Middlebury Institute graduates discuss where they are working today, how the Institute helped them get there, and what advice they’d give to current and future MIIS students.
My name is Anna Suades Vall and I graduated with an MA in Conference Interpretation from the Middlebury Institute in 2016. My language pair was English-Spanish. Prior to coming to Monterey, I earned my BA at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona in Spain. I am now a freelance conference interpreter and translator in Barcelona.
I work mainly in the private market and for some international organizations and local governmental institutions, both in person and remotely. I am based in Spain, although I started my career as an interpreter in the U.S., where I stayed for one year after graduating.
My first jobs came from people I had met at or through the Institute, and when I moved back home, having the Middlebury Institute on my résumé also proved to be an asset. My training at the Institute has opened a lot of wonderful doors for me both in the United States and in Barcelona.
In 2024, I became a member of the International Association of Conference Interpreters (AIIC) and joined the team at Agrupación de Intérpretes de Barcelona (AIB).
My first jobs came from people I had met at or through the Institute, and when I moved back home, having MIIS on my résumé also proved to be an asset.
In addition to my freelance work, I am also an assistant professor of interpretation at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.
All the courses I took at the Institute have been very useful in my professional career, but what prepared me the most was how demanding and intense the interpreting courses were, as well as the practicum in interpretation during our second year.
My best advice for current students is to make the most of your time at MIIS, work hard and learn as much as possible. But also leave time to take care of yourself and enjoy Monterey and California! Go to networking events, have a social life, make friends who will become lifelong colleagues (and vice versa), and stay in touch.
Master of Arts in Translation; Translation and Interpretation; Conference Interpretation
| by Jem Walker and TI ’21
Alum Jem Walker shares how his experience in interpretation and technology led to a management role at FIFA, where he coordinates interpretation services for global football events.
| by Caitlin Fillmore
Unique weeklong intensive helps conference interpreters who aspire to reach the pinnacle of the field.
| by Lyu Jiayi MACI ’21
Conference Interpretation graduate Lyu Jiayi shares how her training, mentors, and the MIIS alumni network helped her launch her translation and interpretation company.
