Suzanne Zeng appointed to advisory council for Office of Language Access

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Contact:
Karin Mackenzie, (808) 956-4051
College of Languages, Linguistics & Literature
Posted: Apr 6, 2016

Dr. Suzanne M. Zeng
Dr. Suzanne M. Zeng

Dr. Suzanne M. Zeng has been appointed by Governor David Ige to serve as a member of the Language Access Advisory Council for the Office of Language Access for the State of Hawaiʻi. The purpose of the office is to address language access needs of limited English proficient individuals. 

Zeng has been with the UH Mānoa College of Languages, Linguistics & Literature’s Center for Interpretation and Translation Studies since 1992.  She conducts research and teaches on topics such as principles and theory of interpreting, medical and court interpreting, and interpreting skills and techniques.

 As an advisory council member, Zeng will help to:

  • establish statewide goals and objectives to improve access to programs, services and activities of state and state-funded agencies by limited English proficient individuals.
  • coordinate language access plans by state and state-funded agencies.
  • oversee and monitor compliance by state and state-funded agencies of Hawaiʻi’s language access law.
  • provide training on language access technology.
  • resolve complaints.
  • work with private and public agencies to address resource needs.

Languages, Linguistics & Literature Dean Jeffrey Carroll says Zeng will make an excellent Language Access Advisory Council member.  He notes that beyond her experience within academia, she has extensive practical experience applying her knowledge in a multitude of settings -- from courtrooms to international conferences.  Zeng is also a certified trainer for the national “Bridging the Gap” medical interpreter training program and has helped translate and edit books and other works into Chinese. 

Zeng, a Kaimukī resident, received her MA and PhD in Chinese linguistics from UH Mānoa and holds certificates in Chinese-English simultaneous and consecutive interpreting.

The College of Languages, Linguistics & Literature (one of the four Arts & Sciences colleges) of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa offers a broad curriculum in English, foreign and heritage languages and literatures, second language studies, and linguistics.  Its Asia and Pacific focused curricula is unique in the nation.  The faculty regularly teaches more than 25 languages, and has the capacity to teach many more.

If you would like to support the college, please visit www.uhfoundation.org/GivetoLLL.