One of the things that makes AAITE special is the community behind it.

Educational interpreters and translators come to this profession from many different backgrounds and experiences, but we often find ourselves navigating many of the same challenges.

That is why we're introducing the AAITE Member Spotlight, a new feature dedicated to the people who make up our organization. In each edition, we'll get to know an AAITE member, learn about their professional journey, hear about the challenges and successes that have shaped them, and explore how being part of a professional community has influenced their work.

My hope is that these conversations will help us learn from one another, recognize the knowledge and experience within our membership, and remind us that we don't have to navigate this profession alone.

And since someone has to go first, I'll start!

Member Spotlight: Luis F. Hernández

1. What inspired you to become an educational interpreter or translator, and what continues to motivate you?

My career has taken me through court, medical, and educational interpreting and translation… in that order. Medical interpreting was already much more established as a profession when I switched, and I saw an opportunity in education to help shape what I wanted our profession to become. That’s still a big part of what motivates me today. The laws supporting language access are there, but when it comes to best practices, and professionalization, we still have some work to do. I’d love to see educational interpreting and translation become more formalized, and with organizations like AAITE bringing people together nationally, I really believe we can get there. 

2. What is one challenge you've faced that other members would likely relate to?

One challenge is the perception that educational interpreting is somehow “easier.” Yes, we may not hold someone’s life or freedom in our words, as is often said in medical and court interpreting, but the consequences of our work can be just as significant, even if they aren’t always immediate. The conversations we interpret can affect a student’s education, opportunities, and future for years to come. We’re also supporting meaningful parent participation and sometimes helping shape a family’s trust in the institutions that are there to serve them. What we do takes a tremendous amount of skill because our work can be a mix of medical, legal, and even conference interpreting, sometimes all in the same day… sometimes all in the same meeting! And we’re often expected to do it in less-than-ideal conditions and with far less support than interpreters in other settings. 

3. How has AAITE supported you through those challenges?

AAITE has connected me with professionals who understand the unique challenges of working in educational settings. Having that community reminds me that many of the issues we encounter aren't ours to solve alone.

4. What professional skill or mindset has grown the most since becoming involved with AAITE?

Advocacy. I've gone from thinking primarily about how to do the work well to thinking about how we can build systems that support language access and elevate the profession.

5. Has an AAITE member, mentor, or networking opportunity positively influenced you?

Definitely! Some of the most valuable moments have simply been conversations with other members at Edu-Con and hearing how they approach challenges within their own organizations. Those exchanges often lead to ideas I can bring back to my own work.

6. Has AAITE helped you advocate for language access and professional standards?

Absolutely. Being connected to a national community has given me a broader perspective and more confidence when advocating for qualified professionals, appropriate standards, and stronger language access practices. AAITE’s collaboration with organizations like ALC has also given me the opportunity to take that advocacy beyond our own professional circles. I’ve been able to sit down with my own congressional representatives and advocate directly for meaningful language access policies, which has been an incredibly valuable experience. 

7. Is there an AAITE resource or experience that has changed how you approach your work?

One thing that really stands out to me is AAITE developing separate Codes of Ethics for educational interpreters and translators. For so long, the two professions have been grouped together because they're related, but they're not the same job and don't always face the same ethical situations. AAITE recognizing that distinction and developing a code specifically for each profession was significant to me. It helped put officially into writing something many of us already understood in our professional circles: interpreters and translators are distinct professionals, and the standards guiding our work should reflect that. 

8. How has belonging to AAITE helped you feel more connected to the profession?

Educational interpreters and translators can sometimes feel like we're working on an island. AAITE gives us a place where people understand the work without needing an explanation first.

9. What gives you hope about the future of educational interpreting and translation?

I see a profession becoming more connected, more organized, and more willing to advocate for itself. I also see an opportunity for us to help shape how new technology is used responsibly while continuing to emphasize the expertise that professional interpreters and translators bring to the work. 

10. Finish this sentence: “Being part of AAITE means…”

Being part of AAITE means having the support of a professional community that is often unseen. Many educational interpreters and translators work behind the scenes, and sometimes we may be the only person doing this work within our organization. AAITE gives us a place where we can find each other, learn from one another, share our experiences, and know that there are people across the country working toward many of the same goals. 

 Luis Hernandez is a Spanish translator, interpreter, and language access advocate based in Riverside County, California. A founding member of AAITE, he served as the organization’s inaugural Chair and later as Director of Communications. He currently serves as Membership Director, where he focuses on strengthening member engagement, fostering professional connections, and building community among educational interpreters and translators.

Share your history! If you’d like to be featured in a future AAITE Member Spotlight, contact [email protected].