The Department of Languages, Cultures & Applied Linguistics hosted a symposium on September 20 to honor Keiko Koda, professor emeritus of Japanese and second language acquisition. The event brought together scholars from around the world to celebrate Koda’s pioneering contributions to the field.

Anne Lambright, head of the Department of Languages, Cultures & Applied Linguistics, said, “Keiko Koda’s contributions to the field of second language acquisition are unparalleled. Her work has not only advanced our theoretical understanding but has also shaped practical approaches to language teaching.”

Koda has an impressive body of work that includes over a dozen books, special journal issues, and more than 100 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters. She specializes in second language acquisition, with her research profoundly advancing our understanding of second-language lexical processing and text comprehension. Koda retired from Carnegie Mellon University in the spring of 2024 after 29 years.

The full-day event, “Theoretical Development and Practical Applications: Celebrating Recent Advances in Second Language Reading,” featured presentations from Koda’s former students, some of whom attended with their own doctoral students, highlighting Koda’s lasting influence.

Notable alumni who delivered talks, included Megumi Hamada (DC 2005), Ball State University; Mamoru Hatakeyama (DC 2019), University of Victoria; Shingo Ichikawa (DC 2018), Nagoya Gakuin University; Sihui Ke (DC 2016), Hong Kong Polytechnic University; Liu Li (DC 2011), Ball State University; Xiaomeng Li (DC 2023), Case Western University; Yan Liu (DC 2013), Duke University; Chan Lü (DC 2009), University of Washington; Ryan Miller (DC 2013), Kent State University; Pooja Reddy Nakamura (DC 2011), American Institutes for Research; Rossina Soyan (DC 2024), Arizona State University; and Haomin Zhang (DC 2016), City University of Macau and East China Normal University.

In addition, current Ph.D. students Yumiko Adachi and Botagoz Tusmagambet of Carnegie Mellon University, along with Sitong Chen and Xintong Xu of Hong Kong Polytechnic University, also presented their research, underscoring the global reach of Koda’s mentorship.

Koda’s work emphasizes the critical role of first language literacy in shaping second language metalinguistic awareness and the complex interplay of literacy experiences across languages. Despite her extensive achievements, she remains humble, often shining the spotlight on her colleagues and students. 

Reflecting on the impact of Koda’s legacy, Chan Lü, one of Koda’s former students, remarked, “Professor Koda’s guidance has shaped my career in ways I could never have imagined. Her mentorship has inspired not just me, but countless others in the field.”

The symposium was a fitting tribute to Koda’s remarkable career and the enduring influence she has had on the academic community.