The JALT Focus column has kindly invited me to introduce myself and talk about my JALT journey up to accepting this new position as JALT’s SIG Representative Liason (SRL). First, let me take a moment to speak about Grant Osterman, who is stepping down from the role of SRL this month after serving for four and a half years. I would like to express my immense appreciation and gratitude for all of Grant’s work in this role. I have big shoes to fill, but he has been a wonderful support to SIG leadership. I hope to continue the good work he has been doing. I have enjoyed working with him as a colleague and mentor.
In terms of my background, I am currently Senior Coordinator of Teacher Professional Development in the English Language Institute at Kanda University of International Studies. I have been teaching in Japan since 2004, first as an assistant language teacher in Shizuoka and then at the tertiary level since 2009. I received a master’s degree in TESOL from the Tokyo campus of Teachers College (TC), Columbia University. In fact, it was at TC where I first encountered the JALT organization. My course professor was Kip Cates, the Global Issues in Language Education (GILE) SIG leader at the time, and he offered students the opportunity to present their project ideas in the SIG’s annual forum. This led me to join JALT and the GILE SIG as well as present in the 2005 GILE Forum at the November International Conference.
From that time, I began regularly attending conferences, and I eventually became the GILE program chair and began organizing the forums that I had always enjoyed. In 2011, I took over editing the SIG News column, one of the predecessors to this column. Over the four years that I held this position, I began to develop a love of SIGs as a key component of the JALT community. In 2020, I became the GILE coordinator, a role which I have served in for the last four years. In fact, I am now leaving this position to become SRL. Although GILE remains near and dear to my heart, I have also maintained my membership and strong connections in several other SIGs over the years, such as CT, GALE, TD, THT, and CUE to name just a few.
In addition to my own SIG membership, I have been an active supporter of the PanSIG Conference and a member of its planning committee for the better part of the last decade. My favorite thing about JALT is its SIGs and, in particular, I love this specific event because it showcases the passion SIG members have for their areas of expertise. I enjoy seeing how they choose to express their group identities and leave every PanSIG energized by all the ideas I have acquired. I therefore intend to continue to support the PanSIG conference and promote its growth as an international event.
Overall, there is wonderful variety in the types of events, publications, support, and camaraderie SIGs provide to their members. My hope as SRL is that I will be able to maintain this while ensuring this vibrancy develops even further. Another goal of mine is to foster even greater collaboration between SIGs and also between SIGs and chapters, whether it be co-sponsoring events or producing jointly published work. Deepening links between groups like this will help ensure the relevance of the organization long into the future while reducing the burdens of event planning and management on individual SIGs.
In many ways, my current university position reflects my JALT involvement and growth. Though I teach Japanese students, my primary role is supporting the professional growth and development of our lecturers. I encourage them to present, conduct research, engage in reflective practice, and network with other educators. Where did I learn these skills? Within JALT naturally. I am committed to giving back to the organization, and the field, as much as it has given me. Our way forward is, and has always been, together, so I will do all I can to make this become a reality. I look forward to serving the SIGs, their leaders and members, and the larger JALT community in my new role. I encourage all of you in JALT to become more active and engaged because I would like every member to have an experience like mine.
