Service Awards Presented at 2026 Annual Business Meeting

At the conclusion of Korea TESOL's annual business meeting on Sunday, November 1, KOTESOL President Lindsay Herron recognized a variety of volunteers for their exceptional service to the organization between November 2025 and October 2026.

The following awards were announced:

Recognitions for Service

• Melvin Dixon, Diversity Committee Chair
• Michael Free, Gangwon Chapter President
• Bryan Hale, Immediate Past President
• Kristina Kauss, Gyeonggi Chapter President
• Dr. Meerbek Kudaibergenov, International Conference Committee Chair, Research SIG Facilitator
• Dr. Maria Lisak, Gwangju-Jeonnam Chapter President
• Dr. Kara Mac Donald, Korea TESOL Journal Editor-in-Chief
• Lisa MacIntyre-Park, Publicity Committee Chair, Jeonju-North Jeolla Chapter President
• Chris Miller, Seoul Chapter President, Reflective Practice SIG Facilitator
• Dr. Ian Moodie, Research Committee Chair
• Heidi Nam, Secretary, Christian Teachers SIG Facilitator
• Mike Peacock, 1st Vice-President
• John Phillips, Technologies Committee Chair
• Victor Reeser, International Outreach Committee Chair, Incheon Chapter President
• Dr. Eric Reynolds, Daejeon-Chungcheong Chapter President
• Dr. David E. Shaffer, Nominations & Elections Committee Chair, Publications Committee Chair, KOTESOL Proceedings Editor-in-Chief
• Gabriela Villafradez, 2nd Vice-President, Well-Being SIG Facilitator, ICC Co-chair, Busan-Gyeongsang-Daegu Chapter President
• Dr. Andrew White, The English Connection Editor-in-Chief, KOTESOL Happenings and News Editor-in-Chief
• Jocelyn Wright, Social Justice SIG Leadership Support
• J. Tom Wyatt, National Treasurer

"Stepping Up" Award¹

• Natalie Thibault

Julie Ha Memorial Award²

• Sean O'Connor

Meritorious Service Award

• Dr. Meerbek Kudaibergenov
• Heidi Nam
• Mike Peacock
• John Phillips
• Victor Reeser

Outstanding Service Award

• Dr. Kara Mac Donald
• Lisa Macintyre-Park
• Dr. Andrew White

President's Award

• Dr. David E. Shaffer
• Gabriela Villafradez

¹ The "Stepping Up" Award recognizes volunteers "stepping up" their service by taking on major national leadership roles for the first time.

² The Julie Ha Memorial Award honors a dedicated volunteer working behind the scenes in the spirit of Julie Ha, the conference communications coordinator and an officer in the Seoul Chapter.