PALA Alum Spotlight: Mariam Moustafa, MS in Translation & Interpreting

MS in Translation & Interpreting alum Mariam Moustafa's desire to pursue a career in translation stemmed from  an internship she did as an undergraduate in which she translated The Bilingual Revolution: The Future of Education is in Two Languages from English to Arabic. She fell in love with the process and wanted to learn more. Now, let’s get to know her more.

Please share a little about your background.
I grew up trilingual, communicating in Arabic, French, and English both in school and with family and friends. This cultivated my passion for languages, but I never considered going into the language industry until I had the opportunity to work on an English-to-Arabic translation during my last year in college. After graduation, I started to look for master's programs to gain more experience, which brought me to the MS in Translation & Interpreting program at the NYU SPS Center for Publishing and Applied Liberal Arts (PALA). I am currently a translation project manager at Human Touch Translations and I work on literary translation projects during my free time.

Did you have any favorite classes or areas of interest that you focused on during your studies at NYU SPS?
My favorite course was Literary Translation. I believe that translated literature connects people from different backgrounds and helps us realize that what unites us is greater than what separates us.

What advice would you offer someone thinking about enrolling in the MS in Translation & Interpreting?
If you decide to enroll in the MS in Translation & Interpreting program, make sure to connect with your professors and colleagues; they're not only experts in the field and a great way to build your network, but they're also your support system and the most honest and caring advisors you can have.

How do you feel the MS in Translation & Interpreting has equipped you for your current position––and the future?
I connected with my current employer through Handshake, a student job-finding resource I was able to participate in as an NYU SPS graduate student. Thanks to the app, I acquired the position of a translation project coordinator. The skills I gained from my coursework at NYU SPS, such as Translation Technologies, Language Professions, and Theory & Practice of Terminology, helped me thrive in the workplace. Within six months, I got promoted to project manager.

A translation and interpreting degree can help you to take charge of your career, whether you are new to the field or already working in the language professions. Apply for PALA’s MS in Translation & Interpreting, a fully online, 36-credit graduate program.