SLASO Mission
Established in the early 2000s, alongside the launch of the SLA PhD Program, the Second Language Acquisition Student Organization (SLASO) exists to represent all SLA PhD students and foster a strong, inclusive community. Our mission is to provide a welcoming space where student perspectives are shared and communicated to the program, and their academic and professional growth is sustained. We are committed to promoting the dissemination and development of SLA research, cultivating interest in language study and education, and creating collaborative opportunities among students. SLASO seeks to strengthen SLA student–faculty relationships, encourage peer mentoring, and sustain connections both within the SLA program and with the wider UW-Madison campus and Madison community. Guided by a commitment to academic excellence, professional development, and representing diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds, we strive to support and improve the educational trajectories of students in SLA and related fields.
Click on the SLASO logo to the right to get more information about our organization!
You can (officially) join us through the Wisconsin Involvement Network (WIN)!
2025-26 SLASO Officers
- President: Martiniano Etchart
- Delegate to the Steering Committee: Rima Hammo
- Corresponding Secretary: Aruzhan Dauletkhan
- Recording Secretary: Lilian Abunga
- Event Chair: Mathilde Garnier
- Symposium Co-Chairs: Nevin Durmaz, Rima Hammo and Gengqi (Greyson) Xiao
SLA (Graduate) Student Symposium
Each year since 2008 students from The University of Wisconsin-Madison SLA Program have joined with SLA students from The University of Iowa and The University of Minnesota to host the SLA Graduate Student Symposium. Student organizers invite keynote speakers, review presentation proposals, secure funding, and arrange all aspects of the two-day event.
The SLA (Graduate) Student Symposium is a wonderful chance for students to meet other scholars, young and more experienced, gain practice presenting at a safe space for and by graduate students, and get feedback from peers. In 2025, the Symposium was hosted at the UW-Madison campus! It was the first edition of the event that was open to both undergraduate and graduate students. It gathered more than 60 attendees and included a total of 32 presenters, two invited speakers, and seven panelists. We invite you to explore the 2025 SLA Student Symposium official website to learn more about how the event looked like.