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Suzanne Panferov Reese, director of the Critical Languages Program and chair of the Graduate Interdisciplinary Program in Second Language Acquisition & Teaching, has received the 2025 James E. Alatis Award for Service to TESOL.
Founded in 1966, TESOL International Association, or Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, is the largest professional organization for teachers of English as a second or foreign language. The service award was established in 1987 to honor James E. Alatis, TESOL’s first executive director, for his 21 years of devoted service.
Panferov Reese, also a faculty member in the Department of Public and Applied Humanities, previously served as president of the TESOL International Association Board of Directors from 2012 to 2013 and on the organization’s board from 2008 to 2014. The award was presented by current TESOL President Justin Shewell at the TESOL convention earlier this month in Long Beach, Calif.
“I am so grateful and honored to receive this award. Jim Alatis recognized and valued language education and multilingualism, values which I hold near and dear to my heart,” she said. “And now, after more than three decades of TESOL giving this award, amplifying these values and advocating for our students and our profession is more critical than ever.”
The award recognizes “genuine and long-lasting support of TESOL International Association through leadership and service, exemplary professionalism and representation of TESOL values” and a commitment to the mission of TESOL.
Panferov Reese’s research focuses on language program administration, professional development, teacher training, pedagogy and literacy acquisition. She has published on topics ranging from teachers transitioning into professional leadership roles, ESL program marketing and parental support for K-12 ELL students.
Currently, she serves on the Board of Trustees for the International Research Foundation for English Language Education (TIRF) as the Vice President. Since joining the University of Arizona in 2003, she has also been director of the Center for English as a Second Language, director of the National Center for Interpretation and Associate Vice President of Global Engagement.