Kennesaw State University professor and Hispanic Center part of Georgia Commission on Language Interpreters
Kennesaw State University Political Science Professor Helen Ridley has been asked to serve on the…
Georgia (Jul 9, 2002) — Kennesaw State University professor and Hispanic Center part of Georgia Commission on Language Interpreters
Karen Kennedy
Abstract
Kennesaw State University Political Science Professor Helen Ridley has been asked
to serve on the Georgia Commission on Language Interpreters. The commission was created
by the Supreme Court of Georgia to address the need for qualified court interpreters
arising out of Georgia's increasingly diverse‚ non−English speaking population. The
mission of the commission is to provide professional‚ trained interpreters for non−English
speaking individuals in the Georgia court system. Interpreters will help ensure the
rights of non−English speakers by providing them the means to understand and participate
in the legal process.
Ridley previously served on the Georgia Supreme Court's Ethnic and Racial Bias Commission
and the Equality Commission. The Commission on Language Interpreters was developed
based on the recommendations of the previous commissions.
"Kennesaw State University's participation in the development of training for court
interpreters is part of the university's educational mission‚ which includes service
to the community‚" said Ridley. "There is a tremendous need for interpreters and I
am honored to be serving on the committee that will ensure that the mandated interpreters
are well trained and certified."
As a member of the commission and co−chair of the education sub−committee‚ Ridley
will help to plan and implement the training of new court translators. The most recent
training session‚ held at Kennesaw State University‚ and provided by KSU's Hispanic
Center‚ had 55 participants. Kennesaw State's Hispanic Center was founded in 1999‚
in part to respond to community and professional needs in the area of language and
cultural training.
Training sessions are being offered around the state in order to provide certified
interpreters to all 10 judicial districts. In addition‚ Kennesaw State's political
science department and foreign language department are collaborating to develop an
undergraduate certificate in court interpreting‚ which would allow students to move
directly into interpreting following completion of the certificate requirements.
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The Center for Hispanic Studies has as its mission promoting the understanding and
global awareness of Hispanic realities both locally and abroad.
Kennesaw State University‚ a progressive‚ comprehensive institution with a growing
student population of 14‚100 from 118 countries‚ offers more than 50 degree programs.
Out of 34 institutions‚ KSU is the sixth largest in the University System of Georgia.
A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers more than 150 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 41,000 students. With 11 colleges on two metro Atlanta campuses, Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia and the second-largest university in the state. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the region and from 126 countries across the globe. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 6 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.
