Watch the video recording of this session here.
Welcome Remarks:
Laura Hammond, LPO Director and AIPS U.S. Director, UW-Madison Language Program Office (LPO)
Panelists:
Irfan Kovankaya, Senior Account Executive, Spitfire Strategies
Irfan Kovankaya is a changemaker with years of experience in community organizing, nonprofit and social justice spaces. He’s passionate about storytelling and building community.
At Spitfire, Irfan is a Senior Account Executive focusing on decarceration, civil rights for Muslim-American communities and affordable housing. He combines policy enterprise with strong writing and communication skills to meet the needs of clients. He views the work as a means of empowering communities and community groups to liberate themselves. He hopes to put them in positions to succeed – however they define and choose to build it. Passion and humility guide Irfan’s approach to this work.
Prior to Spitfire, Irfan spent several years organizing with the Dream Defenders and worked as a Program + Policy Manager at Miami Homes for All. He was also involved with the Tallahassee Bail Fund, Students Organize for Syria, and Students for Justice in Palestine. Irfan is a freelance writer published in the Tallahassee Democrat, Orlando Sentinel, and Independent Florida Alligator.
He graduated from the University of Florida with a double major in political science and international studies with a focus on the Middle East, and a minor in history. Outside of his advocacy, Irfan is passionate about soccer, reading and cooking traditional Turkish foods.
Vijay Limaye, Senior Scientist at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC); Adjunct Assistant Professor at the UW-Madison Department of Population Health Sciences
Dr. Vijay Limaye is a Senior Scientist at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin, Madison in the Department of Population Health Sciences. As an epidemiologist, he is broadly interested in addressing international environmental health challenges—quantifying, communicating, and reducing the risks associated with climate change—with a focus on the public health burdens of air pollution and extreme heat. Dr. Limaye, who also speaks Spanish and Hindi, has led multiple research studies on the health impacts of climate change, including analyses of air pollution and extreme heat in both the U.S. and India. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley and a Ph.D. in environmental epidemiology from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Jzong Thao, Bilingual Training Officer, Cultural Linguistic Services, UW-Madison
Jzong Thao has been working as a Hmong-English interpreter, translator, and trainer for Cultural Linguistics Services, Office of Human Resources at UW-Madison since 2005. His role is to provide language services to UW employees who are English Language Learners from when they are applying for jobs at the UW to when they retire. He interprets for orientation and benefits enrollment to disciplinary/termination meetings with supervisor/management. Jzong translates all documents and surveys UW department and the Office of Chancellor and/or Vice Chancellor request into Hmong so employees can read the information in their own language. When time allows, he translates information and instruction documents research programs use and gather information from the Hmong community.
Jzong also helps UW departments facilitate trainings UW employees are required to complete. Some examples include Preventing Sexual Harassment and Cybersecurity trainings.
Prior to joining UW Madison, Jzong worked as an Employment Specialist/Case Manager with a non-profit organization contracted to run the Wisconsin Work Program. He coordinated and conducted workshops in Hmong to program participants. He referred those individuals ready for work to employers. From there, he provided both interpretation and translation services to the employers and employees to facilitate communication. Jzong received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from UW-Madison in 1991.
Daniel Wieber, Arabic to English Translator, Educator, and Project Coordinator
I am an Arabic-to-English translator, editor, subtitler, and educator based in Milwaukee, WI. I have been working locally and internationally to facilitate communication between language communities for over seven years. This work has involved collaborations with international organizations, teams of linguists, news agencies, and refugee resettlement agencies. I believe in human-centered language services that remove barriers and empower individuals, companies, and communities to build global connections.
When I am not translating, I am developing Arabic curriculum and teaching Arabic at the high school and university levels. I teach a network of private students and am currently pursuing an MA in Curriculum and Instruction. My passion for languages also drives my education career, and I hope to achieve a synergy between my work as a linguist and my role as a language teacher. In my free time, I enjoy traveling, hiking, and playing Irish music and Irish sports.
Moderator:
Kimberly Harn, Intern Abroad Advisor and Program Manager, UW-Madison International Academic Programs (IAP)