GSLEL would like to share with you some of the alumni updates sent to us from around the world. We hope you enjoy reading about your classmates and colleagues recent professional and personal endeavors.
All GSLEL alumni are encouraged to submit their personal stories, reflections and updates for display on-line, on the alumni board near the dean's office and in the Discourse & Repartée newsletter. You can do this by sending an email to gslel@miis.edu.
At the end of March, MacKenzie (Stewart) Hizon (MATESOL 06) moved back to her home state of Washington to start a new job at Green River College. Her new position as Director of International Outreach includes marketing international programs, recruiting international students in Asia and Latin America, developing internship opportunities for their language programs and building technology resources. Her husband will be able to continue working with his current company by telecommuting from Washington, and they hope to begin looking in May for their first home to purchase. Congratulations on the return home and the great new job!
The annual update from Jeff Mattison (MATESOL 05) was engaging. In January, he was skiing the slopes of the Sierra Nevadas with siblings, in-laws, and friends from college and camp. In April, he was celebrating Cambodian New Year with his Adult School students in Long Beach. In June, he accompanied his charter school students to a remote part of Catalina Island for a field trip that he calls, "half respite, half rumpus!" By August, he was returning to Monterey Bay where he is now teaching ESL and coaching boys’ soccer at La Paz Middle School in Salinas.
A Colonial Heights (Virginia) school eases into the laptop era with the help of Kristina Rich (MATFL-French 06). She used her own digital camera to videotape her ESL students while they made presentations about their countries. Apparently, some of the students are still silent in their other classes, so their teachers were impressed to see the students actually talking when they watched the videos. The Colonial Heights Technology person, Buddy Palatiere, gave the Colonial Heights ESL Department (that's Kristina!) credit for using technology in an article on the first page of the Metro Section of the Richmond Times Dispatch in January. Kudos to Kristina for a job well done!
Marilyn Ponder (MATESOL 07) is back in Irapuato, Mexico working for Tec de Monterrey. She is working mostly with high schoolers; she teaches only one college-level class.
Currently, Jill Neuendorf (MATFL-Russian 01) is working on her PhD in SLA in Russian at Bryn Mawr College. She reports that her introduction to SPSS, a statistical computer research program, in her Educational Research Methods class at the Institute has helped her combine all of the concepts and terms she is studying in her doctoral statistics classes.
Tracie MacKenzie (MATESOL 92) has become a lecturer in both the undergraduate and post-graduate programs at IULM University in Milan, Italy. She formerly served as English Language Coordinator for the Foreign Language Modules in the Faculty of Public Relations and Communications at IULM University, Milan. She has taught English at Bocconi Universty in Milan, the Politecnico of Milan, Mills College, and the University of California, Berkeley.
It is nice to see that our amazing network at Monterey Institute pays off! After completing her practicum teaching with alumna Marit ter Mate-Martinsen (MATESOL 01), ESL Professor at Santa Barbara City College, during the summer of 2007, recent graduate Jaala Thibault (MATESOL 07) has been hired on at SBCC as an Adjunct Professor in the ESL department. This semester she is teaching writing. In addition to her new job at SBCC, Jaala has joined another MIIS alumna, Belinda Braunstein (MATESOL 93), ESL Instructor at UC Santa Barbara Extension and President-elect for CATESOL 2008/2009, as an instructor in the ESL program at UCSB Extension and as a member of the Los Padres chapter of CATESOL.
William Benjamin Cogswell (MATESOL 07) and Jenny He (MATESOL candidate) were married in May of 2007 at El Estero Park in Monterey. On September 16, 2007, Sunrise Alessia Cogswell was born, 8 lb. 1.4 oz. Ben and his family currently reside in Seaside and he teaches 6th grade at Martin Luther King, Jr. Academy in the Alisal Bilingual School District in Salinas. Congratulations on a new family!
As part of her English Language Fellowship (ELF) with the U.S. Department of State, Cristyn Elder (MATESOL 00) helped her Guatemalan counterparts organize the second annual 2007 Regional Teacher's Conference in Quetzaltenango (Xela), Guatemala. The theme of the conference was "English for Communication: Building Bridges for Success".
Congratulations to Mindy Pasternak (MATESOL 03), who had a baby this year, a lovely son named Jacob. In addition, she published a reading textbook series called “Well Read: Skills and Strategies for Reading” at Oxford University Press. The idea for the series was conceived by Mindy and a colleague at University of California in Riverside. Mindy co-authored Books 3 and 4, and alumna Kate (Little) Dobiecka (MATESOL 02) co-authored Book 2.
Tom Delaney (MATESOL 98) and Maiko Hata (MATESOL 97) had a very busy year in 2007. They bought a house in Eugene, Oregon and Maiko started a new business, helping students get accepted to schools in the U.S. and helping ESL programs recruit Japanese students (www.japanlanguagesolutions.com/E.htm). They report that their son, Kyan, now a year and half old, is keeping them even busier as he runs around and climbs up everything that he's not supposed to. Tom has been enjoying working at University of Oregon as he keeps himself busy with work on his PhD, work on the house, and keeping Kyan from diving into the toilet. Maiko has been working freelance as a translator and lesson plan writer and on the new company while taking care of Kyan and Biscuit, their dog.
Edo Forsythe (MATFL-Russian 06) recently visited Monterey for a conference for command military language managers, hosted by the Defense Language Institute (DLI). He recently received a promotion to Senior Chief Petty Officer (Navy E-8 - the second highest Enlisted rank) and is currently directing the Military Cryptology Continuing Education program for the Navy, located in Maryland.
Dawn (Solevad) Ilai (MATFL-French 99) works in Papua New Guinea at the University of Goroka in the Language and Literature Department. She has been teaching at this university for about three years, since 2005. She teaches first and second year students as well as primary school and some secondary school teachers who do an in-service program to obtain a Bachelor of Education. She has taught courses such as Introduction to English Grammar, Intrdouction to Literature, Academic Writing, Creative Writing, Practical English Writing, and Performative Literature. She is currently working on a course guide for Creative Writing. Dawn was married last December, and lives with her husband Bafinuc Ilai on the campus of University of Goroka in Goroka, PNG and are expecting their first child in January 2008. Congratulations!
Tarana Patel (MATESOL/CALL 01) has a new position as the Academic and CALL Director of the University of California at Riverside (UCR) Intensive English Program. She is in charge of supervising and observing 30 IEP teachers and also all the curricula and everyday academic management issues.
Kristin Hiller (MATESOL 02) has been working as the director of a University of California at Riverside (UCR) Intensive English Program overseas program in Beijing for nearly four years. After this last year as director, she intends to return to the U.S. in the fall of 2008 to pursue a doctorate degree. At the 2008 TESOL Convention in New York, she will be giving three presentations. In August 2007, Kristin tied the knot and is now married to Hu Jun. Congratulations on everything new in your life!
Sarah Young (MATESOL 02) is an adult ESL specialist at the Center for Applied Linguistics. Through CAL's Center for Adult English Language Acquisition and adult ESL assessments team, she provides professional development to adult ESL practitioners and users of BEST Plus and BEST Literacy assessments. She enjoys welcoming visiting MIIS alums to Washington, DC when they are in town and seeing alums when traveling around the country. Her recent article, "Effects of Instructional Hours and Intensity of Instruction on NRS Level Gain in Listening and Speaking," is available to download at www.cal.org.
Cicely Rude (MATESOL 04) has just recently published a book with Corwin Press, entitled How to Succeed as a Substitute Teacher: Everything You Need From Start to Finish. It is now available from most major booksellers including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Borders. Currently, she is a Visiting Professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, Benerd School of Education, University of the Pacific.
Mark Manasse (MATESOL 00) has recently been inaugurated as the newest English professor at Miramar College, San Diego. He also works as the Basic Skills Coordinator and teaches Basic Skills and ESL at the college. At San Diego State American Language Institute, he has been involved as the curriculum development coordinator and teacher mentor. At UCSD, he offers classes in How to Teach ESL Grammr, Speaking and Listening, and Reading and Writing. On the side, he also does some corporate training for PetCo and Global Laser Vision. At the last CATESOL conference in San Diego, he acted as the Volunteer Chair and Saturday Night Event Chair. Congratulations, Mark, on all your wonderful achievements!
Oksana Khodartsevich (MATESOL 04) is currently teaching Translation and Interpretation courses (Russian-English and Lithuanian-English) at LCC International University, Klaipeda, Lithuania, and is also working on translation projects for the school. She got married in March 2007, Congratulations!
Joel E. Bacha (MAIPS 02, MATESOL 04) is a project officer for UNESCO in Bangkok, Thailand. He promotes and implements education for sustainable development (ESD) in the Asia-Pacific region.
Rob Hirschel (MATESOL 05) is enjoying his job as a lecturer for the English Language Institute Department of International Communication at the Kanda University of International Studies.
After working at Kanda University of International Studies in Chiba, Japan, as an English instructor for two years, Roxanne Elliot (MA Translation French 04 & MATESOL 05) is now married and living in Parma, Italy, with her husband, and working as a translator of Italian and French into English. Congratulations!
After 10 years of living and teaching in Japan at Keio University's attached Jr./Sr. High School and at Yokohama National University, Jennifer Goldsborough Sakano (MATESOL 03) finally returned stateside in April of 2006 and is now residing outside of Princeton, New Jersey. She currently works at Educational Testing Service in Assessment Development/English Language and Learning. Her family is trying to keep up their Japanese. Her husband, Keishi, is an administrator and teacher at the Princeton Community Japanese Language School, a school her two sons attend as well.
After nearly 18 years of teaching on the Peninsula at MIIS, MPC, and CSUMB, Eve Connel (MATESOL 90) relocated to Portland, Oregon, where she is a writer and instructional designer for Kennedy Communications, a creative agency (see: www.messagesthatresonate.com). She still manages to travel to Monterey, most recently to teach a presentation skills workshop for the Fisher Graduate School's International Business Plan students.
Steven Hales (MATESOL 01) and Soyun Kim (MATFL 00) are looking forward to moving back to the Monterey area this fall after spending some time in Toronto. Soyun has been involved in langauge teacher training and Korean language teaching in Toronto. Steven has been working on his PhD in Curriculum Studies/Teacher Development and Comparative, International & Development Education at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE). He will be researching municipal public elementary school curricula in the northeast of Brazil in the spring and fall of 2008. Welcome back to Monterey!
Lisa Miller (MATESOL 94) has just been promoted to interim dean of fine arts, language arts, and social sciences at Hartnell College. She had been the director of their campus-learning resources and online-and-distance learning since October 2005. The article may be found at thecalifornian.com. Congratulations, Lisa!
After a challenging and fulfilling year as an English Language Fellow in Montevideo, Uruguay, Kate Galindo (MATESOL/LPA 06) has relocated to Denver, where she lives with her husband and two step-children. She was recently hired as the English Language Acquistion and Middle School Spanish Teacher at Highline Academy, a new K-8 public charter school in the southeast of Denver, Colorado. She is looking forward to reconnecting with GSLEL alumni at the 2009 TESOL Conference in Denver and can be reached at kgalindo@highlineacademy.org.
Nancy Mitchell (MATESOL 06) worked for Westchester Community College in New York during the Spring 07 Semester as an adjunct instructor. Nancy is getting ready to move to France and has some prospects to provide lessons and translation services to area businesses in her new location.
Tara Mills (MATESOL 97) has just received a promotion to Dean of General Education at DeVry University in Fremont, California. Congratulations! She is responsible for the general education curriculum at the university, which includes math, science, English, and social sciences courses. In addition, she oversees the Developmental Reading and Writing Program, which assists incoming students who do not place high enough for standard English.
Elana Lee Solon (MATESOL 06) currently works as a Content Editor at CTB/McGraw-Hill and will be getting married this July. Congratulations!
Patricia Szasz (MATESOL & LPA Cert 07) was hired to be the new Director of Monterey Institute's Intensive English Program after working and teaching in the program for over two years. The emphasis of Patricia's work in the Intensive English as a Second Language (ESL) and English for Academic and Professional Purposes (EAPP) programs is bringing quality instruction to students and helping them meet their English language goals. Additionally, she will help implement the Institute's strategic initiatives in the area of growing and developing EAPP programs both here and abroad.
Kelly L. Morisoli (MATESOL & LPA Cert 07) will start her Ph.D. studies in special education in Guanajuato, Mexico with the University of Arizona. In Guanajuato, she will be taking courses and teaching in the public school system. She will also be investigating in-service teacher development in various schools throughout the city. In July, Kelly will travel to Ecuador to hike the Andes and spend time with her brother.
Rebecca Present-Thomas (MATESOL & LPA Cert 07) has started a job at Harcourt Assessment (Ordinate) as a test developer in the South Bay area. Rebecca completed an internship with Harcourt as a student, and the company was eager to have her come back to work for them after graduating this spring.
Rebecca Owens (MATESOL & LPA Cert 07) just returned to her home state, South Carolina after driving across the US. She says, “By the time I reached Oklahoma I finally began to thaw out from the cool Monterey weather, and now I am baking in the sun in shorts and flip flops. Just like I like it.” This summer, Rebecca will be working with Concordia Language Village in China, where her supervisor will be Jennifer Osteen, a fellow alumna of the MATESOL program.
Nicole Waltermire (MATESOL 06) is currently working at CTB/McGraw-Hill in Monterey, California as an ESL content editor.
Carly Teresa Blanchard Reci (MATESOL & LPA Cert 07) is preparing for her ten-month English Language Fellow assignment in the Republic of Moldova, which she leaves for in September. Aside from this, Carly is getting married on July 22nd in San Francisco. Congratulations!
Irina Mikhailova (MATESOL 06) was hired to teach her native language, Russian, at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, CA. She began her position during her final semester of her studies at Monterey Institute.
Ben Cogswell (MATESOL 07) was recently married to Jenny He (MATESOL candidate). Congratulations! He is currently teaching in several short-term programs in the Custom Language Services as well as the Intensive English Program at Monterey Institute. In the fall, Ben plans to teach for the Alisal Bilingual Unified School District in Salinas, California.
