Krista Chambless, an associate professor in the department of foreign languages and literatures at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, received the Wilga Rivers Award for Leadership in World Language Education by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages.
The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages is a national organization dedicated to the improvement and expansion of teaching and learning of all languages at all levels of instruction. The Wilga M. Rivers Award honors the memory of an internationally renowned scholar, author and one of the first women appointed a full professor at Harvard University. The award is given based on active participation in the activities of various world language organizations such as work on committees, significant publications, conference presentations, and other organizational activities.
Dr. Chambless, who teaches Spanish and French at the university, has promoted world languages education for the past 25 years. She focused most of her efforts on classroom reform practices, educating colleagues, and influencing the world languages education profession to employ proficiency-based methodologies.
“I am humbled and excited to win this award,” Dr. Chambless said. “I am honored to be selected among so many amazing and accomplished people I know and recognized nationally. I have worked hard to modernize my classes to benefit current and future world language students. Recognition and appreciation of my efforts has inspired me to keep working to advocate for languages.”
Dr. Chambless holds a bachelor’s degree in secondary education, a master’s degree in romance languages, and a Ph.D. in foreign language education, all from the University of Alabama.