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 BA in English from Truman State University and an MA in English as a Second Language from the University of Minnesota. He is also currently a PhD student studying with the Leadership in Intercultural and International Education cohort in the department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development at the University. David has worked with 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, gardening, cooking, hiking, and camping. He lives in Saint Paul with his wife, two daughters, and cat.

Cayli has a BA in Spanish and Theater from the New College of Florida, and is currently in her final semester of the MA TESOL program at the University of Minnesota. She has worked with both adult and young English language learners since 2016. She enjoys reading, thrifting, going to comic cons and anime conventions, playing trivia and video games, and visiting her family in Florida.

Shannon was raised in Fargo, North Dakota, and has lived in the Twin Cities for over 30 years. She earned her BA in English at Hamline University in Saint Paul and her MA in English as a Second Language at the University of Minnesota. In addition to MELP, Shannon has taught ESL at Augsburg University in Minneapolis. She lives in Minneapolis with her husband, and they have three kids. In her spare time, Shannon likes to read, do crossword puzzles and other word games, do counted cross-stitch and go on long walks with her dog, Daphne.

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, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. 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 he's made short visits to schools in central Asia. 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 United States. He has also moonlighted as a server and bartender for more than 20 years. Jon enjoys spending time with his wife and four children, backpacking, taking road trips, smoking meats, sampling drinks, 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. 

Carter has a BA in linguistics and an MA in teaching english, both from the University of Minnesota. In addition to teaching ESL, he works at the CLA Language Center. He specializes in world language assessment development, survey design, and data analysis. He has traveled throughout Western Europe and South America. French and Spanish are his second and third languages. In his free time, Carter enjoys cycling, cooking, camping, reading, and playing disc golf (aka Frisbee golf).

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, and Turkey. She has trained English teachers in Venezuela, Ecuador, Brazil, and Vietnam, and she was a Fulbright Scholar in Mexico and in Costa Rica to train English teachers there. In her free time, Stephanie enjoys cooking and trying new foods, reading, hiking, traveling, and fostering kittens for a local animal shelter. She is also an avid salsa dancer.

Janet Ivanca has a bachelor’s degree in linguistics and Russian and a master's degree in teaching English as a second language. She has taught English in a variety of contexts in the US, Russia, and Kazakhstan. In addition to teaching at MELP, Janet works at a nonprofit organization where she manages the curriculum for a digital literacy program for adult learners. In her free time, Janet enjoys playing badminton and tennis, reading, and cooking.

Mary Jetter has a BA in Latin American Studies and Spanish from Central College and an MA in Teaching English as a Second Language from the University of Northern Iowa.  In addition to teaching at MELP, Mary has been a teaching consultant at the Center for Educational Innovation since 1999. Mary has also taught English in Japan and at other intensive English programs in the midwest.  Mary enjoys knitting, fostering dogs, cycling, and cooking in her free time. She lives in Saint Paul with her husband, one very fat cat, a grumpy Chihuahua, and a goofy foster dog.

Kamille earned her MA in ESL from the University of Minnesota, where she also completed a Graduate Certificate in Technology Enhanced Learning. Throughout her career, she has enjoyed working with language learners in a wide range of settings, including workplaces, community-based nonprofit organizations and, of course, the UMN! She has taught a variety of courses in MELP's Intensive and Academic English Programs, as well as in specialized programs, including the UMECI program for Omani students and a custom course for Facilities Management employees. Her work with English language learners extends across campus: she has supported International Teaching Assistants through the CSE TALKS program offered through the Center for Educational Innovation and has been teaching trainees in the MAST International agricultural exchange program since 2023.

Liz has been teaching Spanish at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities since 2002. She has actively taught and been involved in curricular enhancements in SPAN 1001, 1002, 1003 and 1004 for the past 10+ years. She also teaches English as a Second Language (ESL) at the Minnesota English Center (MELP) at the UMN. In addition, she has lived and taught English abroad twice over the past 15 years, in Santa Teresita, Argentina in 2010 and in Santiago, Chile in 2019. Her academic interests include: Language Teaching and Technology, Educational Podcasting, Integrated Performance Assessments (IPAs), and Inclusive Teaching Practices. She lives in Saint Paul, Minnesota and enjoy walking in her neighborhood, in regional parks, and along the Mississippi River, accompanied by her beloved pup Raven. She is also an avid traveler.

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 cooking and long-distance running.

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. 

Eric Nelson likes words, and that led him to a BA in linguistics at the University of Minnesota. At the U, he discovered that he also likes people, and that led him to a master’s in ESL. He retired in 2009. In his free time, he likes to read (words), listen to podcasts (more words), do crossword puzzles (words again), and ride his bike around town (no words). Because he still likes people, he continues to teach occasionally.

Rhonda Petree has an BA in history and political science from the University of Wisconsin and MA in ESL from the University of Minnesota. She has been a TEFL Peace Corps volunteer in Kazakhstan, a Fulbright Scholar in Estonia, and an English language camp director in Lithuania. She was the director of the former English Language Transition Program at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and now teaches in the English and TESOL department there. In her free time she enjoys mountain biking, hiking, skiing, and spending time with family and friends.

Nick Reishus holds an MA in ESL and a BA in Communication Studies. He joined MELP as a part-time adjunct in 2023, and he works full-time as a Senior Technical Officer at a large nongovernmental organization where he supports the development of online professional development programs for English language teachers worldwide. Nick has previously lived and taught in India, China, and South Korea, and he has taught remotely to learners from India, Afghanistan, and Mongolia.

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.

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.