Spring 2025 Commencement Speakers
The Spring Commencement speaker is Yuko Matsuoka Harris. Ms. Harris is renowned in Japan as translator of the world best-selling Harry Potter series. She translated all seven books in the series and related works by JK Rowling. She was a consultant on the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films, and also translated the book of Rowling’s successful theatre play The Cursed Child.
Ms. Matsuoka is the only translator who is also a publisher of Harry Potter and other works of the magic world created by JK Rowling. Previously, she was a leading international conference interpreter. She taught interpretation at Sophia University in Tokyo, then at MIIS, where she also obtained a graduate degree in international policy studies.
Ms. Matsuoka has actively supported several causes. She sponsored an international seminar of patients and medical researchers on ALS and Motor Neuron Disease in Japan. She established the Swiss-based Magic Libraries Foundation to promote reading for children in disadvantaged regions and the training of translators in minority languages, as well as an association to promote Japanese culture. She is now working to create a Centre for East-West Cultural Exchanges based in France.
The student speaker is Kareem Tinto. Kareem Tinto will graduate with a Master of Arts in Translation (Spanish/English), an achievement made possible by his unwavering determination and the support of his loved ones. Born and raised in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Kareem is the second of four siblings in a family where resilience and perseverance were deeply instilled. Throughout his life, he has defied the odds, overcoming challenges that sought to derail his path to success.
Kareem’s passion for languages began in his early education and flourished over time. Apart from his native language (English) he speaks Spanish, Portuguese, and French—a testament to his dedication to bridging linguistic and cultural divides. His academic journey has been marked by excellence, earning an associate’s degree in Spanish from the College of Science Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad and Tobago and a bachelor’s degree in Spanish from the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, Trinidad and Tobago. His time at MIIS was made possible through the Fulbright Scholarship, the U.S.’s most prestigious award, which he credits as pivotal in realizing his goals.
Having received three PhD offers from leading universities, he has chosen to pursue his doctoral studies at Emory University in Atlanta, starting in Fall 2025. He attributes his achievements to the foundational principles instilled by his mother, whose sacrifices and resilience shaped the lives of her four children.
With his journey far from over, Kareem is committed to fostering understanding across cultures and languages, serving as a bridge where barriers exist.