Colleague spotlights

AATIA is proud to spotlight two colleagues as we celebrate National Interpreter Appreciation Day (May 7th) and Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (May 1st to May 31st).

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Spotlight

Meet Tee Truong, a Vietnamese translator and localization specialist who bridges languages and cultures every day. From helping Vietnamese users in Vietnam access global tech to making complex medical and technical content clearer for overseas Vietnamese communities, Tee’s work makes a real impact. Tee is also AATIA’s current Director of Communications. Join us in celebrating Tee’s contributions!

My name is Tee Thương Trương, and I am a Vietnamese translator and localization specialist. As a translator, I serve both the Vietnamese community in Vietnam and overseas. For those in Vietnam, I help bring international content closer to them—for example, I translated an English website for a well-known American consumer electronics company into Vietnamese, making it easier for users to understand and use their products. For the Vietnamese community overseas, particularly in the U.S., I translate medical and technical content, which often contains specialized jargon and complex terms. My work helps make communication a little easier for our community. I’m proud to do this job because I can see the positive impact it has on the people I serve.

National Interpreter Appreciation Day Spotlight

Jayson Nasukiewicz-Kaufman is a proud CODA (Child of Deaf Adults), with American Sign Language (ASL) as his first language and the Deaf community as his first home. Growing up immersed in Deaf culture, he gained a deep appreciation for communication, connection, and cultural respect—values that naturally led him to become an interpreter.

For Jayson, interpreting isn’t just a profession—it’s a way of giving back to the community that raised him. His advice to aspiring interpreters: “Remember, you are the guest in the culture. You have to fit in, and you have to adjust. We are guests, but we also hold a lot of power. Use that power for good.”

Jayson grew up exposed to the rich tapestry of American Sign Language (ASL) dialects—shaped by region, age, and educational background. His parents are third-generation Deaf, and his family members were born and raised in various cities and states across the country. He believes that interpreters have a crucial responsibility to honor and preserve the language by respecting its diversity: “Never correct a Deaf person’s signs. If you see a sign you’ve never encountered, acknowledge that it’s new to you—and then adapt to your client. Good interpreters read the language preferences of Deaf individuals and adjust accordingly.” By validating these variations, interpreters help sustain the legacy of ASL and the lived experiences it represents.

While this National Interpreter Appreciation Day originally began with a focus on sign language interpreters, it has since grown to recognize all language professionals—both signed and spoken—for the vital role they play in bridging communication gaps across diverse communities. On this day, we celebrate the people who make understanding possible. Thank you to Jayson—and to all interpreters—for your dedication and humility! 

Check out our Facebook page to watch videos featuring interpreters Natalie Burroughs and Bertha Jacobson.