Lynn Palermo is a French-to-English translator of literary and academic texts. She has translated writers including Fabienne Kanor (Humus, Old World), Salma El Moumni, Cyrille Fleischman, Sylvie Weil. Her academic translations have focused mostly on Romanian Surrealism and on the oeuvre of Fabienne Kanor. Her translation of Humus (Fabienne Kanor) was shortlisted for 2021 National Translation Award. In addition, she is the recipient of an NEA Translation Grant, and Albertine Translation Grant, and a French Voices Award; and has been chosen for the summer 2025 Sunlit Residency (Ithaca, NY).
She and a colleague are currently also working on translation of a French true crime series (published by 10-18) centered on crimes committed in the United States.
She holds a PhD from Penn State University in French Studies, with a background in interdisciplinary studies involving literature, art history, history, cultural history/politics, colonialism, World's Fairs, the decorative arts, architecture - mostly in the 19th - 20th centuries.
She is professor emerita at Susquehanna University, where she taught translation to undergraduates through courses and workshops. Currently, she is developing translation workshops for language students at the high school level.
From 2018-2013, she was a volunteer translator for United Nations affiliated organizations.