PRESS RELEASE
CONTACT INFORMATION
Howie Berman, MA, CAE
Interim Executive Director
The National Federation of Modern Language Teachers Associations (NFMLTA)
Email: [email protected]
RELEASE DATE: APRIL 15, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The National Federation of Modern Language Teachers Associations (NFMLTA) Announces Next Executive Director
Columbia, MD —The National Federation of Modern Language Teachers Associations (NFMLTA) is pleased to announce the appointment of John Tessitore as its next executive director, effective April 21, 2025. He succeeds Howie Berman, who has served as interim executive director since August 1, 2024.
John Tessitore is the principal at First Idea Communications, LLC, specializing in strategic communications for and about higher education, arts & civic institutions, and public policy organizations. For twelve years, he served in a variety of capacities at the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, including Program Director, and was the project leader and chief writer on several national commissions, including the Commission on the Humanities and Social Sciences and the Commission on Language Learning. He has been a newspaper reporter, a magazine writer, and a biographer, and served as Chair of the America’s Languages Working Group. From 2004 to 2008 he was a lecturer in History and Literature at Harvard University. He has a BA in History and Literature from Harvard University and a PhD in American Studies from Boston University.
“I am delighted to be joining NFMLTA and grateful for the opportunity to support its partner organizations, and The Modern Language Journal, to advance research and teaching in world languages and cultures,” said Tessitore. “We often use phrases like ‘it’s more important than ever’ to describe our work, but I think that may be true in this case. Education and scholarship in languages, linguistics, literature, and cultures present a way forward for all of us. I am very eager to get started.”
“On behalf of the NFMLTA Board and the Executive Director Search Committee, we are delighted to welcome John Tessitore to the NFMLTA in this new role,” said Dr. Anne Nerenz, NFMLTA President. “John’s experience and unique set of talents will be a tremendous asset to an organization that seeks to increase its impact within the language education and research community. We’re excited about the future of the NFMLTA under his leadership.”
ABOUT THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF MODERN LANGUAGE TEACHERS ASSOCIATIONS (NFMLTA)
The NFMLTA is a 501c3 organization dedicated to the expansion and promotion of research and the improvement of the teaching and learning of modern world languages, literatures, linguistics, and cultures by a variety of activities, including but not limited to grants, awards, and the publication of The Modern Language Journal (MLJ).
ABOUT THE MODERN LANGUAGE JOURNAL
The Modern Language Journal (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. Our focus is further defined by the emphasis on linking research findings to best instructional practices across a variety of settings and educational levels. Article contributions are expected to meet the highest standards of scholarly excellence, advance theoretical knowledge, and explore clearly-stated and well-supported implications for teaching and learning.