Mary Romney, assistant professor in the International Teaching Assistants Program (ITAP) at the Institute for Teaching and Learning, was the recipient of this year’s James Alatis Award from Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages Inc. (TESOL). The award was presented by past president Shelley Wong on March 25 at the organization’s annual convention in Boston.

TESOL is the world’s largest organization of its kind for teachers of English as a second or foreign language. The purpose of this award, which is granted once a year,  is to acknowledge outstanding and extended service by TESOL members at international, regional, and local levels.

The selection criteria include “evidence of a genuine and long-lasting vision of what TESOL is and can be; the ability to combine professional and administrative roles in TESOL organizations; and the ability and desire to represent and promote TESOL.” The award, named after James E. Alatis, was established in 1987 to honor Alatis for his 21 years of service as TESOL’s first executive director.

Romney has served the TESOL organization in many capacities over the past 15 years. She has been a member of the Board of Directors, was associate chair of the 2008 annual convention in New York City, chair of the International Black Professionals and Friends in TESOL Caucus; and member of many TESOL committees, in addition to being a frequent presenter at the annual convention over the past 20 years.