Nicola Work, OWLA President-Elect
Associate Professor of French, University of Dayton 

As I mentioned in the last edition of The Cardinal, one of my goals is to encourage more higher education language faculty to get involved with OWLA. Bringing higher ed voices into the association is an important step toward bridging the gap between K–12 and university teaching, helping us create a more cohesive and connected vision for language education in Ohio. From my own experience, I can tell you there are countless benefits to being involved—and they’re too good not to share.

As university faculty, we often focus on what’s happening on our own campuses—teaching, advising, research, committees. More often than not, higher education faculty in languages have very few, if any, colleagues in their respective languages in their departments. College-level language teaching can seem lonely and isolated. But there’s a whole world of language teaching happening around us, and getting involved with OWLA is one of the best ways to connect with it.

Joining OWLA is a great opportunity to network with colleagues at all levels of the organization. You’ll meet incredible K–12 language teachers, learn what’s happening in classrooms across the state, and share what’s happening in higher education. These connections are not only personally rewarding, but they also create bridges for students as they transition from high school to college-level language study.

Professional development is another huge benefit. Conferences, workshops, and webinars offer fresh ideas that you can apply to your own teaching. Many great ideas that I’ve learned from K-12 language teachers have made their way into my own college-level language classes. And, in times where travel money is highly restricted in higher education, local conferences give you a platform to share your expertise with others without having to travel very far. Submitting conference proposals for presentations and workshops, attending conferences or webinars, writing articles for The Cardinal, or reading the issues are great ways to stay up-to-date with current teaching ideas and news from around the state. 

There are also important advocacy opportunities. OWLA works closely with state leaders and policymakers to promote language education and to ensure  the voices of language educators are heard. By joining, you can ensure that higher education perspectives are part of these conversations. It’s also a chance to stay up to date on policies, curriculum shifts, and initiatives that impact all levels of language learning, from kindergarten to university. A lot of local advocacy efforts, new policies, and curriculum updates were unknown to me before I joined OWLA. 

If you like to hone your leadership skills, OWLA would love to have you serve on the board or in a leadership role within the organization to make an impact in the field of language teaching. What a great way to be a leader, make professional connections, and impact language teachers all around the state. 

Finally, being part of OWLA builds a sense of community and belonging. It’s energizing to be surrounded by people who share the same passion for languages, cultures, global connections, and teaching. You’ll leave events and conversations inspired, supported, and full of new ideas, knowing  that you are not alone in your efforts. Shout out to all my fantastic WL friends on the board and in the organization – I wouldn’t have met you if I hadn’t joined OWLA! 

So if you haven’t yet joined OWLA, I encourage you to give it a try. It’s not just about professional development—it’s about being part of a vibrant network that supports all of us in making language learning more accessible, engaging, and meaningful. I would love to connect with you, see you at one of our conferences, PD events, or on the board of OWLA!