Dear ALTA community,

From Annie Fisher:

I write to let you know that last week I resigned from the ALTA Presidency and from the ALTA Board. I continue to value the incredible community that ALTA fosters and I still believe in ALTA’s mission of promoting literary translation and supporting literary translators. But after the Russian Federation started an unprovoked war against a sovereign, independent Ukraine, I found myself torn between my ongoing commitment to work with ALTA and a newly urgent need to do work related specifically to those affected by Putin’s war. I wasn’t able to do both. So I chose the latter.

       I am grateful to ALTA’s superb staff and to ALTA’s collegial, cohesive, and dedicated Board of Directors. It has been an honor and a pleasure to work with them. Most of all, I’m deeply thankful to Ellen Elias-Bursać who has agreed to step back in as President to complete my term through to the fall of 2023, at which point the current Vice President, Chenxin Jiang, will begin her term as President. ALTA is in the best of hands.

Sincerely yours,
Annie

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From Ellen Elias-Bursać:

My work with Annie Fisher over the last three years has shown her to be a person of passion and commitment. It is precisely her passion and commitment which have compelled her to resign from her role as president of ALTA so that she can serve translators and writers who are suffering from the tragedy of the war. While this is a loss for ALTA, it is one that, I believe, we can all relate to. The role we play in giving voice to those whose voices must be heard is especially crucial in a war. Chenxin Jiang has chosen to continue serving as ALTA’s Vice President, running the awards process until the fall of 2023. I am honored to support Annie, Chenxin and ALTA by serving as interim president. 

Warm regards,
Ellen