Professor Anastassia Zabrodskaja Elected President of IALSP and Receives International Mentorship Award
Baltic Film, Media and Arts School of Tallinn University proudly congratulates Professor Anastassia Zabrodskaja on receiving international recognition at the 19th International Conference on Language and Social Psychology (ICLASP19–Tucson), held at The University of Arizona from May 19–22, 2026.
During the conference, Professor Anastassia Zabrodskaja delivered a keynote address titled “Language, Identity, and Social Psychology in a Polarized World: Bridging Divides through Interdisciplinary Research.” The presentation highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing contemporary social and cultural challenges through research on language, identity, and communication.
A major milestone of the conference was the official presidential transition within the International Association of Language and Social Psychology. On May 21, 2026, Professor Anastassia Zabrodskaja officially assumed the role of President of IALSP for the 2026–2028 term, succeeding Professor Marko Dragojevic (University of Kentucky), who became Immediate Past President of the association.
IALSP is an internationally respected scholarly organization dedicated to advancing interdisciplinary research on language, social psychology, intercultural communication, and identity studies. Professor Anastassia Zabrodskaja’s appointment reflects both international recognition of her scholarly contributions and the university’s growing visibility within the global academic community.
In addition to this leadership appointment, Professor Anastassia Zabrodskaja received the prestigious Howie Giles Mentorship Award on May 22, 2026. Established in 2018 by IALSP, the award honors exceptional scholarly mentorship. The award is named after renowned scholar Howie Giles, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Communication at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and the inaugural recipient of the distinction.
The award recognizes scholars who have made a lasting impact through mentoring, guidance, and support of students and early-career researchers. Over the course of her academic career since 2006, Professor Anastassia Zabrodskaja has supervised 112 MA theses and five PhD dissertations successfully defended, contributing significantly to the development of future scholars and professionals.
Professor Anastassia Zabrodskaja expressed deep gratitude to former students and colleagues for their support and nomination for the award, emphasizing that mentoring and academic collaboration remain among the most meaningful aspects of university life. “I am deeply grateful for the trust of the IALSP community and excited to continue supporting interdisciplinary research in collaboration with colleagues from around the world,” said Professor Zabrodskaja.
Baltic Film, Media and Arts School of Tallinn University warmly congratulates Professor Anastassia Zabrodskaja on these exceptional achievements and wishes her continued success in leading IALSP and advancing international research collaboration.
