Rachel Bailey, 24, has been appointed as the National Communications Officer for the Association for Teachers of English in Korea.

Bailey has been teaching in Busan since July and is a graduate of the University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communications. In her new role, she will be responsible for the organization’s contacts with the media as well as with expats.

Via e-mail, she said that she joined the organization because she feels it serves as a liaison between the foreign and Korean communities, offers resources to foreign teachers and builds a sense of community among expats.
She replaces Rob Ouwehand, who had held the position since early 2010. Ouwehand will enter graduate school in March and is no longer a teacher, making him ineligible for the office.

“I saw that, given my degree in journalism and my experience working in various kinds of media catering to a wide variety of audiences, I had something to contribute to a community of which I am a part,” she said.

Ouwehand was confident in Bailey’s qualifications for the positions and said he’ll remain an associate member of the organization.

“I’ve been in touch with Rachel about the job and what projects and messages are important for ATEK communications, and I’m very impressed with her attitude and her qualifications,” he said.

“With her training and experience in media, I think she’ll do a better job than I ever could in the position.”

(rjamesyork@heraldcorp.com)