Letter from the Chair
Alemayehu G. Anberbir, EELPA, Las Vegas, USA
Dear Members and Colleagues,
I hope you have successfully kicked off the fall semester and transitioned into another exciting academic year. As Chair of the Program Administration Interest Section (PAIS), it is an honor for me to deliver this message with updates from PAIS including past, ongoing, and future activities.
PAIS’s steering committee has been working relentlessly on varies activities to keep our community connected and engaged. For example, we have continued to host monthly informal chats that create a platform for conversation among program administrators and other TESOL professionals. Since the TESOL 2025 Convention, PAIS has successfully hosted four informal chats. These chats have been well received by participants as they offered a space to share professional insights and engaging conversations.
In this fall 2025 issue of the newsletter, we publish two articles focusing on language program administrators’ professional journeys and leadership experiences of two seasoned educators in the TESOL field. PAIS is grateful to Yoseph Feleke and Elsie Paredes for taking their time to share their valuable insights. Meanwhile, PAIS would like to invite program administrators and TESOL professionals to contribute your articles to our Spring 2026 issue. If you are interested, please contact us at [email protected]
Looking ahead, PAIS is excited to share our activities for the upcoming TESOL 2025 Virtual Convention and TESOL 2026 Convention, in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
TESOL 2025 Virtual Convention Activities
- PAIS Academic Session Panel:“Program Administrators at the Forefront of AI Integration”.
- PAIS Open Meeting
- PAIS Networking Session
TESOL 2026 Convention Activities
- PAIS-ITAIS Intersection Session Panel, “Designing and Administering Programs Supporting ITA Practitioners”
- HEIS-ICIS-PAIS Intersection Session Panel, “Rethinking Success: Implications of Global Power Shifts for ELT”
- PAIS Academic Session Panel, “Program Administrators at the Forefront of AI Integration”
- PAIS Open Meeting
- PAIS Networking Session
As we grow, PAIS seeks new members and volunteers who can bring fresh ideas, energy, and perspectives to the community. Whether you are interested in participating in or leading an informal chat, contributing to newsletter articles, or helping with convention planning, we welcome your involvement. Let us connect and continue to build a strong, supportive, and innovative PAIS community.
With warm regards,
Alemayehu G. Anberbir
PAIS Chair, 2025-2026
Alemayehu G. Anberbir is an English language professional with more than ten years of teaching experience across K–12 and higher education. He holds a BA in English Education and an MS in Rural Development and Natural Resources Management. His work emphasizes integrating grammar with communicative teaching and supporting teacher professional development. Alemayehu has presented at local and international ELT conferences. Currently, he is Chair of TESOL’s Program Administration Interest Section (PAIS). He also serves on the board of Ethiopian English Language Professionals’ Association (EELPA) as the Social Media Manager; showcasing his passion for ELT through leadership, communications, and professional engagement.