The National Federation of Modern Language Teachers Associations (NFMLTA) Announces Next President-Elect
Marlborough, MA — The National Federation of Modern Language Teachers Associations (NFMLTA) is pleased to announce the election of Rachel Mamiya Hernandez as its 2026 president-elect.
Currently a member of the NFMLTA Board of Directors as the representative of the Southwest Council on Language Teaching (SWCOLT), Hernandez will join 2026 president Sheri Spaine Long and 2026 immediate past president Anne Nerenz on the NFMLTA Executive Committee.
“I’m truly honored to continue working with wonderful colleagues to support the NFMLTA and its vital mission to advance language teaching, research, and practice,” she said.
Hernandez is a Language Technology Specialist at the Center for Language & Technology at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, where she supports faculty in integrating technology into teaching and learning. She specializes in project-based language learning, instructional design, and the thoughtful integration of generative AI in language and humanities education. She has previously served as president of the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (AATSP) in 2022 and SWCOLT in 2024.
“We are delighted to welcome Rachel to the NFMLTA’s leadership team as president-elect,” said Long. “She brings her notable experience with language and technology to the federation, as well as having worked with a wide array of language researchers, teachers and learners.”
Hernandez’s election completed a busy, productive, transitional year for the NFMLTA and its journal, the Modern Language Journal (MLJ).
“The NFMLTA enjoyed many successes this year, celebrating Marta Antón’s contributions as editor of the MLJ, welcoming Phil Hiver and Ali Al-Hoorie as new co-editors-in-chief, bringing in John Tessitore as executive director, selecting Rachel Mamiya Hernandez as 2026 president-elect, growing our grants programs, and building a stronger public presence,” said Nerenz. “Thanks to everyone’s contributions, the NFMLTA remains a financially-strong, professionally-relevant, and vibrant association.”
Transitioning off the Board in the new year will be the 2025 immediate past president Leonard Muaka, chair of the Department of World Languages & Cultures at Howard University.
“The NFMLTA is forever grateful to Leonard for his careful and measured stewardship of the organization through a three-year period of change and growth,” said Tessitore.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF MODERN LANGUAGE TEACHERS ASSOCIATIONS (NFMLTA) The NFMLTA is a 501c3 organization that promotes the rich diversity of languages by supporting scholars and educators at every level, and by connecting research to teaching practice.
ABOUT THE MODERN LANGUAGE JOURNAL (MLJ) The MLJ is an international journal dedicated to promoting scholarly exchange among researchers and teachers of all modern foreign languages as well as English as a second language, linking research findings to best instructional practices across a variety of settings and educational levels.
Contact Information
John Tessitore
Executive Director
The National Federation of Modern Language
Teacher Associations (NFMLTA)
nfmlta.director @ gmail.com