A Spirit of Service
Abstract
From 2005 to 2010 Xenia Woods served as a leader and mentor in my rural community of Humboldt County, CA, and has paved the way for many interpreters to gain the skills they need in the profession. Her contributions to the community have been long-lasting and have had a huge impact on me personally. Her long term commitment to reach out and assist newer interpreters in the profession is impressive. Xenia has a giving spirit and is generous with her time and energy. Her passion to support the students she teaches, the profession of interpreting, and the Deaf community is exemplary, as I have witnessed first-hand and as her record demonstrates. I was contemplating the question “What makes an effective leader?” on my way to a Salem coffee shop on July 23, 2014 to conduct an interview with my friend and mentor, Xenia Woods, to discuss this very topic. When I walked in I found her sitting at a corner table studying Japanese flashcards, taking advantage of the few spare moments she had in her day. I had not seen her in some time and was glad to have the opportunity to sit down with her in person and formally address the topic of leadership. Xenia is a seasoned teacher and professional interpreter and I was curious about her upbringing and exposure to the field of sign language interpreting.
Citation
Artis, Ali Ann (2017) “A Spirit of Service,” Master of Arts in Interpreting Studies (MAIS) Case Studies: Vol. 1 , Article 12.
Brandon Arthur
Forward-looking organizations committed to retelling the story of the interpreter.
