The Center for the Art of Translation, a San Francisco non-profit promoting international literature and translation through publishing, teaching, and public events, announces the appointment of Brent Sverdloff as its new Executive Director.

Brent joins the Center most recently from several years at Bay Area Theatre Sports (BATS), which presents improv theater performances and offers theater classes to the community. While at BATS, Brent built and strengthened relationships with the community, doubled the organization’s revenue, and attracted new audiences to improv.

Brent holds a master's degree in Romance Linguistics and Literature and has experience as a freelance translator and archivist of foreign language collections at The Getty Research Institute and Harvard University. After beginning his career in teaching, he went on to work in marketing for both the Boston Conservatory and the DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park, where he engaged with public schools through their outreach programs, bringing short-term exhibitions and guest artists into classrooms in diverse socio-economic neighborhoods.

"Brent's background and creative passions make him a perfect fit for the Center," says Olivia Sears, founder and president of the board of directors of the Center. "His experience in the fields of education, languages and literature, and nonprofit management make him uniquely qualified for this position and we are confident that his leadership will result in a broadening of the reach and impact of our programs."

In his new role, Brent will lead the staff, composed of experts in translation, education, and literature, and work with the Center board to implement the organization’s strategic plan, reach new audiences, and realize the mission of making world literature accessible to everyone. Says Brent, "The opportunities are boundless, from accentuating the advantages of multilingualism in the schools to making forays into new genres. The Center is primed for new partnerships."