Allison deFreese

President

Amanda Wheeler-Kay

Vice President

Vacant

Treasurer

Allison deFreese has led literary translation workshops for the Oregon Society of Translators and Interpreters since 2017-2018 and served as OSTI's conference chair for the past 5 years. Because learning is a lifelong process and language access and equity are important, Allison has been coordinating Spanish language literacy courses for adult learners in Oregon since the 2004-2005 school year. Her recent poetry translations include Verónica González Arredondo's Green Fires of the Spirits (Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla's University Press, Libros BUAP, Mexico, 2022) and I Am Not That Body (Not a Pipe Publishing, 2024), Carolina Esses' Winter Season (Entre Ríos Books, 2023), Luciana Jazmín Coronado's Dinner at Las Heras  (C&R Press, 2024), and Karla Marrufo's The City Within You (Cathexis Press, 2024).

Friends and adversaries alike often describe me as a fierce advocate. Born and raised in Oregon, I learned my second language, Spanish, as an adult; I believe it is my civic duty to use my power and privilege to “make good trouble, necessary trouble” as the late Congressman and Civil Rights Leader John Lewis encouraged.

In addition to regularly teaching classes and workshops for interpreters and providers for 10+ years, my involvement with the local interpreting community has included serving a term on the Oregon Council on Health Care Interpreters Advisory Committee as Co-Chair of the Education Committee, and as a founding member of Oregon Interpreters in Action, the union for healthcare interpreters.

I first participated in OSTI as an attendee at annual conferences several years ago, was a conference presenter for the first time five years ago and have volunteered for OSTI-supported professional development activities, as well as "tabling" for OSTI at area events and conferences around Oregon and Washington. I am excited to be involved more formally and consistently as a board member in service of language access, equity and community.

We’re looking for a Treasurer to join our team!

OSTI makes language access a reality for non-English-speaking communities facing harassment or unlawful detention. Everyone deserves vital information and services in their own language—this is what we fight for every day.

Interested in supporting OSTI or learning more? Reach out at info@ostiweb.org.

Danna Garcia

Secretary

Piyawee Ruenjinda

Director

Danna Garcia is a certified court interpreter for the State of Oregon, a founding member of the Oregon Society of Translators and Interpreters (OSTI), and a former conference chair who served for three years. She has over two decades of experience in the legal field, beginning her career as a paralegal specializing in civil litigation, including medical malpractice and personal injury cases. Originally from San Juan, Puerto Rico, Danna has called Oregon home for the past 26 years. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business and Organizational Leadership from Corban University. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, rafting, kayaking, and exploring the Oregon Coast with her husband and their two adult children. A passionate cook and self-proclaimed foodie, she also delights in touring local wineries and discovering hidden culinary gems.

I am passionate about advancing language access equity, rooted in my own bilingual experience and professional work across healthcare, education, legal, business, immigration, and production settings. At Unite Oregon, I have led civic leadership programs empowering communities most impacted by injustice — including immigrants, refugees, people of color, rural communities, and those experiencing poverty — to engage in decision-making and influence policy. My involvement with OSTI has grown from participant to facilitator, and most recently, I led a multicultural event celebrating connection, love, and peace through multilingual readings. As Director, I will strengthen OSTI’s impact and ensure interpreters and translators are recognized as essential partners in building equitable, informed communities.