2025 PSMLA Executive Council Committees

2025 PSMLA Executive Council Committees

As you see below, the Executive Council of the Pennsylvania State Modern Language Association has many committees.  We are always looking for more people to assist.  If you feel you are able to volunteer your services in any of the following areas, please contact us by sending an email to a committee chair or click below.

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Awards

Charge: To coordinate the nomination and selection process with the Conference Committees, Merit Awards, Cemanahuac Scholarship, Mead Fellowship, and Outstanding Senior Awards, purchase appropriate awards for the annual PSMLA Teacher of the Year Awards (K-12 and Higher Ed)

  • Chair:  Olivia Grugan & Sarah Thatcher
  • Consultant:  Natalie Puhala
  • Members:   Katy Geare, Karyn Senita, Lucía Osa-Melero, Jen Campbell

Advocacy

Charge: To develop advocacy for the study of foreign languages in Pennsylvania, including being alert to current and pending legislation and informing PSMLA members about it; sharing information about foreign language advocacy through PSMLA publications; and organizing letter writing and testimony efforts when needed

  • Chair:  Cherie Garrett
  • Consultant: N/A
  • Members: Isabel Espino de Valdivia, Sarah Thatcher, Raquel Lodeiro, Shan Callaghan, Christina Huhn

Communications

Charge: To review policies for PSMLA publications and the sharing of information via the listserve and the website, and to suggest ideas for changes in the future.

  • Chair:  Katy Geare
  • Consultant: N/A
  • Members: Nate Campbell, Christina Huhn, Cherie Garrett, Susanne Nimmrichter, Kaytlyn Byers

Finance

Charge: To make recommendations and create policy regarding the reimbursement of expenses and address general questions on expenditures; to oversee the general budgetary and financial procedures of the organization; to arrange for all audits and reviews of treasury and financial operations.

  • Co-chairs:   Mike Bogdan, Traci DeGarmo
  • Consultant: Isabel Espino de Valdivia
  • Members:   Megan Flinchbaugh, Cherie Garrett, Natalie Puhala, Ashley Hertzog (as available/needed)

Membership

Charge: To develop strategies for increasing and retaining PSMLA membership from all possible constituents.  Includes: instituting a new lifetime membership—which will necessitate a by-laws change and change in dues structure for Institutional Members who renew for a second year, updating brochures and membership information on the PSMLA website and in the Forum.

  • Chair:  Kaytlyn Byers
  • Consultant: Natalie Puhala
  • Committee: Karyn Senita, Traci DeGarmo, Raquel Lodeiro, Shan Callaghan

Nominations & Elections

Charge: To solicit recommendations for candidates; prepare a nominations slate for scheduled elections (including short bio, blurb, and photo of each candidate); make recommendations to the Executive Council members (who must approve the slate); send out ballots; and notify candidates of results, duties, and upcoming meetings

Professional Development

Charge: To coordinate professional development opportunities for PSMLA members and support efforts of other world language organizations.

  • Chair:  Jen Campbell
  • Consultant: Megan Flinchbaugh
  • Members: Michael Bogdan, Megan Flinchbaugh, Natalie Puhala, Lucía Osa-Melero

Conferences

Charge: To plan the PSMLA Conference in a given year - 2025.

In addition to the various committees, EXCO members also do the following: