As the end of one year comes to an end and another is set to begin, our Trustees wanted to send their holiday greetings to our many newsletter readers around the world. You will find their notes to you just below, alongside photo from the areas where they live.
MaryAnn Christison (Salt Lake City, Utah): I send you greetings from Salt Lake City. Although the weather here is quite cold, I assure you that my greetings to you are the warmest! Thank you for supporting TIRF in 2016. Your efforts have made many young researchers who received TIRF DDGs very happy and has allowed them to achieve their goals. We look forward to your continued support in 2017!
David Nunan (Hong Kong, China): As 2016 comes to an end, I would like to wish all TIRF supporters all the best for 2017.
Donna Christian (Arlington, Virginia): Thanks to everyone in the TIRF community for your support in 2016, and best wishes for a productive and rewarding new year to come. We look forward to staying in touch. Cheers to all!
Dick Tucker (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania): As 2016 draws to a close, I’d like to extend my sincere thanks to all of the generous donors who provide TIRF with the funding needed that enables us to continue our support for doctoral dissertation research as well as research examining a variety of critical questions. In my view, TIRF’s continued support for language-related research remains absolutely critical, given the scarcity of federal or foundation funding for such work. My continuing thanks to our supporters and best wishes for the coming year.
Joe Lo Bianco (Melbourne, Australia): Dear TIRF colleagues, friends, and followers – My reflections on 2016 are, predictably enough, of a very busy year with the usual level of high calibre (or caliber if you insist) commitment from our outstanding and small team at HQ, and a Board that I have really enjoyed getting to know this year. My TIRF 2016 highlight was attending the meeting in Baltimore in April, addressing TESOL and then AAAL as a TIRFer and interacting closely with my counterparts on those occasions. The visit was good fun, intellectually stimulating, and personally rewarding. I hope, trust, assume, and believe that 2017 will involve a similar level of activity and engagement from all and I thank and commend you all for that in advance. Cheers from down under!
Jodi Crandall (Washington, DC): Dear TIRF friends – As 2016 comes to a close, I want to thank you for your continued support for TIRF’s mission and initiatives. Best wishes for a happy new year.
Jun Liu (Stony Brook, New York): I would like to thank all those who have contributed to TIRF this year! Because of you, TIRF is making an impact in the field and has nurtured so many young researchers and rising stars in language education over the years. We will count on your continued support in the coming year and together we will make TIRF stronger!
Lorraine de Matos (São Paulo, Brazil): Wishing TIRF success in 2017 as we work towards expanding our goals in English language education. Feliz Ano Novo!
Michael Carrier (Manchester, England & Georgetown, Washington, DC): Our field of language education is an important contribution to global understanding and so let us hope more people learn more languages and learn to communicate across borders. Wishing all TIRF colleagues and friends everywhere happy holidays and a positive and optimistic start to the new year!
Michael (Mitch) Legutke (Frankfurt, Germany): Dear TIRF friends and supporters – As 2016 comes to an end I would like to thank you for your generous support and continued commitment to TIRF’s mission. Your contributions are of great value to us. With best wishes for the new year!
Spiros Papageorgiou (Princeton, New Jersey): Warm wishes for a peaceful, prosperous, and happy 2017 to all TIRF supporters!
Kathi Bailey (Monterey, California): It has been another productive year for TIRF. I am very grateful to our individual and corporate donors for enabling the Foundation to move forward, programmatically, in these challenging times. I wish everyone a peaceful and prosperous new year.
Ryan Damerow (Traverse City, Michigan): With a new year just around the corner, I would like to thank all TIRFers for their incredible support. 2016 was perhaps the most memorable year for our work since I have been serving the Foundation. We realized new partnerships and produced high levels of programmatic activity. It is exciting to witness this amazing growth of our work. I remain ever hopeful that 2017 will be an even more promising year for everyone involved in our mission. Best wishes for a warm holiday season and the year ahead!
