For the past five years, Laurie Frazier has worked as a full-time instructor at the Minnesota English Language program at the University of Minnesota. During that time, she has taught in the intensive English program and in the academic program in all skill areas. Teaching listening and speaking is one of her areas of expertise, and she has been in charge of articulating and developing curriculum and selecting the texts and materials used in oral skills courses. Currently, Laurie is collaborating with the Law School to develop a Legal English course for incoming international students in their programs.
Assessment is another area of expertise. While at the University of Minnesota, Laurie has helped to develop and implement the performance test used to evaluate international graduate students to determine their eligibility to teach courses at the University. She has also helped to develop a new rubric and system for evaluating student writing for placement purposes.
As an Author, Laurie has been particularly busy over the last five years, publishing two texts for Pearson Education and one for Oxford University Press. She has also written online materials for Wall Street Institute’s Professional English course. Currently, she is writing a fourth edition of “NorthStar 2: Listening and Speaking”, one of Pearson Education’s best-selling texts for use in academic settings.
Throughout the years, Laurie has been an active member of the ESL community, regularly attending and presenting at regional conferences, as well as TESOL. Twice she has been selected to present on a panel of experts at TESOL, for the SPLIS, Materials Writers, and ITA Interest Sections.
Educational Background: San Francisco State University (MA-English, TESOL); UC Santa Barbara (BA-Political Science/International Relations)
Jessica Gardner
English for Art Purposes Level A Coordinator
Jessica Gardner received her bachelor's degree in Studio Art/Art History from the University of Minnesota, Morris and her master's degree in TESOL from St. Mary's College of California in Concord. She spent the 2011-2012 academic year teaching English at the University of Macau and had a great experience working with the staff and students there. She is very excited to be working at ACADEMY OF ART UNIVERSITY because it provides an ideal environment for her to combine her degrees and previous experiences.
Educational Background: St. Mary’s College of California (MA-Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, TESOL); University of Berkeley California (CA TESL Certificate); University of Minnesota (BA-Studio Art/Art History)
C. Heyward Gignilliat Full-Time Faculty
Heyward Gignilliat has over ten years’ experience teaching ESL/EFL. He graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor’s degree in History and Political Science. After graduation, he moved to Nagoya, Japan to teach English as a Second Language. He worked as an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) in Japanese public elementary and junior high schools for six years. While in Japan, he also founded his own English conversation school. In 2006, Heyward attended The School for International Training (SIT) for a Master of Arts in Teaching in TESOL. After completing his course work, he became an adjunct faculty member at Northeastern University's English Language Center for one year. In 2008, Heyward moved to the Bay Area and served as an Academic Director at an English conversation school on Mission St where he implemented student centered workshops. In 2010, Heyward started working at the Academy of Art as an EAP teacher and Support Instructor. Heyward enjoys listening to music, snowboarding, and generally just goofing off.
Educational Background: School for International Training (MA)
Janine Gluud
English for Art Purposes Faculty Coordinator
Janine Gluud has a MA in English as a Second Language and a BA in French from the University of Hawaii and NYU- Binghamton respectively. She has over 20 years of professional teaching experience including work in the English Fluency Program at SF State University Ext. Ed., English Institute at Canada College, Peralta Community College, UC Berkeley Extension, and other teaching programs in Spain, Portugal, Hawaii, Taiwan, and Mexico. She is fluent in French and Spanish and has studied Portuguese, Japanese, and Mandarin. She is a member of TESOL and CATESOL and volunteered on the Canada College Evening Advisory Board Panel. She has held numerous presentations and workshops on the English language in Spain and Canada.
Educational Background: University of Hawaii (MA-English as a Second Language); State University of New York at Binghamton (BA-French)
Richard La Rose Full-Time Faculty
Richard La Rose received his MA in TESOL from the University of San Francisco and his BA in Speech Education from Nicholls State University. Since then, he has been teaching for more than 20 years. Most recently, he was an Adjunct Professor at Escuela Superior de Administracion y Direccion de Empresas in Barcelona, Spain. Having worked there for nearly 20 years, La Rose taught ESL credit courses in both the undergraduate and graduate programs as well as non- credit courses. He also taught TOEFL and CFC preparation courses as well as an Intro to American History and Culture course while there. Additionally, La Rose owned and operated a country guest house and B&B for several years. Educational Background: University of San Francisco (MA-TESOL); Nicholls State University (BA-Speech Education)
Sherise Lee
Speaking Lab Coordinator
Sherise brings her love for both teaching and art into her role at the Academy. She graduated from the University of California at Davis (Go Ags!) with degrees in Art History and Sociology. She later completed a master’s degree in second language education. Her experiences range from working in event marketing to teaching elementary school in China. When she's not traveling Sherise enjoys running and pursuing her design interests. You can also find her on the hunt for good eats in the city.
Educational Background: Biola University (MA); Dallas Theological Seminary (MA); University of California, Davis (BA)
Laura Messina Full-Time Faculty
Laura has taught English at San Francisco State University, American language institute since 1999. Beside teaching students, she also trained and supervised new teachers. Laura is a member of CATESOL. She received her BA in Social Ecology from UC Irvine in 1989, and earned her MA in English with TESOL emphasis from San Francisco State
University in 2002.
Educational Background: San Francisco State University (MA-English TESOL); University of California, Irvine (BA-Social Ecology)
Stacy Nelson
English for Art Purposes 604 Speaking & Listening Coordinator
Stacy Nelson has an M.A. in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from San Francisco State University, where she also earned a Certificate in Teaching Post-secondary Reading. As an undergraduate, she studied Writing and Music at Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington. Stacy has taught ESL courses at all levels and has over two years of experience tutoring in academic writing labs.
Educational Background: San Francisco State University (MA-Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages); Whitworth University (BA-Music and Writing)
Paget Norton Full-Time Faculty
Paget Norton is an experienced educator with more than 10 years of experience. After receiving her MFA in Creative Writing from San Diego State University and her BA in Literature/Writing from UC San Diego, Norton went on to teach at San Diego State University as an Adjunct Professor. Afterwards, she worked for two years with the US Peace Corps as an English Professor. Most recently, she was responsible for Instruction and Special Projects at Vallecitos CET for two years. She has worked on the White Ribbon Campaign in Morocco and was a Team Leader for Taking Our Daughters to Work Day in Morocco. Currently, Norton is an ESL instructor with Academy of Art University. In addition to teaching, Norton has also worked with the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and has managed the coordination of volunteers and books from the Sabre Foundation to Morocco.
Educational Background: San Diego State University (MFA-Creative Writing); University of California, San Diego (BA- Literature/Writing)
Amy Parker
Midpoint Review Lab & English for Art Purposes 605W Coordinator
Amy has more than 20 years of teaching experience. She was the co-author of Talking Together, a beginning ESL conversation text, Lateral Communications, a division of Longman Publishers. She also reviewed several textbooks such as, The Advanced Grammar Book, second edition, Heinle and Heinle publishers; Grammar Mastery, Houghton-Miffin publishers, etc. Moreover, Amy is a member of numerous professional affiliations such as CATESOL.
Educational Background: San Francisco State University (MA-English: EFL/ESL); Michigan Technological University (BA-Liberal Arts)
Carlo Pellegrini
Online Language Support Faculty / Online Speaking Lab Coordinator
Carlo Pellegrini has interdisciplinary experience in website production, education and curriculum development in the fine arts. He is currently Head Teacher/Internship Coordinator at the Aspect International Language Academy teaching English as a second language to adults. Carlo is proficient in 5 languages and has taught English in many countries including Japan, Italy and Guatemala. He also is credited with a number of ESL video works. Pellegrini holds a BA in Italian from the University of Washington.
Educational Background: University of Washington (BA-Italian)
Susannah Schoff Art Education Liaison
Susannah Schoff received her BA in French and English Literature from the University of San Francisco and her MA in TESOL from San Francisco State University. Most recently, she was an English Language Fellow at the IAIN Antasari State Institute for Islamic Studies in Indonesia. Previously, she has been a Senior Teacher and ESL Teacher at the American Language Institute at SFSU, Albany Park Community Center in Chicago, NAVA Language School in Thailand, and the AmericanCorps Program at the Presidio Child Development Center. Schoff has made numerous presentations at various universities in Indonesia and Malaysia.
Educational Background: San Francisco State University (MA-TESOL); University of San Francisco (BA-French & English Literature)
Michael Schuller Full-Time Faculty
Michael has more than 20 years of English teaching experience. He has taught in numerous institutes and colleges such as: Wisconsin English Language Institute, Madison, Wisconsin; Centre National de la Recherche Scientific, Paris, France; University of California-Berkeley, Extension; Canada College, Redwood City; and Academy of Art College. Michael earned his BS in Secondary English Education and MA in English from University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1972 and 1974.
Educational Background: University of Nebraska Lincoln (MA-English); University of Nebraska Lincoln (BS-Secondary English Education)
George Schupp Full-Time Faculty
George has 12 years of teaching experience specializing in secondary ESL and special education classes. The schools that he taught include Nova Intercultural Institute, Osaka, Japan; The Arc San Francisco; and San Francisco Unified School District. George received his Bachelor of Science in Communications with honors from Ohio University in 1985. George also holds a MA in English from San Francisco State University.
Educational Background: San Francisco State University (MA-English); Ohio University (BS-Communications)
Michael Shehane
English for Art Purposes 3 Curriculum Coordinator
Michael Shehane received his MA in English with a concentration in TESOL from San Francisco State University and a BA in English from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. He has taught for various schools, including Kansai Gaidai University in Japan, San Francisco State University, and NOVA Group in Japan. Shehane has also published a book on English language. He has a high intermediate understanding of German, a high beginning level understanding of Japanese, and a beginner's level understanding of Chinese.
Educational Background: San Francisco State University (MA-English TESOL); California Polytechnic State University (BA-English)
Amy Shipley
Full-Time Faculty / Instructional Technology Curriculum Integration Coordinator / English as a Second Language Coordinator
Amy Shipley holds a MA in TESOL from SFSU and a BA in Rhetoric and Communication from UC Davis. She has nearly 10 years of teaching experience both in the US and internationally. Most recently, she has been teaching Reading and Writing at the American Language Institute at SFSU and UC Berkeley Extension. Prior to that, Shipley taught English conversation at the Excel Language Center in Peru and volunteered at the Save Exiled Tibetan Scholars Association in India. Additionally, she taught English conversation at the Ota English School in Japan. Shipley also has teacher training experience, having enrolled in the program at the American Language Institute. She has served as the Conference Chairperson at the MA TESOL Conference and gave a presentation at the same event. Shipley has been a member of TESOL and CATESOL since 2002.
Educational Background: San Francisco State University (MA-TESOL); University of California, Davis (BA-Rhetoric & Communication)
Nancy Taylor Full-Time Faculty
Nancy Taylor received her BA in English from Mary Washington College. She went on to obtain a Certificate in Beginning and Intermediate Arabic through the US Army's Defense Language Institute. She also worked as a Linguist and Analyst for the US Army for 8 years. She has since worked as a Paralegal, English/ Drama Teacher, and Language Arts Teacher. Since 2004, she has been a Career Placement Counselor and Instructor at the English Center for
International Women where she instructs all levels of international university students in Grammar, Reading, Writing, and Speaking/ Listening. Taylor also obtained her AA in Paralegal Studies from Phillips Business College, an MA in English from the University of Alabama, and a TESL Certificate from UC Berkeley Extension.
Educational Background: University of Alabama (MA-English); Mary Washington College (BA-English)
Walter Thoma Full-Time Faculty
Walter has more than 10 years of teaching experience. He has been teaching at Academy of Art University since 1996 providing specialized English language instruction for international students. He worked for World Learning Inc., an international educational services organization, founded in 1932, which provides language instruction for international students and executives. Walter received his BA in Sociology and Fine Arts from Brandeis University in 1981, and received his MA in ESL from University of Massachusetts at Boston in 1989.
Educational Background: University of Massachusetts (MA-ESL); Brandeis College (BA-Sociology & Fine Arts)
Erika Weisbrich
English for Art Purposes Lab Coordinator
Erika Weisbrich has worked for over twelve years in San Francisco and abroad as ESL teacher and program developer. She has an M.A. TESOL and the Certificate in the Teaching of Composition from San Francisco State University. A native Californian with travel experiences in twenty countries, she has lived in Germany and taught in Japan and Turkey. Having specialized in English for Art Purposes and curriculum development since 2001, she greatly enjoys the English for Art Purposes courses at ACADEMY OF ART UNIVERSITY and started teaching them in Spring 2008. She has also recently taught writing for the extension program at San Francisco State University. In her free time she enjoys delving into the international flavors of the Bay Area, especially when seeking out a good "cheap eat". A lifelong lover of words and the arts, she holds a B.A. in English/Creative Writings from SFSU and enjoys poetry, Romanticism, etymology, languages, her husband's British English, and the cute "wordlets" now spoken by her little boy/girl twins.
Educational Background: San Francisco State University (MA-English TESOL); San Francisco State University (Graduate Certificate in the Teaching of Composition); San Francisco State University (BA-English)
Maw Shein Win Full-Time Faculty
Maw Shein Win received her BA in English with a focus on Creative Writing from CSU Long Beach. She has continued taking graduate courses in TESL and TEFL at SFSU. She has taught various ESL, EFL and literacy courses throughout the bay area. Win has also taught an Intensive English Program in Japan as well as volunteering as an English teacher for a Burmese community in Japan. Her training includes TOEFL and TOEIC, English Speaking Proficiency testing, Adult Basic Education Credential for English and Humanities, CBEST Verification, ESL Citizenship workshops, and OTAN ESL Institute workshops.
Educational Background: California State University, Long Beach (BA-English)
Steven Weiss Full-Time Faculty
Steven Weiss is a dynamic ESL teacher with years of experience. For the last 4 years, Weiss has been an English Teacher in Brussels at Interface III and Babelachtig. Additionally, he has worked as a Freelance Translator for French to English texts. Weiss holds a Master's in Philosophy from Katholieke Universiteit Leuven and a BA in Philosophy and Sociology from Pennsylvania State University.
Educational Background: Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (MA-Philosophy); Pennsylvania State University (BA-Philosophy and Sociology)