Meet our Faculty

Laurie Christie

Instructor

Laurie Christie has been teaching English to adult learners for over 12 years at FSU and other educational centers in the Boston Metro Area. Laurie currently teaches a very popular advanced communication skill-building course at FSU called Focus on Topical Discussions, Reading, and Pronunciation. She was educated at New England College, and Bridgewater State University. One of the things Laurie loves about teaching English is getting to know people and cultures she might not otherwise experience. She also enjoys hiking, learning new languages, and reading. Her goal is to travel more.

Mary Cornell

Instructor

Mary Cornell has taught English as a Second Language to students at every level for more than 25 years.  She earned an MEd from Bridgewater State University and a BA in English from Holy Cross College.  She holds licensure to teach English as a Second Language (ESL) from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).  Mary has taught English to students in Taunton and Lowell, and she taught English to adult students through the Maynard Adult Learning Center and at businesses in Hudson and Holliston.  Mary also taught students and later became the Coordinator for Title I and Targeted Learning Services for the Department of Youth Services (DYS).  She co-authored both the DYS ELA Curriculum Guide and the Taunton ESL Newcomers Social Justice Curriculum.  Mary loves to learn about the languages and cultures of her students.  She is an avid reader and an enthusiastic cook.

Alan Finkel

Instructor

Alan Finkel has traveled many times to Europe, Central America, and French Canada, soaking up the cultures, trying the local languages, and experiencing what it’s like to struggle to communicate. That’s why he loves teaching English as a Second Language at Framingham State. He also teaches Professional Writing (online) at FSU and is a certified teacher in Massachusetts in both History and English. 

Dani Hersey

Instructor

Dani Hersey holds a TEFL certificate and is currently pursuing a Master of Education in TESOL, ESL, and Bilingual Education from Lesley University. She is an experienced teacher of English to speakers of other languages, with a demonstrated history of writing, editing, and teacher training. In addition to teaching Level 2: Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking & Grammar at FSU Community English Language Program, Dani is also an educational materials writer based in both Massachusetts and São Paulo, Brazil. Her background in art regularly intersects with her love for language, and she is passionate about active methodologies, STEAM, and maker-centered learning. She has written several course books, including From Dream to Reality and Learning to Be Enterprising (Macmillan Brasil), which encourage youth to discover their passions, prototype ideas, and step into entrepreneurship while developing their voice as English speakers in the global community. When she isn’t writing, studying, or making things, Dani can be found geeking out to sci-fi or Broadway musicals, hiking, or doing yoga with her cats, Spock and Persephone.

Karen Hunter

Instructor

Karen Hunter has been teaching ESL for the FSU English Language Program since May, 2015. She holds a Masters of Education Degree for the Teaching of English as a Second Language from Framingham State College/University. She is a returning teacher who previously taught ESL for the Framingham State College Adult Community ESL Program while a graduate student. She also holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Massachusetts at Boston where she majored in German.

Patricia James

Instructor

Patricia James has taught English as a Second Language in the Northbridge Public Schools since 2012, working with students across grades (K-12) and all proficiency levels. She holds a Professional license in Teaching English as a Second Language (Grades 5-12) from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), and a Master pf Education in Curriculum and Teaching from Fitchburg State University. Patricia currently coordinates Northbridge Public School’s English Learner Education Department.

Having previously been a reporter for the Worcester Telegram & Gazette, teaching English was a career change that quickly turned into a passion. She enjoys teaching English to her students while also learning from them and she strives to create a comfortable environment for all to be able to share their backgrounds and to learn from each other throughout the process.

 

Sara Khanzadi

Instructor

Sara Khanzadi holds a master’s degree in Teaching English as a Second Language from the University of Minnesota. Before teaching for the English Language Programs at FSU, she taught English at Massachusetts International Academy (MAIA), Georgia Tech Language Institute and at the Minnesota English Language Program (MELP) for more than twelve years. Currently, Sara works as a district-wide English language learner teacher for North Attleborough Public Schools and teaches a TOEFL preparedness course at FSU. Sara received her undergraduate degree in Spanish language and culture and worked as a simultaneous translator at the commercial office of Spain's embassy in Tehran for five years. Reading, doing yoga, cooking, and eating chocolate and ice cream are some of Sara’s favorite recreational activities. Sara also likes going on long bike rides with her family, in the summertime. 

Elizabeth Kim

Instructor

Elizabeth Kim holds an EdM from Harvard University and BA from Wellesley College. Prior to joining the FSU English Language Programs team, Liz taught global professionals at EF Executive Language Institute, refugees and recent immigrants in community ESL programs and worked for many years in university administration. When not at FSU, Liz runs a private education counseling practice, volunteers with service organizations in Boston and Metrowest and enjoys family life with her husband, four daughters and many pets.

Alex Oliveira

Instructor

Alex K. Oliveira earned his MA in English as a Second Language Teaching from the University of Massachusetts Boston, where he was also a Graduate Assistant and Coordinator of Professional Training Programs in the Division of Continuing Education. He has had an extensive career in Teaching English for Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), as a teacher, as a program administrator, and as a materials and curriculum developer. For over 25 years, he has worked with adult learners of diverse backgrounds, both in the US and in Brazil, in settings ranging from workplace programs and community colleges to private language institutes and universities, both public and private

Joseph Rihn

Instructor

Joseph Rihn has a master's degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from New York University. He has taught abroad in Brazil, China, and Ecuador as well as at a number of universities in the United States. In his free time, he enjoys traveling abroad and studying other languages.

 

Sheryl Seller

Instructor

Sheryl Seller holds an MA in Global Studies with a concentration in Immigration Patterns and Policy and a BA in Global Studies and Hispanic Studies, both from Brandeis University. She received her TEFL Certificate from Boston Language Institute in 2014. In addition to teaching ESL at FSU, Sheryl is the Assistant Director at the Sillerman Center for the Advancement of Philanthropy at Brandeis University. Her work focuses on youth grantmaking and immigrant integration. Sheryl is also a co-chair of the Social Justice Funders Network.  

Olivia Siteman

Instructor

Olivia Siteman is an English instructor for the Intensive and Community English Programs. She was born and raised in Walpole, Massachusetts but now lives in Plainville, Massachusetts with her husband.  Olivia received her Bachelor's Degree in History and Foreign Languages at Roger Williams University and later received her Master's Degree in Applied Linguistics at University of Massachusetts, Boston.

JoAnne Spagnuolo

Instructor

JoAnne Spagnuolo has been an educator for over a decade. She currently works as an instructional coach for teachers. She earned her doctorate in education from Northeastern University with a concentration in Curriculum, Teaching, Learning, and Leadership. She also holds a master of education from UMass Boston and a bachelor's degree in English from Boston University. She enjoys teaching English and has worked with multilingual learners for over a decade. In her spare time, she travels to learn more about other cultures.

Nelson Veloso

Instructor

Nelson Veloso has taught English as a second language for over 20 years and been a TOEFL instructor for more than 10 years, working at different English language schools in the Boston area. He has split his teaching time between Massachusetts and Braga, Portugal. He teaches TOEFL preparation and intermediate Listening and Speaking at FSU. Nelson holds a master’s degree in Foreign Language Education (English and Portuguese) and Applied Linguistics (Computer Corpora) from the University of Aveiro in Portugal. Additionally, he holds an Educator's Certificate in English from the Massachusetts Department of Education. When not teaching, Nelson enjoys football (soccer), the Celtics, a good comedy, and cooking. 

Emirjona Vukaj

Instructor

Emirjona Vukaj has taught extensively at the university level, including providing instruction in English as a Second Language (ESL), Methodology of Research in Education, Literature, Translation, Writing, and TOEFL preparation. She has taught at the University of Tirana, Albania (undergraduate and graduate levels), UMass Boston, Middlesex Community College, Lowell, and at Framingham State University. Emirjona believes that having learned English as a second language and several other additional languages has enabled her to provide better support and guidance for her students and their own linguistic repertoire and language learning. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English, a bachelor’s degree in Law, a master’s degree in Linguistics/Translation, and a PhD in Linguistics/Legal Language from the University of Tirana, Albania.