Youssef, Jaquette Named Heads of Literary Organizations

JULY 31, 2024 — This week, the Poetry Translation Centre announced that Arabic literary translator  and cultural worker Nariman Youssef will succeed Erica Hesketh as director of their educational center and publishing house, and Words Without Borders announced that Arabic literary translator and executive director of ALTA Elisabeth Jaquette has been named executive director of WWB.

In a release at the PTC website, Youssef is quoted as saying of her relationship with the PTC:

“One day in 2005, I turned up at a PTC workshop after picking up a flyer that said, ’No knowledge of Somali necessary’. I soon became a regular, and those workshops formed the early foundation of my toolkit as a practicing literary translator. Fast-forward to today, the PTC marks its 20th year as a dynamic presence in the worlds of poetry, translation and publishing. As its new director, I am honoured to be joining a team of talented individuals in upholding the PTC’s mission of committed creativity and shaping the next chapter in its evolving story.”

Youssef’s literary translations include Donia Kamal’s Cigarette No. 7 and Inaam Kachachi’s The American Granddaughter.

Arabic literary translator, poet, and ArabLit editor Nashwa Nasreldin also joined the PTC team as editor on July 22.

And in a release at WWB, Jaquette said of her new position heading up WWB:

“I have long been a great admirer of Words Without Borders: I have been a dedicated reader of the magazine from its beginning, and my very first paid work as a translator was published in its pages. As someone dedicated to serving our international community of readers, writers, translators, educators, and students, I look forward to carrying out WWB’s mission of cultivating global awareness and expanding access to exceptional international writing. I am honored to join WWB’s incredible staff and board at this moment of great organizational strength and possibility.”

Jaquette’s literary translations include Basma Abdel Aziz’s The Queue, Rania Mamoun’s Thirteen Months of Sunrise, Dima Wannous’s The Frightened Ones, and Adania Shibli’s Minor Detail.

ALTA announced plans for continuity while its board commences a search for Jaquette’s successor.

Read more:

WWB: Elisabeth Jaquette Named Executive Director of Words Without Borders

ALTA: A Change in Leadership at ALTA

The Bookseller: Nariman Youssef succeeds Erica Hesketh as director of the Poetry Translation Centre