Hello ITA friends and colleagues across the world!

My name is Derina Samuel, and I currently teach in the ITA program at Cornell University. Some of you may remember me from when I first started working with ITAs at Syracuse University a few years back. I have so enjoyed working with all of my colleagues at the TESOL ITAIS over the years, and I’m excited to be your chair-elect as we navigate together the changes that are happening at TESOL. I am learning a lot about the administrative side of the organization through working with the current Chair, Stephen Looney, and Past Chair, Elizabeth Gillstrom. Though our interest section (IS) is smaller than some of the other ISs, we know how strong we are as a community, and that is what we are recognized for and will continue to be!

The proposal acceptance emails have been sent out and I look forward to your presentations at TESOL 2018 in Chicago! I am especially looking forward to our academic session, titled “Research-Based Assessment Practices for ITA Programs,” which will bring together researchers and practitioners to talk about selected best practices in ITA assessment and how to implement these practices in our programs. I hope you will join us for this wonderful panel presentation and open discussion on Thursday, 29 March 2018, at 9:30 am.

Please don’t hesitate to email Stephen or me if you have any suggestions or questions about the ITAIS.

Derina S. Samuel

ITAIS Chair-Elect