Global Languages Leadership Meeting
Converse, Network and Achieve
The Center for Urban Language Teaching and Research (CULTR) is appreciative of all the attendees and speakers for the 10th Annual Global Language Leadership Meeting! CULTR thanks Dr. Nicolle Parsons-Pollard, Provost & Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs of Georgia State University, for welcoming our guests. We are grateful to Trevor Gillies, Director–European Desk of YER USA, for sharing his journey and inspiring us in language, culture and global business!
Interested in joining us for next year’s event? Sign up for CULTR’s monthly newsletter below to stay up-to-date on event developments. If you have attended, please fill out our post-event survey. We thank you for your input!
Overview of GLLM 2025
Trevor Gillies │ Keynote Speaker
Director – European Desk, YER USA
Dr. Nicolle Parsons-Pollard │ Opening Remarks
Provost & Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, Office of the Provost, Georgia State University
Dr. Hakyoon Lee │ Welcoming Comments and Introduction of Keynote Speaker
Director, Center for Urban Language Teaching and Research
Associate Professor and Korean Program Coordinator, World Languages & Cultures, Georgia State University
10th Annual Event Schedule (2025)
10:30–11:15 a.m. / Registration and Networking
11:15–11:45 a.m. / Welcoming Comments and Meeting Objective
11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. / Lunch
12:30–1:30 p.m. / Keynote Address
1:30–2 p.m. / Conversation and Next Steps
2 p.m. / Closing Remarks
Additional Information
Your participation matters to the future of your workforce and industry. While employers seek to strengthen existing relationships and move into emerging markets, the U.S. workforce continues to experience the “global skills gap” with its worldwide competitors. This disparity stems from the United States lacking skillsets such as language proficiency or cultural competency emphasized across competing workforces in other countries. Through an understanding of emerging trends related to these high demand skills, participating organizations can help lower the unemployment rate, reduce unfilled jobs, and provide future employees with the training they need in a competitive marketplace.
Furthermore, the Global Languages Leadership Meeting offers an opportunity to directly interact and grow with the community. This comprehensive community of peers will capitalize on diverse talents, experiences, and networks to achieve more together than we could separately. By participating in the Global Languages Leadership Meeting, your organization has the opportunity to join CULTR in the effort to encourage an understanding of different cultures, the study of languages, and an appreciation for diversity across our communities.
*Professional titles at the time of the event
Aiyana Mathews │ GLLM 2023 Keynote Speaker
Founder and President, Gardner-Mathews Global Management
Ivan Orkin │ GLLM 2022 Keynote Speaker
Chef and Owner, Ivan Ramen
Dr. Angela Jackson │ GLLM 2021 Keynote Speaker
Managing Partner, New Profit
Tim Mahoney │ GLLM 2019 Keynote Speaker
Chief Marketing Officer, Global Chevrolet and Global GM Marketing Operations Leader, General Motors
“Storytelling: Why it Matters in Marketing, in Education and in Life”
Seema Jain │ GLLM 2018 Keynote Speaker
Director, Multicultural Affairs at Marriott International
“A Culturally Competent Workforce Is Good For Your Bottom Line”
Dr. Richard Brecht │ GLLM 2017 Keynote Speaker
Co-director for the American Councils Research Center at the American Councils for International Education
“Language Supply & Demand: Building Bridges Between Educators and Employers”
Dr. Dan Davidson │ GLLM 2016 Keynote Speaker
President of the American Councils for International Education
“Language Proficiency, Intercultural Development and “Contextual Intelligence”
Dr. Bill Rivers │ GLLM 2015 Keynote Speaker
Executive Director of the JNCL-NCLIS
“America’s Languages: The Language Enterprise in 2015”