Arlene Kowal was a valued FCCEAS NCTA consultant for twenty years. She was particularly passionate about geography education and using literature in the classroom. In addition to facilitating NCTA seminars, workshops, and other programs in Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island, she was part of the team which developed the 2022 Buchanan Prize-winning Walking the Tōkaidō curriculum. 

In her memory, NCTA teachers have recorded short presentations on teaching East Asia.