Minnesota English Language Program Faculty and Staff

Michael Anderson, PhD, directs the College Pathways unit and has a background in teaching English as a second language and educational administration. Michael has taught English in France and various parts of the United States. His research interests include language assessment and supporting multilingual students in higher education. His second language is French. He enjoys gardening and baking. An interesting fact about Michael: He’s a great fan of the Minnesota State Fair and won the sweepstakes award for best cookies at the Fair in 2005.

David Atterberry has a bachelor’s degree in English from Truman State University and a master’s degree in teaching English as a second language from the University of Minnesota. He has taught in MELP since 2007 and before that taught at community colleges in the Twin Cities metro area. He also has experience teaching English in Taiwan, China, and Russia. In his free time, David enjoys traveling to new places, reading, cooking, running, and camping. He lives in Saint Paul with his wife, two daughters, and cat.

Catherine (Kate) Clements holds a BA in Spanish and journalism and an MA in teaching English as a Second Language, and is completing a PhD in Learning Technologies. In addition to teaching English at MELP, she has done teacher training for the US Department of State, Hamline University, and the University of Minnesota. Kate has lived in Spain and Ecuador and traveled throughout Europe and South America. For recreation, she enjoys traveling, hiking, and horseback riding.

Troi grew up in Texas, where she attended the University of Texas at Austin. She holds a BA in English and a Master of Education. Her first experience with teaching English was as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Pacific island nation of Kiribati. She also lived and taught in China and Mexico. Troi spent 10 years teaching in the Intensive English Program at Rice University in her hometown of Houston before moving from Texas to Minnesota in 2019. Her travels have taken her to India, Thailand, Fiji, Ecuador, Peru, Ghana, Kenya, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates. Troi is married and has two children. When she isn’t teaching, she enjoys hiking, camping, and spending time with her family.

Jon Gill holds a BA in linguistics and an MA in English as a second language from the University of Minnesota. He has taught ESL at the U of M and Saint Paul College, and made short visits to schools in Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan. He is distracted by new languages and has dabbled in as many as 16. His travels and military experience have brought him to 24 countries and most of the US. Jon enjoys spending time with his wife and four children, backpacking, taking road trips, running marathons and triathlons, performing as a juggler and musician, or just curling up with a classic book.

LeeAnne has navigated intercultural and bi/multilingual environments her entire life and has lived and worked in France, Spain, Poland, China, Korea, and various US states. LeeAnne has an MA in TESOL and a PhD in Curriculum & Instruction (Second Language Education), both from the University of Minnesota.  She has been involved in language teaching or teacher education for over 20 years. LeeAnne is bilingual in French and speaks Spanish. She loves to travel, cook, be outside, run, and spend time with friends and family. She lives in Minneapolis with her husband and three children. 

Stephanie Hanson has a bachelor's degree in psychology and French and a master's degree in teaching English as a second language. She previously taught ESL at Cornell University and the University of Illinois, and EFL in Greece, China, South Korea, Indonesia, Turkey, and Ecuador. In her free time, Stephanie enjoys cooking and trying new foods, reading, hiking, and exploring the Twin Cities. She is also an avid salsa dancer.

Darren LaScotte holds an MA in TESOL and a PhD in Second Language Education from the University of Minnesota. Darren has taught courses in English, French, and language teacher education since 2011, and he has authored several books and research articles on language teaching and learning. For hobbies, Darren enjoys reading, biking, and going on walks with his dog, Xander.

Annie Marrin received her MA in English as a Second Language from the University of Minnesota. She has taught language learners in a variety of international and local contexts since 1999 and has worked with multilingual learners at the University of Minnesota since 2007. Annie enjoys reading, running, and long-distance hiking. 

Diego Sanchez-Chavarria holds a BA in English and Japanese as well as an MA in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). Born in Peru, he immigrated to Minnesota with his family when he was four years old and loves it here despite the long winters. He has taught learners in Japan and in the US from 2011 to 2019. Thanks to his parents, he was able to maintain his Spanish while growing up in the US and fell in love with Japanese while he was studying at the U of M. During his free time, he loves traveling, running, playing video games, and spending time with his wife and daughter.

Sara Schroth holds a bachelor's degree in Spanish from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and a master’s degree in educational policy and administration in the comparative and international development track from the University of Minnesota. Her research interests include cross-cultural peer programs and internationalization at home initiatives. Sara has lived in Spain and Ecuador and has traveled to other countries, including Bolivia, Peru, Costa Rica, Mexico, Italy, Sri Lanka, England, and Greece. In addition to traveling, Sara enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters, cooking, painting, eating ice cream, doing yoga, and relaxing at coffee shops. Working as the International Student Advisor for MELP since 2011, Sara is the person to ask about your I-20 or visa status.

Christine has a BA in Cultural Anthropology and an MA in ESL, and has taught English to international learners in Austria, France, China, and Thailand. She grew up in Austria and still speaks German fluently, despite living in the United States most of her adult life. She has been at MELP off and on since 2007 and loves interacting with students from around the world. Besides German, she also speaks French and has dabbled in Arabic, Thai, and Zulu. Other languages and cultures are among her favorite things in the world, along with good food and, above all, chocolate. She lives in Minneapolis with her husband and two kids, and she enjoys spending her free time cooking, reading a good book, or just being with family. 

Ellen Wormwood is a native Minnesotan with a bachelor’s degree in economics and master's degrees in both French and Spanish. She lived and worked in France many years, and her last job before returning to Minnesota was as an adventure travel guide in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. She returned in order to be closer to her family, as well as to enjoy the world-class ice skating. Though her family have pretty much all moved away, the rivers and lakes continue to freeze every winter, making life in Minnesota pretty good. Ellen has taught at the University for 25 years and is delighted to work with MELP students.