CONSULTING EDUCATORS
Adam AvRuskin, M.A.T.
Adam AvRuskin has an honors degree in history from McGill University in Montreal and a master of arts in teaching English to speakers of other languages from the School for International Training in Vermont. He has taught ESL/EFL in Canada, Japan, China, Turkey, and the United States. He currently teaches writing and ESL in San Francisco and at Stanford University.
Areas of interest: Teaching academic writing and curriculum design
Nikki Woodson Blair, M.A.T.
Nikki Woodson Blair has a master of arts degree in teaching English and French from the School for International Training in Brattleboro, Vermont. She has taught English language content in a bilingual school in Paris, France. She has also taught ESL and developed curriculum for a university-level intensive English program in the U.S. She is currently working as a freelance writer, editor and language curriculum consultant in Canton, Ohio.
Areas of interest: curriculum design, grammar instruction, bilingual education of young children, and language and culture in children’s literature
Gregory Blanch, Ph.D.
Dr. Gregory Blanch is an associate professor at New Mexico State University, Las Cruces and the author of educational articles and books for English learners, including Explore World History and Leaders Who Changed the World.
Areas of interest: Leadership, ethics, and organizational behavior
Dr. Gregory Blanch is an associate professor at New Mexico State University, Las Cruces and the author of educational articles and books for English learners, including Explore World History and Leaders Who Changed the World.
Areas of interest: Leadership, ethics, and organizational behavior
Brooke Byrnes, M.Ed.
Brooke Byrnes is a fourth- and fifth-grade teacher of talented and gifted students in a self-contained classroom in Alexandria, Virginia. She taught in a K-5 public elementary school for six years, focusing primarily on upper elementary grades.
Areas of interest: Mentoring new teachers and university interns
Brooke Byrnes is a fourth- and fifth-grade teacher of talented and gifted students in a self-contained classroom in Alexandria, Virginia. She taught in a K-5 public elementary school for six years, focusing primarily on upper elementary grades.
Areas of interest: Mentoring new teachers and university interns
Darren Cambridge, Ph.D.
Dr. Darren Cambridge is an assistant professor at New Century College, George Mason University in Fairfax County, Virginia. He teaches courses on civic identity, the social and cultural implications of information technology, and the use of technology in teaching, learning, and assessment.
Areas of interest: The use of electronic portfolios for lifelong learning
Dr. Darren Cambridge is an assistant professor at New Century College, George Mason University in Fairfax County, Virginia. He teaches courses on civic identity, the social and cultural implications of information technology, and the use of technology in teaching, learning, and assessment.
Areas of interest: The use of electronic portfolios for lifelong learning
Christopher Capozzola, Ph.D.
Dr. Christopher Capozzola is an associate professor of history at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He specializes in the political and cultural history of the United States from 1861 to 1945. He currently teaches courses in political and legal history, cultural history, and the history of race, gender, and class. He also has experience teaching middle school history and working with English language learners.
Michelle W. Chew, M.Phil., D.Phil.
Dr. Michelle Chew has a bachelor of arts in literature/film studies from Claremont McKenna College in Claremont, California and master's degree and doctorate in social/cultural anthropology from the University of Oxford (United Kingdom). Specializing in indigenous and world religions and rituals, particularly in Great Britain, the Americas, and Southeast Asia, Dr. Chew also teaches writing and works as a freelance editor, researcher, and filmmaker.
Areas of interest: Literature for children and young adults; making social science content accessible to English learners; language and cultural acquisition
Frank Cordero, MBA
Frank Cordero received his master’s of business administration from New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico. He has taught hospitality management courses with an emphasis in culinary arts.
Areas of interest: Consumer behavior and satisfaction
Nancy Cordero, M.S.
Nancy Cordero has a master’s of science in family and consumer sciences. She assists rural communities through grant administration and by providing educational opportunities.
Areas of interest: Electronic or e-commerce
Marisela Funes-Jones, Ph.D.
Dr. Marisela Funes-Jones is an assistant professor at Colby College in Waterville, Maine. Her research focuses on medicine, culture, and civil society in Latin America, and the lasting influence of the military and military dictatorships in Latin American societies. Dr. Funes-Jones has taught a wide range of disciplines and subjects, including English and Spanish as second languages.
Dr. Marisela Funes-Jones is an assistant professor at Colby College in Waterville, Maine. Her research focuses on medicine, culture, and civil society in Latin America, and the lasting influence of the military and military dictatorships in Latin American societies. Dr. Funes-Jones has taught a wide range of disciplines and subjects, including English and Spanish as second languages.
Areas of Interest: Second language acquisition and teacher education; bilingual language education; academic writing across the curriculum; Latin American literature, film, and culture; indigenous literatures of Latin America
Kathy Lafreniere, M.A.
Kathy Lafreniere has a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Radford University and a master's degree in curriculum and instruction in reading from Virginia Tech University. She has taught kindergarten, first grade, second grade, and third grade in Virginia. She currently serves as a reading teacher and has developed “Literacy Celebrations,” which she presents to teachers and principals in northern Virginia.
Areas of Interest: Literacy
Judy Maese, Ph.D.
Dr. Judy Maese is an associate professor at New Mexico State University, Las Cruces and teaches principles of finance, money and capital markets, and financial management. Dr. Maese is the recipient of outstanding teaching awards from the NMSU Chicano Program and the College of Business.
Areas of interest: Personal financial planning and the theory of financial decisions
Dr. Judy Maese is an associate professor at New Mexico State University, Las Cruces and teaches principles of finance, money and capital markets, and financial management. Dr. Maese is the recipient of outstanding teaching awards from the NMSU Chicano Program and the College of Business.
Areas of interest: Personal financial planning and the theory of financial decisions
Tahmineh Nassiri
Tahmineh Nassiri has taught a variety of disciplines to students of diverse ages and levels. She taught for three years in Japan where she also trained teachers, and then completed her master of arts in teaching studies at the School for International Training in Vermont. She has been teaching English and social studies to English language learners at the American School of Paris since 1996.
Areas of interest: Multilingual education; language acquisition in adolescents; integrating art and culture into high school curricula
Dina Proestou, Ph.D.
Dina Proestou is a post-doctoral research fellow, studying shellfish disease at the University of Rhode Island. She received a bachelor of science degree in biology from the University of Michigan and a Ph.D. in biological sciences from the University of Rhode Island. She grew up in Toledo, Ohio.
Areas of interest: Shellfish disease
Caryn Sonberg, M.A.
Caryn Sonberg is a gifted and talented resource teacher in Fairfax, Virginia. She has taught elementary school for six years with a focus on second and third grade and is the author of three children’s books.
Areas of Interest: Educating children on positive character traits
Caryn Sonberg is a gifted and talented resource teacher in Fairfax, Virginia. She has taught elementary school for six years with a focus on second and third grade and is the author of three children’s books.
Areas of Interest: Educating children on positive character traits
Dawn M. VanLeeuwen, Ph.D.
Dawn M. VanLeeuwen is currently a professor in the Department of Agricultural and Extension Education and a member of the Agricultural Biometric Service. She teaches introductory and applied statistics and serves on numerous graduate student committees. While her research has led to theoretical and applied statistical papers and presentations, her current research and creative activities focus on her many consulting collaborations. These collaborations have resulted in many journal articles, papers and presentations in a wide range of disciplines, and service on the aforementioned graduate student committees. Her service to the College of Agriculture and Home Economics was recognized in 2006 with her college’s Distinguished Service Award.
Jennifer Washer, B.S. in Education
Jennifer Washer has served as a classroom teacher in elementary schools in Louisiana and Texas. She is currently the Director of Children's Ministries at First United Methodist Church in Commerce, Texas.
Areas of interest: Children's literature
Jennifer Washer has served as a classroom teacher in elementary schools in Louisiana and Texas. She is currently the Director of Children's Ministries at First United Methodist Church in Commerce, Texas.
Areas of interest: Children's literature
Kenneth M. Washer, DBA, CFP®, CPA
Dr. Kenneth Washer is an associate professor at Creighton University and is an active researcher with articles in journals such as Journal of Banking and Finance, Applied Financial Economics, and Financial Counseling and Planning. He developed and manages an online financial planning certificate program.
Areas of interest: Developing student awareness of financial topics such as investments
Dr. Kenneth Washer is an associate professor at Creighton University and is an active researcher with articles in journals such as Journal of Banking and Finance, Applied Financial Economics, and Financial Counseling and Planning. He developed and manages an online financial planning certificate program.
Areas of interest: Developing student awareness of financial topics such as investments
Advancing Communication One Word at a Time
