The TAA Board approved a new policy on how the association develops position statements relevant to textbook and/or academic authors with the goal of addressing critical issues that affect its members.
The policy states that “Position statements must be aligned with the association’s mission to support textbook and academic authors in the creation of top-quality educational and scholarly works that stimulate the love of learning and foster the pursuit of knowledge.”
Dr. Andrea Honigsfeld, a Professor of TESOL Teacher Education, and Dr. Audrey Cohan, Senior Dean for Research, Scholarship, and Graduate Studies, both of Molloy University, co-authored a new book, Collaboration for Multilingual Learners With Exceptionalities: We Share the Students, published by Corwin, a Sage company. The book includes models, strategies, and real-life stories to strengthen readers’ collaborative practices. The authors won the Most Promising New Textbook award from TAA in 2016 for their book, Serving English Language Learners. Congratulations, Andrea and Audrey!
The TAA Conference Committee invites proposals for its 2025 Textbook & Academic Authoring Conference, which will be held online June 6-7. Presenting at TAA’s 2025 Conference provides an opportunity to share your knowledge, experiences, and ideas with other textbook authors, academic authors, and industry professionals. The theme is “The Future is Now.” We welcome proposals from first-time and veteran presenters! The deadline for submitting a proposal is October 13, 2024.
TAA Board Secretary Brenda Urich, an intellectual property attorney with Archstone Law, was selected as one of 30 first-time boxers to participate in Haymakers for Hope’s 11th Annual Belles of the Brawl event on October 10 at the MGM Music Hall in Boston. Watch her promotional video.
“In the four months leading up to the fight I have been undertaking an intense training and fundraising journey which will prepare me to step in the ring in front of 1,500 people and literally fight to KO cancer!,” said Ulrich.
TAA Member Rev. Dr. Thomas Luke, Ph.D., a Professor of Transformational Theology Emeritus (2003-2023), published a peer-reviewed journal article in the Bulletin of Business and Economics (BBE) titled, Geography of the Bible: Exploring the Physical and Historical Context of the Old Testament Scriptures (13(2), 684-686). The article “provides a comprehensive exploration of the crucial role geography plays in understanding the narratives of the Bible.” He also published the second edition of his textbook, The Least of These, about missionaries restoring child victims of human sex trafficking in Cambodia, and was nominated for a 2025 Nobel Peace Prize in Literature for his third textbook, Transformational Theology, based on his Ph.D. dissertation. Congratulations, Thomas!
TAA’s DEI Committee (CDEI) Chair Laura Frost read a Land and Labor Acknowledgement at the opening session of its 2024 Textbook & Academic Authoring Conference in Nashville, TN on June 21.
“As a member of both TAA’s Board and CDEI, I believe that incorporating land and labor acknowledgments into our diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts is a critical step in recognizing the contributions and rights of marginalized groups,” said TAA DEI Committee Member Nicole Dillard. “Land acknowledgments honor the indigenous communities who have historically cared for the land, acknowledging their enduring connection and the injustices they have faced. This practice fosters cultural sensitivity and awareness among our members, promoting a more respectful and inclusive organizational culture. Similarly, labor acknowledgments are equally important as they recognize the diverse contributions of labor, particularly those from underrepresented groups.
