Lauren Downs
Co-president & Typesetter - French Translator
Lauren is a fourth year studying English and Creative Writing on the Publishing track with a minor in Translation. Once she finishes her degree, Lauren plans to work in a publishing house in editorial. When she isn't translating, she spends her time reading, writing, and playing tennis.
Abigail Kloha
Co-president - Spanish & Japanese Translator
Abby studies translation (Spanish, Japanese) and writing. She likes making and enjoying art about faith, the environment, and community.
Naomi Vega
Junior Co-President - Spanish, Korean, German, Italian, American Sign Language Translator
Curious, kind, and energetic, Naomi is a multilingual first-year here at the U of I. When she’s not reading, she’s learning new languages, painting, writing, and dancing. As a daughter from a family of immigrants, she looks to support other marginalized communities by uplifting their voices through language and translation.
Autumn Mayer
Translation Coordinator - French Translator
Autumn is a fourth-year student double majoring in French and English and creative writing on the publishing track. She works as the Translation Coordinator and a French translator for the Translate Iowa Project; a copyeditor for Wilder Things Magazine; and an undergraduate writing tutor for the University of Iowa Writing Center.
Meet Our Executive Team
Jodi Jin
Community Coordinator - Chinese Translator
Jodi is a sophomore studying biomedical sciences on the pre-med track and working in a dermatology research lab. She has spoken Chinese as a second language all her life, and is currently studying French and Italian outside of school. In her free time, she likes to read all kinds of books, play the piano, and travel.
Bri Brands
Boundless Coordinator - Spanish Translator
Bri is a fourth-year student studying English and creative writing on the publishing track with a minor in Spanish. After graduation she plans to get her master's in library and information science and become a children's librarian. In her free time, she can be found making her way through an endless TBR pile, crocheting, or writing.
Miya Swenson
Web Designer - Spanish & Chinese Translator
Miya Swenson is double-majoring in Chinese and translation with a writing certificate. She enjoys listening to music, reading, writing, and dancing. Her current song obsession is "space for you" by Avenue Beat. It would be an absolute dream of hers to have a library with a bunch of hidden tunnels and secrets.
Jordan Mikkelsen
Social Media Coordinator - Chinese Translator
Jordan Mikkelsen is a sophomore English and creative writing major with minors in Chinese and translation. She is so excited to do her first year of translating for the Iowa Translate Project and to learn more about translation! Her translation language is Chinese, and she hopes to study abroad in China or Taiwan someday. In her (little) spare time, she enjoys curling up with a book, writing, sewing and altering clothes, and doing puzzles with her mom.
Kiah Schuessler
Creative Coordinator - Spanish & Portuguese Translator
Seu nome é Kiah e ela é em seu primeiro ano na Universidade de Iowa. She is originally from Milwaukee, but loves it here in Iowa City, especially taking the bus system everywhere. She is passionate about translation as a way to increase access to art and as an art form itself. Cuando ella no está tracudciendo, a ella le gusta leer, correr, y tocar música. She is the oldest of four siblings, and has two cats and a dog.
Meet Our Translators
McKenzie Capito
Chinese Translator
McKenzie is an English & Creative Writing and Enterprise Leadership major who is minoring in Mandarin Chinese. She's a first time translator with a love for all things writing and reading. Mid-Autumn Festival is her favorite time of year, during which she can often be found eating mooncake.
Hannah Siefken
French Translator
Hannah Siefken is a third-year at Iowa who is double-majoring in Theatre Arts (Acting, Directing, and Musical Theatre) and Translation. They have been studying French for nearly a decade, and they have a particular interest in translating French drama and literature. Hannah has studied throughout Western Europe, including in France, and earned their Seal of Biliteracy in 2023. Outside of school, they enjoy practicing yoga, writing poetry, and playing with their dog, Cleo.
Anna Burkle
French Translator
Anna is a second-year student majoring in English Creative Writing and French. Outside of the Translate Iowa Project, she is involved in Circle K, Spanish Club, the Iowa Pep Band as a piccolo player, and Francophones at Iowa as the President. When she's not translating, she enjoys reading, writing, and traveling. Anna has earned the Seal of Biliteracy in French and Spanish and placed #7 among French students in the state of Iowa after taking the National French Test in 2024.
Megan Heldt
French & Spanish Translator
Megan is a third year student pursing degrees in International Studies, Translation, and French, with a minor in Spanish. Outside of language studies, she enjoys working out, walking her dogs, and reading! She is also actively involved in the student acapella group, Old Gold.
Terra Richardson
French, Arabic, & Spanish Translator
Terra is a third year student studying French, International Studies, and Translation, with minors in Arabic and Spanish. She has always loved the challenge of taking on new languages and now loves the challenge of translating from one to the other. When she’s not traveling back and forth from her double-life in France, she enjoys playing the bass and reading Stephen King.
Jack Petersen
German Translator
This is Jack! They’re from Des Moines Iowa, majoring in Linguistics. She speaks German and some Arabic. They enjoy: playing clarinet, arts and crafts and other creative projects, video games (undertale/deltarune, risk of rain, Minecraft), listening to music (100 gecs, food house, charli xcx, Radiohead), and watching YouTube. Obsessed with all things language!
Kristian Marchand
Italian Translator
Kristian is a sophomore at the University of Iowa majoring in creative writing and Italian. Their current obsessions include Classic Hollywood cinema and the Risorgimento. Kristian is often seen zipping through campus in their wheelchair or in print, where their work has appeared in Boundless IX and Ink Lit Mag's 27th and 28th issues.
Matthew Stettmeier
Japanese Translator
His name is Matthew Stettmeier. He's in his early twenties. His dorm is on the southern side of Iowa city and is single. He works at the library in Iowa city. He doesn't smoke but will sometimes drink coffee. He makes sure to be in bed by 12pm and to get at least 7 hours of sleep. After some warm tea and a few minutes to stretch before bed, He often has no issues sleeping till morning. He wakes up energized and tension free. He's been told he has no issues at his previous check-up. He's a person who just wishes to live a quiet life. He takes care to not get enemies as he would lose sleep. That's how he lives and it brings him peace.
Jobin Terranova
Korean Translator
Jobin Terranova is a senior at the University of Iowa, majoring in English and Creative Writing and also studying Korean and Translation. Originally from Maine, Jobin enjoys listening to music, watching tv, and walking. In the future, Jobin hopes to pursue a career that involves both English and Korean languages.
Marin Hartless
Korean Translator
Marin is a Korean-English translator and a senior at Iowa. She studied abroad last year in South Korea and is pursuing bachelors degrees in Linguistics and Translation as well as obtaining a minor in Korean Studies. She has long loved the written world and hopes to not only explore more of it through another language but also share it with others through her translations.
Charlotte Hagen
Latin & Ancient Greek Translator
Charlotte Hagen is a third-year English & Creative Writing and Ancient Civilizations double major, on the Museum Studies certificate. She enjoys learning about the ancient world and its influences in modernity. Find her reading, playing cello, or playing Hades.
Sonja Cutts
Latin Translator
Sonja Cutts is a fourth-year Ethics and Public Policy major from Portland, Oregon. She’s triple-minoring in Geographic Information Science, Environmental Policy & Planning, and Political Science, as well as pursuing two certificates: one in Social Science Analytics and another in Writing. When not busy with school, she likes to read, thrift, and practice yoga. Her translation language is Latin.
Abigael Akselrod
Russian Translator
While originally from New Jersey, Abigael Akselrod is now a proud freshman at the University of Iowa, majoring in English and Creative Writing. When not drowning in schoolwork or getting lost in a world of her own, Abigael tends to read, write, and vibe along to her music. Her passion for both her Russian and Jewish culture plays a very prominent part in her writing and life, which helped shape her into the person she is today. Last but not least, she is the older sister of five siblings and comes from a large family, who she misses very much.
Abby Asell
Spanish Translator
Abby Asell is a Translation major who hopes to become fluent in Spanish and someday a literary translator. She has a strong interest in creative writing and a love for poetry in particular. She enjoys many artistic pastimes including sewing/embroidery, drawing and painting, and jewelry making. She has a fascination with nature and the human condition, themes that frequently appear in her work.
Abby Peters
Spanish Translator
Abby is a freshman studying International Relations and Spanish. This is her fifth year studying Spanish, and she plans to study abroad in a Spanish-speaking country in the future. Abby loves to travel and spend time with friends and family. Three of her favorite things are soccer, ice cream, and TV shows! On campus, in addition to the Translate Iowa Project, Abby is involved in Model UN.
Eleanor MacKellar
Spanish Translator
Eleanor is a psychology major and Spanish minor. She joined TIP as a way to practice her Spanish skills and loves the puzzle of it. In addition to TIP, she works in a sleep lab on campus and is Vice President of the Cross-stitch and Embroidery Club. In her free time she likes to read fantasy and sci-fi books and watch sub-par adventure movies.
Gabby Risk
Spanish Translator
Gabby Risk is a third-year student at the University of Iowa, double-majoring in English & Creative Writing and Political Science with a minor in Cinema. She is also an editor for Horizon Magazine and a reporter for DITV. She enjoys reading, writing, and playing tennis.
Jessica Housour
Spanish Translator
Jessica is a fourth-year student majoring in English and Spanish, with a minor in Translation. She is also a U2G student working on her master's in Literary Studies. This is her third year working with the Translate Iowa Project. She is also an acquisitions editor for Catharsis, an Honors TA, and a volunteer at the WRAC. In her free time, she loves drinking chai lattes and starting new hobbies.
Kyle Williams
Spanish Translator
Translation and Spanish double major, senior student, and first year working with the Translate Iowa Project. Open to working on Spanish to English translations and English to Spanish translations of poetry, prose, and short stories. Roughly has seven years of experience using the language, both writing and speaking in Spanish.
Summer Eland
Spanish Translator
Summer Eland is a Creative Writing Major with a Spanish Minor, who also translates Spanish. She enjoys the Sci-Fi and Fantasy genres. Additionally, she's learning to work with Tagalog, a language from the Philippines.
Payton Flowers
Spanish Translator
Payton Flowers is a freshman from Madison, Wisconsin. She is studying English and Creative writing. She is a swimmer on the University swim and dive team, and she has been swimming for 10 years. She loves writing, reading, traveling, the outdoors, movies, music, and learning languages. She has been learning Spanish for many years now, but isn’t fluent. (Yet)
Tonalli Sanchez
Spanish Translator
Tonalli Sanchez (He/Him) is a 1st gen Mexican born and raised in Chicago. He is a student University of Iowa where he transferred after feeling trapped, suffocated, and emotionally drained at his old college alongside finding his classes extremely boring and complicated. Looking back he realized that he never wanted to go to that school and he always wanted to become an author so with the support of his parents, teachers, and advisors he withdrew and transferred to University of Iowa and he wants to show other college kids have the same courage to change their majors and transfer that he did.