Jennifer Moxley's path to pursuing a master's degree in translation at Kent State University was anything but conventional. Living in France during the pandemic, Moxley was determined to fulfill her lifelong ambition of becoming a professional translator.
"I really wanted to further my education, and I always had the desire to be a translator," Moxley explained to Kent State Today. "When I looked online, I think Kent State University was one of the top choices. I looked at how flexible the program was, and I think that's what really made me choose the university."
Moxley appreciated the program's online format, which allowed her to balance her full-time job teaching English in France with her graduate studies. She was pleasantly surprised by the sense of community that developed among her classmates, who hailed from countries worldwide.
"It was very interesting to hear about their experiences, to learn how they studied translation in their countries before this program," Moxley said. "So for me it was a very nice cultural learning experience."
The program's focus on intercultural communication particularly impacted Moxley, helping her better navigate the cultural differences she encountered while living abroad.
"Sometimes the French, they are a little particular," Moxley said with a laugh. "And so instead of getting very frustrated or impatient, I would say no, it's a cultural difference. I shouldn't be too hard. I shouldn't be too quick to judge."
Moxley's experience at Kent State has been transformative, shaping both her personal and professional growth. As she put it, "Kent State was one of the top-ranked programs, and it was the flexibility of the program that really made me choose the university."
Fulfilling her lifelong dream, she graduated from Kent State in 2022 with a master's degree in translation with a concentration in French.
Now, Moxley's dream job is to become a full-time translator, working on projects involving books, TV shows and movies. In the meantime, she is putting the skills she developed at Kent State to use in her current role as an educational manager at an English language training center.
"I feel more confident giving some responses when students have questions about English," Moxley said. "Because we don't use the same structures, we don't use the same types of vocabulary."
Moxley's advice to current and future Kent State students aspiring to work internationally is simple: don't be afraid to ask questions and seek guidance.
"The professors have a lot of knowledge, they have a lot of experience, and I feel like I was able to learn more just because I asked questions, just because I asked for some advice or some tips," Moxley said.
With her global perspective and determination, Jennifer Moxley is well on her way to achieving her translation goals, one step at a time. And at the heart of her journey has been Kent State University, a global institution that has equipped her with the skills and mindset to succeed.