Faculty

Kaitlyn Onyeukwu

Kaitlyn Onyeukwu has a B.A. in International Affairs from George Washington University and a M.A. in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) from American University. Kaitlyn has been teaching classes for undergraduate and graduate international students at American University since 2012. Currently, Kaitlyn is teaching the following courses: AU in the World, Culture of U.S. Higher Education, and TV and Culture. She enjoys collaborating with students to strengthen language skills and explore new subject areas. Additionally, she has created curriculum for several courses at AU and beyond. Kaitlyn has also taught Academic Communication in the summer program of the John Hopkins Carey Business School.

Danielle Capano

Danielle Capano has taught in the School of Professional and Extended Studies (SPExS) at American University since 2013. In addition, she also previously served as the Program Coordinator for SPExS’ English Language and Training Academy. Over the years she has taught both in the U.S. and abroad in countries such as Italy and Turkey, where she taught at Inonu University as part of the Fulbright E.T.A. program. Danielle received her B.A. in English Literature and her M.A. in English Education from West Virginia University. Apart from teaching, her passions include creative writing, social justice issues, and cooking.

Lewis "Terry" Daugherty

Lewis “Terry” Daugherty is a TESOL certified Instructor who has been teaching for over a decade. He has served in Bulgaria and the Philippines as a Peace Corps Volunteer, teaching English and business technologies. As a Peace Corps Fellow at Western Illinois University, Terry earned a Master of Science in Education focusing on Intercultural Studies and a certification in Community Development from the Illinois Institute of Rural Affairs. He also holds a Master of Science in Financial Services from the American College of Financial Services. Terry enjoys developing and delivering courses to fit the specific needs of his students whether new English learners or graduating education majors.

Krisztina Domjan

Dr. Krisztina Domjan is a progressive and compassionate educator who has taught English Composition, ESL/EFL and ESOL courses in Hungary, in England and in the USA. She is an advocate of lifelong learning, professional development, innovative teaching practices, continuous fieldwork and qualitative research in education. She enjoys creating extra opportunities for students to improve their skills and abilities via instructional videos explaining certain concepts on her YouTube channel, and via frequent posts on her educational blogs to provide further guidance.

Diana Shayda Farajollahi

Diana Shayda Farajollahi earned her B.A. in International Studies. She also holds a M.A. in Applied Linguistics and a Graduate Certificate in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) from George Mason University.

Susan George

Dr. Susan George has been teaching English Language and Literature in Japan, Canada, and the United States. She earned her BA in English from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University, her M.A. in English and Rhetoric from Carnegie Mellon University, and her Ph.D in American Literature from Kent State University. She is passionate about teaching and has taught reading, communication, and writing at all ESL levels. She has also designed curricula for integrated ESL programs in Japan and Canada. She has taught at American University since Fall 2017.

Harriet Heiberg Gotiangco

Harriet Heiberg Gotiangco earned her B.A. in Education from Notre Dame of Maryland University and her M.A. in Teaching English to Speakers of other Languages (TESOL) from American University. Harriet has been teaching adult ESOL classes in the Washington, DC area for the last 6 years and enjoys working with foreign students as they encounter and negotiate their new, exciting and sometimes intimidating experiences in the United States. She is currently an instructor for the English Language and Training Academy where she works with both graduate and undergraduate students, developing the advanced academic skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking required in a higher education environment.

Xiaofang Huang

Dr. Xiaofang Huang has taught rhetoric and composition, American literature and ESL/EFL to students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds for the last ten years. She earned her M.A. in British and American Literature from Sun Yat-sen University and her Ph.D. in English Language and Literature from The Catholic University of America. Her research interests include American Southern literature, modern literature, comparative literature and ESL pedagogy.

Susan Kay

Susan Kay is Adjunct Faculty in the English Language Training Academy. She received a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) Certificate from Georgetown University, and she has taught in many ESL programs in the Washington, D.C. area. Before teaching English, Susan practiced law in New York City and in Washington. She has a B.A. from Barnard College, Columbia University and a J.D. from George Washington University.

Kathleen Kearney

Kathleen has been teaching ESL since 2009 and has taught at local universities and language institutes. She has also taught elementary- and high-school English learners in Washington, DC. She has a B.A. in International Studies and History from Miami University (Ohio), an M.A. in Russian History and an M.S. in Literacy, Culture and Language Education from Indiana University (Bloomington), and a TEFL Certificate from Georgetown University. When she is not teaching, Kathleen is reading, cooking, going to the theater and sometimes doing yoga.

Lindy Kearns

Lindy Arnof Kearns earned her M.A. in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) from American University.  She joined the faculty of the English Language and Training Academy (ELTA) in 2018.  Prior to joining ELTA, Lindy taught ESL in Boston, Massachusetts and in the Kyrgyz Republic.

William Kennedy

William Kennedy is adjunct faculty in ELTA. He has worked in language education for over 25 years as an ESL/EFL teacher, trainer, and program administrator in more than a dozen countries around the world. Originally from Canada, he received his MA in TESOL from the School for International Training in Brattleboro, Vermont, and a BA in English from the University of British Columbia. His professional interests include professional development, reflective practice, and media literacy.

Christine McMorrow

Christine McMorrow has taught English for over 20 years in the U.S. and abroad. Before coming to the D.C. area, she worked as an English instructor in Finland, the Czech Republic, Russia and China.

Adam Mele

Adam Mele has been teaching with ELTA since 2016. He has over eight years of experience teaching ESL in Washington, D.C., New York City and Bandung, Indonesia. He has an M.A. in Southeast Asian Studies from the University of Michigan and a B.A. in Anthropology from the University of Toronto. He also has a background as an Indonesian language specialist.

Elizabeth Meredith

My name is Elizabeth Meredith and I am an Adjunct Faculty in the ELTA program. I have a B.A in Communication Studies and a B.A (honors) in English language and Literature from Murdoch University. Australia. My love for teaching students from all over the world motivated me to complete a M.A in International Education and Human Development from George Washington University. I have taught English in Singapore in the Gifted Program and at the National University of Singapore, National Institute of Education. I started my ESL career in U.S at Strafford University, then Montgomery College and now at American University. Having learned English as a second language, I have great empathy for students who want to learn the language and understand some of their struggles. I take this lifelong learning journey with my students as it fulfills my inner desire to see them succeed.

Jisook Paik

Dr. Jisook Paik has been teaching English Language and TESOL courses in Korea, China, and the United States. She earned her BA in English Literature and Linguistics from Yonsei University in Seoul, Korea, her M.A. in TESOL from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and her Ph.D in Multicultural Education from UIUC. She is interested in teaching ESL grammar, research methods, and writing, as well as ESL teacher training for culturally responsive teaching. She was also involved in publishing textbooks: English Grammar for Writing for college level ESL program and English Reading and Writing, a textbook used in high schools in Korea. She has taught at American University since Fall 2013.

Faith Pirlo

Faith Caroline Pirlo is an ESL instructor in the English Language and Training Academy at American University. She has five years of ESL teaching experience, and currently teaches Academic Discussion and Reading and Vocabulary. She holds two BAs in International Studies, Slavic and East European Studies, and Russian Studies. In 2014 she earned her MA in TESOL from West Virginia University. Faith enjoys traveling, learning about new cultures and languages, and helping her students to find their unique voices in English. Her hobbies include cooking, dancing, yoga, and cats.

John Pugh

John Pugh graduated from WVU with an MA in TESOL, along with BA's in International Studies and Chinese studies. John has previously worked at West Virginia University, Syracuse University, State University of New York, and George Mason University, taking on teaching, academic advising, and course coordinating. John encourages students' immersion by organizing extracurricular events, bringing students closer to the community and the target language. Finally, John has had many experiences studying and working abroad that have contributed to his approach in supporting students' academic development.

Jacqueline Raynolds

Jacqueline Raynolds is an English language instructor. Prior to joining ELTA, she taught English to adults in Russia, Saudi Arabia, Los Angeles, and New York. She holds an MA in TESOL from The New School, a BFA in Painting and Drawing from Concordia University in Montreal, a CELTA from the University of Cambridge, and a Certificate in Organizational Leadership and Communication from University of California - Irvine Extension. In addition to teaching English for academic purposes, she also specializes in teaching English for public service and business applications.

Max Rhinehart

Max Rhinehart is an instructor in the English Language Training Academy and International Accelerator Program. After studying Spanish and English as an undergraduate, he earned a Master’s degree in Applied Linguistics from Ohio University. He has taught English to students of diverse backgrounds in Ohio, North Carolina, and here in Washington, DC.

Bukky Salako

Dr. Bukky Salako has a doctorate degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Her area of expertise is in Composition and Teaching English as a Second Language. She has published work on non-native English speakers and presented on topics focusing on Sociolinguistics Analysis, Composition Theories, Language Use, and Second Language Acquisition.

Albert VanLanduyt

Albert VanLanduyt has been an instructor of English for approximately 20 years, 8 of which were spent in Korea. He holds a MA in Applied Linguistics and a BA in English Literature from George Mason University.