This article was first published by Eduverse Newsletter Issue 9 (March 2024) by ProEd Education Solutions. Dr. Linh Phung's bio has been updated at the end of this article.
Opening:
Greetings and a warm welcome to our exclusive interview series, Ask the Experts. I'm thrilled to introduce our esteemed guest, Dr. Linh Phung, an accomplished leader in the field of education with a remarkable career trajectory. Dr. Linh Phung has served as the Director of the English Language and Pathways Programs at Chatham University, Pittsburgh, PA, and is currently the Founder of Eduling, as well as the Chair of the Affiliate Network Professional Council of TESOL International Association. Today, our focus will center around the critical theme of leadership in education. We'll delve into Dr. Phung's experiences, insights, and the innovative strides she has made in the realm of language education and leadership. Without further ado, let's embark on this enlightening conversation with Dr. Linh Phung!
Question 1: Dr. Linh Phung, can you share a bit about your journey in educational leadership, and what inspired you to take on leadership roles in the field?
Absolutely. “You become a leader not because of what you want but because of who you are,” shared Andy Curtis, a professor at Anaheim University and the 50th President of TESOL International Association, during one of our conversations. Throughout career, I have never aimed to to attain a leadership role or a specific title; rather, my focus has always been doing the work in front of me. Interestingly, my first full-time position in the U.S. after graduate school was a managerial position, which provided me with an opportunity to oversee an English language program for international students and supervise teachers, student workers, and other staff members for 12 years. Subsequently, a colleague of mine involved me in volunteering for Three Rivers TESOL (3RT), a teacher organization in Pennsylvania, and my active participation, enthusiasm, and creative problem solving skills propelled me to leadership roles on the board, culminating in serving as the president of 3RT. Since then, I have become more involved with TESOL International Association and have held a few leadership positions. The latest one is Chair of the Affiliate Network Professional Council, which allows me to work with leaders of 120 affiliated teacher organizations worldwide. What inspires me has always been the desire to be more engaged in the profession.
Question 2: Can you share with us some pivotal moments or experiences early in your career that shaped your approach to leadership in education?
To me, our life and work are like a river that keeps flowing with one moment blending with another. However, some pivotal moments include things that have been said to me or about me.
Do you teach Chinese? Do you teach English to Chinese people? You need to control your emotions. You come across too aggressive. Your communication style is indirect. She’s just an ESL teacher.
These are words of bewilderment, skepticism, criticism, and belittlement that have stuck with me during my career as a Vietnamese nonnative English speaking ESL teacher in the U.S. I suspect they have more to do with the assumptions and expectations based on my race and gender than how I really am. During my academic career in the U.S., I have always enjoyed the freedom to pursue my dreams in my studies, work, research, and community service instead of being caught up in what I once saw as the “insufferable” web of obligations, expectations, and interdependence in my home country. I used to think of the road ahead as having no barriers until my recent awareness of the relatively limited opportunities available for members of minority communities. Sitting on the margin of the academic life of a university, serving minority students in the U.S., and striving to advance as a minority without the social capital others enjoy have made me realize the once invisible barriers. These realizations have highlighted the responsibility of inclusive leaders to remove barriers and provide opportunities for all to rise.
Question 3: How would you describe your leadership philosophy, especially in the context of directing and supervising a dynamic team of educators?
Perhaps the most influential aspect of my leadership is that I work hard and work with passion. I often do the tasks together with my team or at least learn to understand the work they do. For example, in my role leading the development of the Eduling Speak app, we have been working diligently in the past two years and created an innovative app that we are very proud of. This achievement is possible because we believe in the direction of the product, enjoy our work, and inspire each other with creative ideas. My heart is in the work as Andrew Carnegie, one of the two founders of Carnegie Mellon University, once said.
Question 4: Do you believe that teachers and educators tend to have high levels of ego, making it challenging to direct and manage them? If so, how do you approach this difficulty, and what strategies do you employ, particularly during your tenure in the Director role at Chatham University?
I actually don’t notice this high level of ego among the teachers that I worked with at Chatham University. Perhaps this is because ESL is different from other academic disciplines in the U.S. The program that I ran was not part of an academic department at Chatham University. In addition, working with international students, we were all very focused on supporting students to ensure not only academic progress, but also social and cultural integration. However, it’s true that university faculty and staff tend to work independently because teaching and research are often very time-consuming and self-directed. Therefore, I think universities need to focus on creating an engaging and supportive environment to promote everyone’s well-being and prevent burnout and social disengagement. That might be a good strategy for the situation you raise.
Question 5: Moving on to your role as the Founder of Eduling, what inspired you to transition from a university setting to entrepreneurship, and how has this change impacted your perspective on educational leadership?
I started Eduling because I wanted to do more work. I wanted a place to experiment with new ideas and make a greater impact. Especially, as I have been leading a team to develop the Eduling Speak app for a few years, I see that the joy in creating something together has been the driving force in my team. A small team in a startup can be in a better position to be innovative than small program as part of a bigger university, which has its own priorities and a certain level of inertia that is difficult to change. However, I also appreciate the role of universities in pursuing knowledge through cutting edge research, which drives wider innovation. Being in both spaces allows me to appreciate the work and leadership in and outside academia.
Question 6: As the Chair of the Affiliate Network Professional Council of TESOL International Association, you're involved in a global leadership role. How do you approach leading a team with members from diverse cultural backgrounds to ensure a strong network of affiliates?
It has been my pleasure to serve on the Affiliate Network Professional Council of TESOL International Association for more than three years. I’m currently the chair of the council working with other 8 members and supporting leaders of about 120 Affiliates worldwide. Because of my background of having worked with international students and colleagues, I find myself at home working with colleagues from different countries and backgrounds. We are eager to learn about TESOL in various contexts through webinars, networking events, and articles written for the Affiliate News. I think the key to be a volunteer leader is this eagerness to learn, an open-minded, “ready to be amazed” attitude, and a level of commitment and responsibility to get things done together. Since we are all volunteers, the biggest challenge is to engage all members for projects that they find meaningful. While I think, I have been successful in spearheading initiatives and delivering results, I realize that it’s equally important to create a more cohesive team that feels connected to each other so that everyone is equally invested in the work of the Council.
Question 7: Currently juggling roles in entrepreneurship, full-time employment, and leadership at TESOL, how do you manage the balance between all of those commitments?
You’re correct that it is challenging to balance those commitments. However, with my result-oriented disposition, I have been able to hit certain milestones in the Eduling Speak app, an innovative, first-of-its-kind app to connect learners to talk in pairs while performing tasks together. With Eduling Speak, I find so much joy in its creative process that it is not difficult to dedicate time to it. I have shared with others that the way I manage my time is to work with some level of obsession. With TESOL, the Affiliate Network Professional Council has offered many opportunities and programs for TESOL Affiliates to connect. Currently, I am planning five presentations, two workshops for TESOL Affiliates, and a networking event at the TESOL Convention in Tampa, Florida this March. However, with my new role as a senior research analyst for a global education company, more than ever, I am thinking of ways to streamline my commitments and be more strategic in the use of my time.
Question 8: What do you believe are the most important qualities a leader should possess to navigate the future of education?
I think whether one is a leader or not, the most important quality is the ability to continuously learn and engage with students, employees, and colleagues. Without learning and this engagement, we will be out of touch with the needs of those we lead and serve.
Closing: What are your final thoughts?
I often recall the wise words of a colleague: "It's not about the title, but the work that you do that makes people relate to you and recognize you." My approach to leadership has consistently centered around my actions. Whether through initiating projects or volunteering, I naturally take on leadership roles with added responsibilities and tasks. Yet, having a seat at the table and engaging in impactful work is a privilege I appreciate.
Updated Bio: Dr. Linh Phung is a dedicated international educator, innovator, and leader with a proven track record of directing successful educational programs and driving innovation in language learning. As the Founder and CEO Eduling, she leads the development of Eduling Speak, an app offering specialized English courses. She's also a published author and expert in language education with publications in high impact journals. She served as an English Language Specialist with the U.S. Department of State in 2023, worked at Shorelight as a senior research analyst, and is now Chief Learning Officer of Pangea Chat.
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