2026 NYU Translation Slam

We invite you to celebrate the talent of NYU's translation community at the NYU Translation Slam, hosted annually by Liberal Studies (https://liberalstudies.nyu.edu/) (LS) and the School of Professional Studies (SPS) Master's in Translation and Interpreting (https://www.sps.nyu.edu/homepage/academics/masters-degrees/ms-in-translation.html) program, in partnership with the Department of Comparative Literature (https://as.nyu.edu/departments/complit.html). This year's event spotlights Persian-to-English translation, featuring a work of short fiction by author Moniro Ravanipour (https://www.moniravanipor.com/about). The discussion will be moderated by Professors Jennifer Zoble (https://as.nyu.edu/faculty/jennifer-zoble.html?challenge=d06e90d7-4d8f-4b88-9d8c-10b73beb60f1) (LS) and Annelise Finegan (https://www.sps.nyu.edu/content/sps-nyu/faculty-directory/20030-annelise-finegan.html) (SPS).Attendees are welcome to join either in person or online. Food and drink will be provided for in-person attendees. This event is free and open to the NYU community and the general public. Visitors must RSVP in advance and have a valid government-issued photo ID to enter the building.Note on Accessibility: It is our priority to make our events inclusive and accessible. For any questions or to notify us of accommodation requests, please email [email protected] (mailto:mailto:[email protected]) prior to the event date. For those attending in-person, 7 East 12th Street is wheelchair accessible.Click Here to RSVP for In-Person Attendance (https://forms.gle/4XFToTEVPm8Nps2H7)  Click Here to RSVP for Virtual Attendance (https://nyu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_37WUEMZxQhGK4d7R5ZHqWA)Featured Author: Moniro Ravanipour Moniro Ravanipour, a writer and human rights activist, came to the United States at 54 at the invitation of Brown University, then went to Nevada on a BMI fellowship. She founded the Gypsies literary group in 1994 and sees writing as a ritual in the face of political disaster. The publication of "Gray Friday" in France and her first royalties convinced her to make a living from writing. Her books were published after the Iran-Iraq war but were soon banned; in 2015 she republished them on Amazon. Her stories have been translated into many languages. She has written five novels, thirteen short story collections, two poetry collections, and three memoirs. Her latest novel, The Day of Religious Portraits, was recently published. Faculty Translator: Prof. Yass Alizadeh Yass Alizadeh teaches Persian Language and Literature at NYU. In addition to writing on second-language pedagogy, she does research on cultural layerings of ethical themes and ambiguously coded language in Iranian folk and fairy tales, hidden links between propaganda and fiction, and the critical role of metaphors in rewritten stories from Iran. Born and raised in Iran, she finished her master's degree at Tehran University before continuing her studies at the University of Toronto and the University of Connecticut. Teaching Persian for Yass is more than a linguistic commitment, and raising awareness about the collective suffering of Iranians is an essential component of her day-to-day teaching. Guest Speaker: Sepideh Moussavi Sepideh Moussavi has spent more than two decades working at the intersection of language, culture, and meaning. Her work across Farsi, English, and French has included literary and academic projects, legal and institutional settings, editing, and cultural interpretation. She has also contributed to the development of the Farsi translation and interpreting profession by helping establish the Farsi-English language pair toward an ATA certification program, training and mentoring future interpreters, and supporting professional education and advocacy. Throughout her career, she has believed that both readers and authors deserve work that reflects care, thoughtfulness, and respect for the original. Graduate Translator: Ashley Richardson Ashley Richardson has been smitten with languages since before she could even read. With nearly 20 years of Persian-to-English translation experience between the U.S. Navy and federal government, she's honed her craft in a multitude of settings. Ashley holds an AA in Persian and a BA in Applied Linguistics, and is currently in the MSTI program at NYU. Her interests include STEM translation, nonfiction translation, and Iranian history. When not wrestling with words, Ashley can be found wrestling with yarn projects, reading, or enjoying quality time with her husband and young son—who, unfortunately, doesn't share his parents' love of fesenjan. Undergraduate Translator: Nikki Han Nikki Han is a fourth-year undergraduate student from San Francisco, California. On the pre-health track, Nikki is majoring in Psychology, with a double minor in Chemistry and Persian Language. Growing up speaking Farsi with her family, studying Persian has felt like having a piece of home with her at NYU. When she isn't studying, you can find her with headphones on, listening to music and exploring Manhattan. Co-Moderator: Prof. Jennifer Zoble Jennifer Zoble translates Balkan and Italian literature into English. Her translations of short fiction include Mars and Sweetlust by Asja Bakić and Call Me Esteban by Lejla Kalamujić. She served as co-editor of InTranslation at The Brooklyn Rail from its inception to its conclusion (2007-2021), and was the founding co-producer of Play for Voices, an international audio drama podcast, during its five years of production (2016-2021). She is Clinical Professor of Liberal Studies at NYU, where she teaches writing and translation. Co-Moderator: Prof. Annelise Finegan Annelise Finegan, PhD, is Clinical Associate Professor of Translation and directs the Master's in Translation and Interpreting program at the NYU School of Professional Studies. A scholar at the intersection of translation and performance and a dedicated advocate for education across the language professions, she translates from Chinese across genres, including novels, short fiction, plays, and poetry by prominent contemporary and historical authors.