extensively on subjects related to interpreting, language access, and language rights.
Treasurer
Lili Selden, PhD
Silver Spring, MD
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Term: May 2024 – June 2026
Lili is an English⇄Japanese interpreter and translator, academic editor, and intercultural communication coach residing in the DC metro area. In addition to serving as a registered court interpreter in multiple jurisdictions, she offers instruction in Japanese language, business etiquette, and translation and interpretation (T&I) to federal employees and military personnel. As a federalized member of the National Language Service Corps (NLSC) since 2019, she has proudly supported humanitarian disaster relief exercises in Guam and military training exercises in Yakima, WA. Since joining NAJIT in 2017, she has dedicated her time as a volunteer on the Training & Education (T&E), Advocacy, and Positions Papers committees.
After co-moderating a number of memorable NAJIT Academy webinars over the years, she was delighted in 2023 to co-present a language-neutral webinar with fellow T&E committee member Jaqueline Nordin (Portuguese⇄English), and then to present NAJIT’s first Japanese-specific one. In May 2024, she will co-present with colleague Niery Bardakjian (Armenian⇄English) her first NAJIT Annual Conference session, which will explore ambiguous ethical situations and the importance of safeguarding our professional integrity whether working in courthouses, conference halls, or military contexts.
Lili keenly awaits the day when the U.S. follows Australia’s example and debuts an official court interpreter oral exam and certification for Japanese.
Director
Sandro Tomasi
The Bronx, NY
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Term: May 2024 – June 2025
With over 30 years of TI experience and over 25 years as a NAJIT member, Sandro Tomasi is currently a New York State staff court interpreter and certified as a medical interpreter by the State of Washington. He is the author and contributor of critically-acclaimed bilingual and monolingual legal lexicography works, coauthor of Compensation of Court Interpreters in the State of New York and a contributor to Proteus and The NAJIT Observer. Sandro has educated over 3600 professionals for dozens of TI associations, various state courts and has taught courses for Austral University Law School, City University of New York’s continuing-education programs and New Mexico Center for Language Access.
Sandro has chaired or served on the NAJIT:
– Advocacy Committee, 2018–2023 (drafted many letters for increased interpreter pay in federal and state jurisdictions);
– Conference Committee, 2002–2003;
– Eastern Regional Conference Committee, 2001–2003 (first NAJIT conference to feature language-specific seminars in LOTS);
– Education Committee, 2003–2004;
– Title VI Committee, 2002–2003 (NAJIT succeeded in getting “team interpreting” into the DOJ’s landmark 2002 LEP Guidance.
Past Board Members
Secretary
Andreea Boscor
San Diego, CA
Term: June 2023 – June 2025
Vice-Chair & Treasurer
Francesca Samuel
Tucson, AZ
Term: June 2022 – May 2024 (Treasurer: June 2022 – May 2024, Vice-Chair: March 2024 – May 2024)
Director & Vice-Chair
Anahit Flanagan, PhD
Waltham, MA
Term: June 2022 – March 2024 (Director June 2022 – June 2023, Vice-Chair June 2023 – March 2024)
Secretary & Chair
Laura McGilvra
Seattle, WA
Term: June 2022 – March 2024 (Secretary June 2022 – June 2023, Chair June 2023 – March 2024)
Director and Chair
Javier Castillo
Greenville, NC
Term: May 2021 – June 2023 (Director, May 2021 – 2022 and Chair June 2022 – 2023)
Treasurer and Vice-Chair
Hilda Zavala-Shymanik
Lake in the Hills, IL
Term: June 2020 – May 2023 (Treasurer June 2020 – 2022, Vice-Chair June 2022-2023)
Director & Chair
Janis Palma
San Antonio, Tx
Term: June 2020 – June 2022
(Director: June 2020 – May 2021, Chair May 2021 – June 2022)
Director, Chair, & Secretary
Aimee Benavides
Fresno, CA
Term: September 2017 – June 2022
(Chair: May 2018 – October 2019, Director: October 2019 – May 2019, Chair: May 2019 – June 2020, Secretary May 2021 – June 2022)
Secretary & Director
Teresa Salazar
Falls Church, VA
Term: June 2018 – June 2022
(Secretary: June 2018 – May 2021, Director: May 2021 – June 2022)
Director
Hebba Abulsaad
Nashville, TN
Term: May 2019 – May 2021
Director & Chair
Armando Ezquerra Hasbun
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Term: June 2018 – June 2020
(Director: June 2018 – October 2019, Chair: October 2019 – June 2020)
Secretary & Treasurer
Claudia Rubio Samulowitz
Lafayette, Indiana
Term: June 2018 – June 2020
(Secretary: June 2018 – May 2019, Treasurer: May 2019 – June 2020)
Treasurer
Hilda Zavala
New York, New York
Term: July 2016 – May 2019
(Treasurer: May 2017 – May 2019)
Director, Treasurer, & Chair
Gladys Matthews, PhD
Quebec, Canada
Term: March 2016 – June 2018
(Treasurer: March 2016 – May 2017, Chair: September 2017 – June 2018)
Secretary
Ernest Niño-Murcia
Des Moines, Iowa
Term: May 2016 – June 2018
Interim Director
Julie Sellers, PhD
Atchison, KS
Term: September 2017 – June 2018