Ina grew up in Romania and has since lived in Finland, Spain, the UK, and the United States, an international path that has shaped her love of languages and cultures. She holds master’s degrees in Conference Interpreting and English-Spanish Translation, a bachelor’s degree in English and Finnish Language and Literature, and a certification in Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language. Before joining ACDS, she taught Spanish at Aspen School District and Durango Montessori School, working with students from preschool through the IB Diploma Programme. Earlier in her career, she worked internationally as a conference interpreter and translator, taught translation and interpreting in the UK, and ran her own language-services business. Her work as an interpreter connected her with people from around the world, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Rigoberta Menchú. She and her family moved to Aspen in 2024, drawn by the mountains and skiing, and she joined ACDS in 2026 as a Lower School Spanish teacher.
Which ACDS core value is most meaningful to you, and why?
Perseverance. I have learned that the most rewarding things rarely come easily. Whether you are learning a new language or climbing a mountain, progress takes patience, resilience, and a willingness to keep going when things get difficult. Making mistakes, trying again, and learning from the process are all part of growth.
What energizes you?
Music always energizes me. I love listening to all kinds of music and dancing whenever I get the chance, but flamenco has a special pull for me. The moment I hear the rhythm, my hands start clapping, my feet start tapping. It’s almost impossible for me to sit still.
A personal accomplishment you’re proud of?
Climbing some of Europe’s most beautiful mountains, including Mont Blanc, the Matterhorn, and Mount Elbrus. Mountaineering has taught me a great deal about perseverance, preparation, humility, and knowing when to keep pushing and when to turn around.
If you could swap lives with anyone for a day, who would it be? Why?
Leonardo da Vinci. I would love to experience, even for one day, the mind of someone who was endlessly curious about the world and could move so naturally between art, science, engineering, and invention. What fascinates me the most is the way he connected art and science rather than seeing them as separate worlds—drawing helped him understand anatomy, observation helped him paint, and curiosity seemed to drive everything he did. I’d love to see what he noticed in everyday life that the rest of us might completely miss.
If you could choose a superpower, what would it be?
To be able to speak every language in the world. After spending most of my life learning and working with languages, I still find it fascinating how much closer you can get to people when you communicate with them in their own language. Jokes are never quite as funny when translated, and poems somehow touch you more deeply when you can read them in the language they were written in.