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As the newly-appointed director of operations at the Community Health Interpreting Testing and Training Service (CHITTS) at James Madison University, April Herring Hicks \u201819<\/strong> oversees 85 medical interpreters who speak 13 different languages. Last year, they provided over 25,000 hours of interpreting services in medical settings, social services, public schools, and other businesses around Rockingham and Augusta County \u2013 helping vulnerable populations access important services. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of need in the community,\u201d Hicks says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The program is growing, too \u2013 Hicks hired 10 new interpreters at the end of the year to keep up with the demand. Hicks was promoted to the directorship in October. She attributes this achievement in part to what she learned in the Accelerated Degree Program at Eastern Mennonite University<\/a> (EMU).<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\nREAD MORE: Letitia Bates ’16 (below) owns a thriving life coaching business.<\/a><\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n