Global Trustees

The leadership of the English Language Testing Society (ELTSociety) is made up of members from all walks of life — from teachers and directors, to research analysts and more.  Our Board of Trustees is here to support the community, ignite insightful conversation and are always committed to responsible governance in the fulfillment of the ELTSociety mission.

Abdulsamad Humaidan

President

Abdulsamad Humaidan, a 2021 recipient of TESOL Leadership Mentoring Program Award, is one of the founding members of ELTSociety, a member of the ELTSociety Board of Trustees since October 2021, and the Chair of the ELTSociety Annual Virtual Conference since 2022. Mr. Humaidan is a Lecturer at the Department of Linguistics, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, USA and he is finishing a PhD in Language, Literacies, and Culture/TESOL at Southern Illinois University Carbondale,USA where he also pursued an MA/TESOL as a recipient of a Fulbright Foreign [Global] Student Scholarship Program, funded by the U.S. Department of States. Mr. Humaidan’s research interests include language assessment and he has co-published a book chapter on ESL classroom assessment. His professional assessment experience includes working for the Educational Testing Services (ETS) as an iBT TOEFL Writing remote rater as well as test items reviewer for the STEM center at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, USA (spring 2022).

Christine Coombe

Immediate Past President

Christine Coombe has a Ph.D in Foreign/Second Language Education from The Ohio State University and is an Associate Professor of General Studies at the Higher Colleges of Technology in Dubai. Christine has co-authored/edited 60 volumes on assessment/testing, research, teacher effectiveness, leadership and task-based teaching and learning. Dr Coombe served as TESOL International Association President (2011-2012) and as a member of the Board of Directors (2005-2007; 2010-2013). Christine received the British Council’s International Assessment Award for 2013. Her most recent honors were being named to TESOL’s 50@50 which “recognizes professionals who have made significant contributions to the TESOL profession within the past 50 years.” In 2018 she received the Alatis Award for exemplary service to TESOL. She was named to the US Department of State’s 30@30 list which recognizes the top 30 English Language Specialists over the past 30 years. Most recently, Christine was elected to serve on the Board of Trustees of TIRF and is now Immediate Past President of the English Language Testing Society.

Daniel Lesho

Past President

Dr. Daniel Lesho is Chief Academic Officer at Pacific States University. Dan was also the Senior Director of International Pathway and English Programs at the University of California, Davis, Continuing and Professional Education – International. Previous to his position at UC Davis, Dan was the Executive Vice President at iTEP International, where he was responsible for the oversight of daily operations, new test development, and research. Prior to joining iTEP, Dan was the director of the Cal Poly English Language Institution (CPELI) on the campus of the California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona). During his eight years as CPELI director, Dan and his team secured the school’s initial accreditation with the Commission on English Language Program Accreditation and instituted Cal Poly Pomona’s visiting international student program.

Eric Moore

Executive Secretary

Eric Moore, originally from Charlevoix in Michigan’s far north, is the Director of Spoken English Language Programs at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Eric earned his master’s degree in TESOL and Applied Linguistics from the University of Leicester and a BA from Michigan State University. Moore spent over a decade teaching and consulting in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Moore is particularly interested in language pragmatics, assessment, and the promotion of language educator assessment literacy.

Katherine Shibata

Treasurer

With over 20 years of experience in management, higher education, English language assessment, and international student recruitment, Katie has held leadership roles such as Director of the English Language Department at Ribet Academy and Vice Principal at schools across California. Her 15-year journey in language assessment includes driving growth and innovation for IELTS and Pearson (PTE Academic), where she has led key research and development projects. Katie enjoys building partnerships that create real impact. She spearheaded PTE’s webinar series, bringing together educators and admissions professionals to share insights and best practices. She also oversees a unique incentive program that provides added benefits to PTE-accepting schools, including customized reports on enrollment trends, student demographics, and top sending countries—helping institutions make more informed decisions. Her work has strengthened relationships with universities across the US and elevated PTE’s presence in the international admissions landscape. She has years of experience and expertise in test score interpretation and validity research. She holds a master’s degree in Biliteracy, International Education, and Leadership, reflecting her passion for lifelong learning.

In-Woo Kim

Trustee

In-Woo Kim is Managing Director of the SPEP and S.P.A. Divisions within In-Times-In Co., Ltd in Seoul, Korea. These business divisions provide language training programs, corporate skills development, and speaking skills assessment services for business professionals employed by the top Korean conglomerates, corporations, institutions, and organizations. In-Woo oversees the effective management across the units within the divisions, including Operations, Sales, Research & Development and IT. He has also overseen the operations, business planning, and general administration of the junior English literacy program 100 Classics, SAT, TOEFL, SSAT, LSAT, GMAT, and GRE test preparation programs as a director at The Princeton Review Korea Co., Ltd.

Tetsuya Yasukochi

Trustee

Tetsuya Yasukochi has worked as an English teacher for 30 years at Toshin High School, which is one of the biggest online education networks in Japan. He is also the representative director at the Practical English Promotion Systems Foundation, which he established. Tetsuya worked as a government advisory panel member for English education reform. He has published over 100 books about learning English, some of which have been translated and published in other Asian countries. Tetsuya Yasukochi graduated from Sophia University in Tokyo and has worked as an English teacher for 30 years at Toshin High School, which is one of the biggest online education networks in Japan.

Rosario Giraldez

Trustee and Membership Committee Chair

Former Academic Director, Alianza Cultural Uruguay Estados Unidos
Rosario Giraldez joined the English Language Testing Society as a Board Trustee in 2024 and currently chairs both the Membership and Awards Committees. She previously served as Academic Director of the Binational Center in Uruguay, Alianza Cultural Uruguay–Estados Unidos, where she also coordinated teacher education programs, English programs in schools, and a network of regional centers.

Her professional interests include program administration, teacher education, materials development, and language assessment. She holds a TEFL degree from Alianza and has completed advanced coursework at Iowa State University, Indiana University, and Hawaii Pacific University.

An active member of TESOL International Association, Rosario has held leadership roles on the Steering Committees of the Awards Professional Council and the Program Administration Interest Section. She has also served as a Strand Coordinator and Proposal Reviewer for TESOL International Conventions. A frequent conference presenter, she has contributed to several TESOL publications and academic articles.

Kaveh Jalilzadeh

Trustee

Dr. Kaveh Jalilzadeh is working for the School of Foreign Languages and is a respected faculty member at Istanbul University Cerrahpaşa, School of Foreign Languages. He is well-known for his innovative research. He has made significant contributions to the field through publications in esteemed journals such as Language Testing in Asia, Smart Learning Environment, Asian Pacific Journal of Foreign Language Education, and CALL-EJ. Dr Kaveh Jalilzadeh specializes in the areas of language assessment, teachers’ emotions, and feedback literacy. Email: kaveh.j@iuc.edu.tr; ORCID ID: 0000-0003-3113-512X

Mohammed Kazemian

Trustee and 2025 Summer Symposium Chair

Mohammed Kazemian-Sanati, Ph.D. in ELT, has extensive experience teaching English at various proficiency levels, including high-stakes examinations and ESP/EAP courses, in both institutional and academic settings. Dr. Kazemian is currently an adjunct lecturer at Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran. He has published several accredited papers in language testing and assessment and intercultural studies. Moreover, Mohammed has presented papers at various national and international conferences. He also serves as an associate editor and a member of the Editorial Review Board for the MEXTESOL Journal, as well as the ERIC Liaison. He contributes as a reviewer for several SCOPUS- and JCR-ESCI indexed journals in applied linguistics, TEFL, and education.

Kyle Lachini

Trustee and Newsletter Editor

Kyle Lachini, an accomplished English teaching professional and graduate of York University in Toronto, Canada, is renowned for his extensive contributions to English language teaching and educational leadership. With a career spanning prestigious institutions worldwide, Kyle has excelled in roles ranging from academic module leader to department chair, showcasing his expertise in curriculum development and educational administration. His dedication to excellence is further underscored by his certifications in teaching and language assessment, earning recognition from esteemed institutions like the British Council and TESL Association of Ontario. Kyle’s breadth of expertise includes research methodology, test development, and e-learning, as evidenced by his numerous peer-reviewed publications and presentations at international conferences. Actively engaged in professional societies and editorial boards, Kyle’s commitment to advancing the field of English language education is unwavering. With a profound passion for teaching evident in his extensive experience across diverse educational levels and institutions, Kyle Lachini continues to inspire and shape the next generation of language educators through his enduring pursuit of academic excellence and innovative pedagogy.

Christina Wade

Trustee

Christina Wade is currently the Director of Academic Affairs at iTEP International. She previously worked for more than a decade as the Director of an Intensive English Program at a university. She has also taught in and developed programs for community-based ESL and specialized ESP programs. Christina is deeply committed to international education, believing that institutions, communities and nations are stronger when we build bridges through cross-cultural education. She is honored to serve on the board of ELTSociety and looks forward to supporting scholarship and strengthening partnerships among this professional community. 

Moroni Flake

CEO, English3

Moroni Flake is CEO of English3, headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona. English3’s mission is to increase access to higher education around the world through accurate, affordable, and convenient online English proficiency instruction and assessment. English3 began in 2006, emphasizing quality in ESL instruction for businesses, universities, secondary education, and non-profit organizations. Today, English3 focuses on provided online English tests for J-1 exchange visitors and international students. Prior to English3, Moroni worked as a consultant for EdTech companies throughout the United States.

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