TLC News

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The Tennessee Language Center is excited to welcome Rebecca Todd Garvin, Ph.D., as our new research associate through a partnership with UT Southern. Dr. Garvin, who also serves as an assistant professor at UT Southern in Pulaski, will be leading research on languages, usage and accessibility across Tennessee. 

This new role furthers one of TLC’s founding goals: conducting original research on effective language instruction and sharing that knowledge to strengthen language access statewide.

TLC is pleased to announce our new Director of Interpretation and Translation Services (ITS), Richard Ponce-de-Leon.

Richard joined TLC in 2019 as a project manager for ITS and most recently served as a training specialist. In that role, he coordinated several key programs, including our Medical Interpreter Training Course, Court Interpreter Workshop, Spanish for Medical Personnel program and Spanish Toolkit program.

We recently hosted our second Spanish for Law Enforcement class at the Gallatin Police Department in partnership with our sister agency, the UT Law Enforcement Innovation Center, thanks to funding from the TN Office of Criminal Justice Programs.

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is making history—this time in multiple languages! Known as the “Smithsonian of Country Music,” the Museum partnered with the Tennessee Language Center (TLC) to translate and record its Sing Me Back Home audio tour into French, Italian, German, Spanish, Portuguese and Chinese.

TLC Training Specialist Richard Ponce-de-Leon has been chosen as president-elect for the Tennessee Association of Professional Interpreters and Translators (TAPIT). TAPIT members are professional interpreters and translators of written, spoken and signed languages across the state. TAPIT advocates for interpreters and translators, fosters ethical and professional standards, conducts training and workshops, and promotes communication and discussion about relevant topics.

TLC is partnering with GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs), a federally funded college and career readiness program, to offer our Medical Interpreter Training Course to bilingual high school students at Maplewood High School in Nashville. By participating in this training, students will gain valuable experience and certification, opening doors to career opportunities in healthcare and community services.

Eric Amos has been named Executive Director of the Tennessee Language Center. He has been serving as the Interim Executive Director since December 2023. Eric joined TLC in 2018 as an Interpretation Senior Project Coordinator and was named Director of Interpretation and Translation in 2022. He has served as interim Executive Director since December 2023. Eric received his Bachelor of Science in Intercultural Studies from Liberty University and his Master of Arts in Intercultural Studies from Southeastern College.

TLC Assistant Director of English Programs Erin Keafer represented and promoted TLC at the Nashville Public Library's Adult Education Summit. The Summit offers Nashville’s adult education providers the opportunity to engage in discussion and strategy-building around the issues most pressing to our community.