Christina Higgins, a professor in the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Department of Second Language Studies (SLS), will serve as co-editor of Applied Linguistics, a prestigious peer-reviewed academic journal published by Oxford University Press. She joins co-editor Anna Mauranen of the University of Helsinki, for a five-year term. Quarterly, Applied Linguistics publishes research on language that is relevant to real-world problems.
This position is a natural fit for Higgins, a sociolinguist interested in the politics of language, multilingual practices, globalization and identity. She utilizes discourse analytic, ethnographic and qualitative approaches to study facets of the global spread of English and multilingual identities.
Higgins’ appointment marks the third time an SLS professor has served in the position. Previous incumbents were Craig Chaudron and Gabriele Kasper. The department’s faculty has long been sought for their professional expertise.
SLS Chair Graham Crookes is grateful that Higgins assumed the co-editorship despite the post’s considerable workload.
“Christina’s actions in this role will undoubtedly further the department, college and university’s reputation in the field of applied linguistics,” Crookes said. “The unbridled enthusiasm she has for her work is matched by her competence, and I am proud to have her as a colleague.”
—By Karin Mackenzie
