Dear ICIS Colleagues,

It’s election time! Yes, for the next U.S. president, but also for the Intercultural Communication Interest Section (ICIS) leadership! This is a very exciting time for the interest section as we search for the next chair-elect. This year, in addition to finding a new chair-elect, we will also be adding two members-at-large to the leadership team. You can learn more about these two roles by looking at the ICIS Governing Rules and TESOL website.

You can also check out the recording of our recent GoTo Meeting about being a part of membership and leadership here. This recording features current and past members of ICIS leadership talking about their experience as leaders. TESOL wants every member to have the opportunity to share his or her voice, contribute to the organization, and receive even more benefits from TESOL through active community participation. Putting your name on the ICIS ballot is one way to take a more active role in the interest section.

From my two years’ experience as first chair-elect and then chair, I have gained many benefits. First, I believe that my role in TESOL leadership was very advantageous when I applied for my current job. TESOL is a prominent, well-known organization in the field of English language teaching. Being able to say that you play an active role in the organization is very attractive to employers. I have also had the opportunity to network with many of the “celebrities” of the intercultural communication field in a way I would not have been able to otherwise. There have been many other benefits, including mentorship and a feeling of satisfaction that comes from being able to make things happen in the organization. I would recommend volunteering for this position to everyone who is a current member of ICIS!

Regards,

Maxi-Ann Campbell

ICIS Chair 2016–2017

Maxi-Ann Campbell is currently an EFL and writing instructor at Duke Kunshan University and ICIS's chair-elect. She has taught English at Tsinghua University and Shantou University and has served as a Global Academic Fellow at NYU Shanghai. Her research focuses on native-nonnative speaker interaction in university settings and the interplay of culture and language in Chinese English-medium universities on students’ development of linguistic and cultural competence.