Leona Middleton Konkel
EDUCATION
MA in Japanese Literature·University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign · May 2007
-GPA 3.86; recipient of Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship for language study
-Coursework including: advanced Japanese language classes; seminars on: theory and practice of literary translation; Japanese religions; Occupation and post-war literature; contemporary social and political trends in Japan; women, gender, and sexuality
-Produced annotated translation of 20 pages of Wataya Risa’s novel Keritai senaka
BA in Japanese Language and Literature and Psychology ·WashingtonUniversity in St. Louis· May 2003
-Coursework including: two semesters fifth year Japanese; two semesters classical Japanese; advanced seminars on Japanese literature (I-novel in Japan; Modern Women’s Literature)
StanfordKyotoCenter for Japanese Studies·Kyoto, Japan·August 2001–April 2002
Now Kyoto Consortium for Japanese Studies under supervision of ColumbiaUniversity. An elite study abroad
center focusing on intensive undergraduate Japanese language training.
-Coursework included ten hours a week dedicated to language training, classes on Japanese literature and culture, and a class on women’s studies taught in Japanese, taken as a third-year language student
TRANSLATION WORK EXPERIENCE
Freelance Japanese-English Translator· May 2007 – present
- Includes literary and academic texts, instructional texts and manuals, websites, promotional materials, and news releases. Topics have included sports, finance, and the environment.
- Subtitles script for Unbeatable Banzuke TV show onG4 network
- Honda Environmental Report
- SRI Sports website
- Evolta promotional materials
- Logo usage guidelines
- Dunlop World Challenge press release
OTHER WORK EXPERIENCE
Office Support Associate· University of Illinois Counseling Center ·Sept. 2007 – present
-Manage spreadsheets and files for projects
-Update department website and RSS feed
Clerical Graduate Assistant· University of Illinois Intensive English Institute · Dec. 2004 – June 2006
-Handled admissions full-time during admission secretary’s leave
-Learned new software, applications, and procedures without formal training.Also began visa applications, tracked enrollment status, and updated financial spreadsheets
-Oriented international students to the community and to United States life
-Tracked and reconciled receipts for program expenses and invoices
Teaching Assistant ·University of Illinois, Dept. East Asian Languages and Cultures · Aug. 2005 – May 2006
-Japanese Civilization and Culture class. Duties included holding office hours and study sessions
Research Assistant·WashingtonUniversity Clinical Geropsychology Laboratory · Sept. 2003 – Sept. 2004
WashingtonUniversity Psychobiology of Health Laboratory · Aug. 2000 – July 2001; Aug. 2002 – July 2003
-Screened, recruited and scheduled participants for laboratory visits via telephone. Included lengthy questionnaires about mental and physical illness as well as family structure and dynamics
ACTIVITIES
Executive Committee Member·55th Japan-America Student Conference· Aug. 2002 – Aug. 2003
A month-long conference during which 40 Japanese students and 40 American students travel together and discuss
issues pertaining to the two nations. The oldest student-run cultural exchange program in the United States.
-Elected by 54th conference members to plan 55th conference schedule, topics, and events
-Co-moderated group discussions related to “Gender Issues in Contemporary Society” roundtable
“Social Inequalities” Roundtable Member·54th Japan-America Student Conference· July 2002 – Aug. 2002
-Compiled and presented summary of roundtable discussions in public forum
CERTIFICATIONS AND SOFTWARE
-Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) Level 2 (2002)
-Windows XP; Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Word; Adobe Acrobat