Spring - Faculty


	Pambos Polycarpou, President Pambos, originally from Cyprus, was a Fulbright Exchange Scholar at Colorado College where he graduated with a B.A. in English Literature. He received an M.A. in Teaching English as a Second Language and a M.Ed. in English Education at the University of Arizona. He also completed course work for a Ph.D. in Philosophy of Education at Indiana University. He is one of the founders of Spring International Language Center. He enjoys skiing and travel.


	MEET OUR FACULTY
	COLORADO
	Spring International Language Center at Arapahoe Community College

	TEACHERS and STAFF
	All of the instructors hold advanced degrees or have completed special coursework in English as a second language, linguistics, or a related field. They have an average of 12 years experience teaching foreign students in the United States and abroad.

	Susan Blahut, Instructor Susan Blahut has a B.A. in Intercultural Communications and finished two years of graduate studies in Linguistics at the University of Kansas. After having lived and worked in Germany for 11 years, she has recently moved back to the U.S. Although she enjoyed her time in Europe and teaching primarily German students, she is excited to be back in the international classroom after so many years.
	Shirlaine Castellino, Instructor Shirlaine has B.A. and M.A. degrees from Silliman University in the Philippines. She holds an additional MATESL from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. In addition to four years of teaching at Silliman University, Shirlaine was Composition Coordinator and teaching associate at the Intensive English Institute, University of Illinois for three years. After moving to Colorado, Shirlaine worked as ESL Coordinator at the Asian Pacific Center. Shirlaine loves to sing, plays the guitar, and travels the world with her family.
	Patricia H. Cate, Instructor MA in English as a Second Language-Curriculum Development University of Colorado at Denver BA in Spanish and French, Vanderbilt University
	Nicole Esteve, Executive Assistant, DSO Niki has a B.A. degree in Sociology from Mesa State College. Before Spring she was an International Student Advisor and Registrar at another Intensive English program. Prior to that, she taught English in Madrid, Spain for four years. Her hobbies include photography, snowboarding and travel.
	Andy Pulford, Instructor Andy holds an M.A. degree in Intercutltural Studies and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from Wheaton College and a B.A. Degree in Biblical and Theological Studies from Williams Baptist College. In addition to teaching with World Relief DuPage, College of DuPage, Elgin Community College, American Cultural Exchange, and Arkansas State University, he served as the Program Director for the American Cultural Exchange Language Institute at Arkansas State University before joining the Spring International Language Center team. He is happily married and spends a great deal of time with his wife and two children.
	Rebecca Fisher, Assistant Director Rebecca holds an M.A. degree in English as a Second Language from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and a B.S. from the State University of New York at Oneonta. She has taught ESL and Research Writing in college, university, and at a major corporation. She was Coordinator of International Programs at the Univ. of Colorado at Denver where she coordinated programs in Beijing, Moscow and Kathmandu. In addition to travel to these countries, she has lived in Cuernavaca, Mexico, and India.
	Todd Gibson, Instructor Todd Gibson’s academic degrees include a Master’s degree in Asian Studies and a Ph.D. in Tibetan Studies and Religion, both from Indiana University . He has written a book based on his doctoral study. Todd lived many years in Asia, speaks Tibetan and Nepali, reads French, and is interested in several other languages. He has been teaching ESL for many years.
	Kathleen Howell, Instructor Kathleen Howell graduated from Colorado State University with a Master’s degree in English (TESOL) and has a B.A. in Elementary Education/Reading from Metropolitan State College of Denver. She has done additional class work at the University of Missouri, Columbia. Kathleen has extensive teaching experience in Colorado and also has worked in Indonesia and Mexico. She enjoys participating in community projects and is currently volunteering at Craig Hospital.
	Missy Hull, Housing Coordinator With an A.A. degree from Arapahoe Community College and a B.A. degree from Metropolitan State in Administration of Justice, Missy has worked in a counseling center for troubled adolescents and has volunteered with a program for developmentally disabled persons. Her hobbies include bike riding, hockey mom, movies and travel. She lived in Egypt for four years and has traveled in Europe and the Middle East. She has worked for Spring International since 1997.
	Gunilla Johnson, Instructor Gunilla has B.A. and M.A. degrees in languages and Education from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, where she was born and raised. She moved to the States in 1987, having lived in Colorado ever since. Languages have been a passion for Gunilla since a very young age, and she is fluent in Swedish and French in addition to English. German, Spanish and Latin are also languages that she has studied, and she understands Norwegian and Danish as well. Gunilla has taught French, Swedish, and German for several years, but has devoted most of her career to ESL, teaching at four other ESL schools in the Denver area. She has found ESL to be the most exciting subject to teach thanks to the wonderful ESL students, whom she shares many language learning and cross-cultural experiences. Learning about other cultures is another excitement for Gunilla, and she enjoys traveling and meeting people from all over the world.
	Elaine Kusulas, Instructor Elaine Kusulas has a B.S. and M.A. from the University of Colorado at Denver in addition to graduate classes in English as a Second Language. Elaine has taught for more than 30 years and was an elementary science teacher before joining Spring International. Recently she has taught vocabulary, listening and speaking, and reading at Spring International. She has also taught classes in Modern Greek for many years to all levels of students.
	Debby McBride, Office Assistant Debby has studied at the University of Idaho and Arapahoe Community College. She was the executive assistant at Spring International when it began on the Auraria campus. She currently hosts students for Spring at Arapahoe and is a Sales Director with Mary Kay Cosmetics, a direct sales company.
	Colleen McGovern, Instructor Colleen has many years of experience teaching and administering ESL programs both in the United States and abroad in Hungary, Tunisia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In the United States she has taught at the University of Denver, the Economics Institute, Boulder, and the International English Center at the University of Colorado. She has an MFA in Writing and Poetics from Naropa University in Boulder; an M.A. in International Studies from Ohio University, and a B.A. in English from the University of Northern Iowa.
	Jessie Miklich, Instructor
	Linda Miklich, Instructor Linda has been teaching at Spring International centers for several years. Before that she taught in Fairfax County, Virginia. She has taught all levels of English as a second language, including academic English, English for Executives, workplace English, and individualized tutorials. Teacher training is also part of her varied experience. Linda did graduate work at George Mason University and received her bachelor’s degree at Queens College, New York.
	Heidi Peterson, Instructor Heidi Peterson has a B.A. in Fine Art and a minor in French from Metropolitan State College. After her studies she decided that living and working in France would be the best way to learn to speak French. As it turned out she fell in love with other cultures, other languages and, decided that being a language teacher (a teacher of English) would be wonderful. Upon her return to the US she began her pursuit of an MA degree at the University of Colorado at Denver. This has led to many opportunities to teach and meet individuals from all over the world. She has taught at both Spring Schools in Denver, at CCD and, plenty of workplace English programs. Most recently she was the Director of Education at DPT Business School.
	Susan Polycarpou, Academic Coordinator Susan is a native of Colorado. She majored in German Literature at Colorado College and received her M.A. degree in teaching English as a second language at the University of Arizona. After studying and teaching in Germany, she lived in Cyprus, where she taught English to junior and senior high school students. For the last twenty years she has been teaching in intensive English programs in Colorado. Susan’s interests include reading, movies, hiking, and skiing. She is the co-author of a writing text and a reading text for beginning levels.
	Tom Rohrbach, Instructor and Computer Specialist Tom received his M.A. degree in Education from the University of New Hampshire in 1978 and a B.A. degree in English from Muhlenberg College in 1976. Tom’s overseas experience includes two years in Japan. He has been teaching with Spring International at both Colorado locations for many years.
	Sarah Richards, Instructor
	Connie Shoemaker, Director Emeritus Connie has a B.A. degree in English and Journalism and an M.A. in English from Colorado State University. She has 25 years of teaching experience in secondary, university and ESL programs, including four years at American University in Cairo, Egypt, in addition to newspaper writing experience in the U.S. and Egypt. Writing and travel are her hobbies. She is one of the founders of Spring International Language Center and the author of four ESL textbooks and a book of poetry.
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	Spring International Language Center at Auraria Campus, Denver

	Jeanne Hind, Director M.A., Linguistics/Teaching of English as a Foreign Language, Ball State University, 1977. M.A.T., English Education, Seton Hall University, 1973 B.A., English/Communication Arts, Lindenwood College, 1971 Coursework completed toward PhD, Educational Leadership and Innovation; Curriculum, Learning and Technology strand; foci areas: assessment, learning/teaching dynamic and organizational systems change; University of Colorado, Denver Overseas teaching: 5-1/2 years EFL in Japan
	Sara Holzberlein, Assistant Director M.A. in Speech Communication, Colorado State University, 1991. B.A. in Communication Arts, Regis University, 1987. Overseas teaching: 13 years university level EFL/Speech Communication/Monbusho teacher training in Japan. Karen Barker, Student Services Coordinator and Office Assistant B.A. Speech Communication, minor in Journalism, Metropolitan State College of Denver, 1989 TESL Certification, University of Colorado at Denver, 2002 Lindsey King, Student Services, Housing & Office Assistant M.A., in progress, Graduate School of International Studies, University of Denver B.A., French, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville B.A., International Studies, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville Study abroad: France Heather Torres, Administrative Assistant B.A., Spanish, University of Colorado, 2006 Study Abroad: Spain

	TEACHERS and STAFF
	All of the instructors hold advanced degrees or have completed special coursework in English as a second language, linguistics, or a related field. They have an average of 12 years experience teaching foreign students in the United States and abroad.

	Gavin Edwards, Teacher and Textbook Coordinator M.A., Second languages, University of Arkansas, Little Rock, 2005 B.A., English, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, 1999 Study Abroad: Norway Kelly Foster, Teacher M.A., TESL Northern Arizona University, 2005 B.A., Liberal Studies/Communication, Northern Arizona University, 2003 Overseas teaching: 6 summer camps & 6 months community language classes in Czech Republic. Barbara Kessler, Teacher M.A. coursework in Education/ESL TEFL Certificate, RSA, CELTA certified, 1988 B.S., Human Services, Skidmore College R.N., A.A.S Queens College, City University of New York Peace Corps Volunteer in Micronesia (1968-1970) Lived a in Hong Kong for 6 years (1984-1990) where she studied Cantonese Extensive travel throughout Asia and Tanzania Overseas teaching: 6 years in Hong Kong Katherine Kouris, Teacher and Conversation Coordinator M.A., Art History, University of Denver, 1988 B.A., Art History/French Literature, University of Denver, 1980 Study abroad: Paris/Bordeaux, France; Florence/Cortona, Italy Living abroad: Switzerland Overseas teaching: 5-1/2 years in Italy. Juli Lamb, Teacher M.A., Linguistics/TESOL, University of Colorado, Boulder, 2007 M.B.A., University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, 1986 B.A., Sociology, University of Virginia, 1981 Cara Martinez, Part-Time Teacher B.A., Psychology, California State University, San Bernardino Certified Bilingual Spanish Speaker, Los Angeles County Study Abroad: Mexico Mavis Morua, Teacher M.A., IPTE (Initial Professional Teacher Education Program) in progress, UCDHSC, in progress B.A., Multicultural Studies, Antioch College Extensive travel in Southeast Asia, Northern Africa and Europe Overseas teaching: Portugal Judy Okamoto, Teacher and Social Activities Coordinator M.A., Education, University of Colorado, Denver, 1982 B.A., Social Science, minor in ESL, 1969, Elem. Education, Calif. St. University of L.A., 1970 Overseas teaching: 2 years in Japan. Tom Rohrbach, Teacher and Computer Specialist Graduate Studies in Experiential Education and Curriculum Design, University of Colorado, 1986-7 M.A., Education, University of New Hampshire, 1978 B.A., English, Muhlenberg College, 1975 Overseas teaching: 2 years in Japan. Dorothy Schepps, Teacher TESOL Certificate, University of Colorado at Denver & Health Sciences Center M.A., Latin American Studies, University of Texas, Austin Teaching Certification, Tufts University B.A., English, Tufts University Laura Vance, Teacher M.A., Curriculum & Design/English as a Second Language, University of Colorado at Denver, 1991 DTEFLA (International ESL Diploma, Cambridge University), Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates, 1995 B.F.A, Art & Art History, University of Colorado at Denver, 1987 B.A., Philosophy, George Washington University, 1970 Overseas teaching: 3 years in U.A.E.; 1 year in Morocco.




	ARKANSAS



	Spring International Language Center at the University of Arkansas

	Vicki Bergman-Lanier Ph.D. in Education and Sociolinguistics, Claremont Graduate School M.A. in Education and Reading, Claremont Graduate School B.A., University of California at Berkeley

	For a complete list of faculty and staff at the Arkansas center, please see their separate website at http://cavern.uark.edu/depts/silc/ark/spring.html.



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