Meet the MATI Board: Thaís Passos

MATI Director Thaís Passos works from English and Spanish to Brazilian Portuguese. She holds a Master of Arts in Latin American, Caribbean & Iberian Studies with a focus in Translation and a Master of Science in Agroecology, both from the University of Wisconsin. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Medicine from the Universidade Estadual Paulista in Brazil.

Why did you decide to join MATI?

I joined MATI because it offered me a reliable and resourceful platform that helped better inform my decision to become a translator (after having worked as a veterinarian for fifteen years). At my first MATI conference, I started learning about the profession and what it takes to be a good translator, and I’ve been learning from it ever since.

What is your favorite part of the workday?

I enjoy looking at something I’ve just translated and realizing I’ve come up with elegant solutions for some challenging terms. Those moments allow me to connect more deeply with both my source language and my mother tongue.

What do you do in your free time?

I usually spend my free time being with my husband, meeting with friends, chatting online with my family (they live in Brazil), and walking/playing with my dog.

What are you most looking forward to about your participation on the MATI Board?

I am looking forward to getting to know the other board members better so that we can figure out how we best work together. Each committee has its own work dynamic, and I am excited to learn where I will fit.