By Jareason Fabre

Prof. Jeannette Dials, chief of MMSU International Faculty and Student Mobility, was appointed the new President of the Aramid International Consortium during the Spring 2025 International Conference, which took place from February 7 to 8 at Crowne Plaza Fort Myers Gulf Coast, Florida, USA.

Previously serving as Aramid’s Vice President and Director for Conference Planning, the new president expressed gratitude to the Aramid Board for entrusting her with a three-year term. "The strength of our organization relies on its people. We will do our best to uphold Aramid’s vision and aspirations," she said. 

Prof. Dials also recognized the Aramid Conference, which MMSU co-founded as one of its three founding members, for being awarded National Champion in the CHED ICONS IZN Awards 2024.

During the conference, renowned Kenyan writer and scholar Prof. Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o opened the event as the first keynote speaker, highlighting the impact of colonialism and the role of language and literature in decolonizing education. On the second day, Prof. Patrick Loch Otieno Lumumba, a distinguished Kenyan lawyer, activist, and Director of the Kenya School of Law, delivered his address, emphasizing ethical leadership, justice, and governance in building a better society.

The MMSU delegation to the conference included Dr. Gina Sylvia Gaoat of CTE, who presented her research in person. Additionally, Prof. Janeth Luis, Prof. Julius Pumaras, Ms. Honey Lyn Gasler, and CTE students Franchezka Maxene Bitancor and Jherome Calamayan presented their research via Zoom.

Other participants of the conference came from Aramid member institutions, including Florida Gulf Coast University (USA), Northern Arizona University (USA), the School District of Hendry County (USA), Alex Ekwueme University (Nigeria), Kenyatta University (Kenya), West Attica University (Greece), Kabale University (Uganda), Benguet State University (Philippines), South Carolina State University (USA), Federal University of Western Pará (Brazil), and Universitas Persatuan Guru Republik Indonesia Semarang (Indonesia).

As part of the conference activities, Prof. Dials and Dr. Gaoat engaged in a lecturing program, class observations, and benchmarking at Florida Gulf Coast University.

In her closing remarks, former MMSU OIC-President Dr. Prima Fe R. Franco emphasized the importance of global academic collaboration and research exchange. She expressed gratitude to the Aramid Consortium for the continuous partnership.

The Aramid International Consortium is a network of professors, graduate and undergraduate students, and K-12 education practitioners from universities and other educational institutions worldwide. In 2026, MMSU will host the consortium’s next international conference.