Meet the CILIA-T Research Team
Meet the CILIA-T Research Team
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Aydin Durgunoğlu, Principal Investigator
Aydin Durgunoğlu, Principal Investigator
Aydin Yucesan Durgunoğlu is a Distinguished Global Professor at the University of Minnesota Duluth. Trained as a cognitive psychologist, her areas of research include language and literacy development, bilingualism, and knowledge acquisition. She has taught ESL classes and developed curricula for adult learners, both in the U.S. and in Turkiye.
Aydin Yucesan Durgunoğlu is a Distinguished Global Professor at the University of Minnesota Duluth. Trained as a cognitive psychologist, her areas of research include language and literacy development, bilingualism, and knowledge acquisition. She has taught ESL classes and developed curricula for adult learners, both in the U.S. and in Turkiye.
Erin Cary, Project Coordinator
Erin Cary, Project Coordinator
Erin Cary, MA ESL (she/her), has worked in adult education since 2009 as a teacher, administrator, and in curriculum writing and professional development. She currently teaches beginner ELLs and citizenship classes for Metro North Adult Basic Education in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. She is an adjunct instructor in the MA TESOL/additional ABE licensure and certificate program at Hamline University. She is a co-founder of the teacher/learner self-advocacy movement #IamABE, which supports equity work and activism in MN adult education.
Erin Cary, MA ESL (she/her), has worked in adult education since 2009 as a teacher, administrator, and in curriculum writing and professional development. She currently teaches beginner ELLs and citizenship classes for Metro North Adult Basic Education in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. She is an adjunct instructor in the MA TESOL/additional ABE licensure and certificate program at Hamline University. She is a co-founder of the teacher/learner self-advocacy movement #IamABE, which supports equity work and activism in MN adult education.
Theresa Sladek, Co-Principal Investigator
Theresa Sladek, Co-Principal Investigator
Theresa Sladek, MA, is the Strategic Partnerships and Northstar Business Development Manager at Literacy Minnesota and works with organizations to ascertain and implement their digital literacy needs. Theresa is the Steering Committee chair for Literacy Minnesota’s Open Door Collective program which fosters dialogue at the national level between a variety of sectors with collective goals supporting poverty reduction. Prior to this, she developed statewide training on Navigation related to adult persistence in learning.
Theresa Sladek, MA, is the Strategic Partnerships and Northstar Business Development Manager at Literacy Minnesota and works with organizations to ascertain and implement their digital literacy needs. Theresa is the Steering Committee chair for Literacy Minnesota’s Open Door Collective program which fosters dialogue at the national level between a variety of sectors with collective goals supporting poverty reduction. Prior to this, she developed statewide training on Navigation related to adult persistence in learning.
John Trerotola, Content Developer
John Trerotola, Content Developer
John is a GED social studies/English teacher and also has experience in the areas of Adult Diploma, ESL, and college preparation. From 2012 to 2023, he taught students at the Robbinsdale (Minnesota) Adult Academic Program. Currently, he is teaching GED and Pre-GED at an adult detention center through the Fairfax County (Virginia) Public Schools.
John is a GED social studies/English teacher and also has experience in the areas of Adult Diploma, ESL, and college preparation. From 2012 to 2023, he taught students at the Robbinsdale (Minnesota) Adult Academic Program. Currently, he is teaching GED and Pre-GED at an adult detention center through the Fairfax County (Virginia) Public Schools.
Daphne Greenberg, Co-Principal Investigator
Daphne Greenberg, Co-Principal Investigator
Daphne Greenberg is a Distinguished University Professor of Educational Psychology and the Director of the Adult Literacy Research Center at Georgia State University. Her areas of research include reading, writing, and digital literacy focusing specifically on adults who have difficulty with fundamental academic skills.
Daphne Greenberg is a Distinguished University Professor of Educational Psychology and the Director of the Adult Literacy Research Center at Georgia State University. Her areas of research include reading, writing, and digital literacy focusing specifically on adults who have difficulty with fundamental academic skills.
Elizabeth Tighe, Co-Principal Investigator
Elizabeth Tighe, Co-Principal Investigator
Elizabeth L. Tighe is an Associate Professor of Psychology and the Assistant Director of the Adult Literacy Research Center at Georgia State University. She has expertise in adult literacy, reading and digital assessments, and advanced quantitative methodology.
Elizabeth L. Tighe is an Associate Professor of Psychology and the Assistant Director of the Adult Literacy Research Center at Georgia State University. She has expertise in adult literacy, reading and digital assessments, and advanced quantitative methodology.
Leah Hauge, Digital Literacy Content Developer
Leah Hauge, Digital Literacy Content Developer
Leah Hauge served as the Northstar Digital Literacy Curriculum Manager at Literacy Minnesota, leading the development of digital literacy resources for learners and instructors at over 3,000 Adult Basic Education programs, colleges, nonprofits, workforce centers, government agencies, and businesses worldwide. She currently works at the College of St. Scholastica.
Leah Hauge served as the Northstar Digital Literacy Curriculum Manager at Literacy Minnesota, leading the development of digital literacy resources for learners and instructors at over 3,000 Adult Basic Education programs, colleges, nonprofits, workforce centers, government agencies, and businesses worldwide. She currently works at the College of St. Scholastica.
Nell Eckersley, Digital Literacy Content Developer
Nell Eckersley, Digital Literacy Content Developer
Nell Eckersley is the Director of Digital Equity Projects at Literacy Assistance Center in New York City. Nell's main focus is on supporting adult education teachers in their work to develop their own digital skills and integrate digital skills practice and the meaningful use of EdTech tools into their teaching.
Nell Eckersley is the Director of Digital Equity Projects at Literacy Assistance Center in New York City. Nell's main focus is on supporting adult education teachers in their work to develop their own digital skills and integrate digital skills practice and the meaningful use of EdTech tools into their teaching.
Mya Shaftel, Content Developer
Mya Shaftel, Content Developer
Mya Shaftel is an ESL teacher, working with adult English language learners since 2007. She has also taught EL classes in Citizenship, Introduction to Medical Careers, and College Prep. Mya is a contributor to the English Unlocked curriculum and phonics workbooks series with Literacy Minnesota, and writer of the Intro book of the Confidence and Connections curriculum with Intercambio out of Boulder, CO. She has been working at Literacy Minnesota since 2005, first as a teacher and now as a program manager.
Mya Shaftel is an ESL teacher, working with adult English language learners since 2007. She has also taught EL classes in Citizenship, Introduction to Medical Careers, and College Prep. Mya is a contributor to the English Unlocked curriculum and phonics workbooks series with Literacy Minnesota, and writer of the Intro book of the Confidence and Connections curriculum with Intercambio out of Boulder, CO. She has been working at Literacy Minnesota since 2005, first as a teacher and now as a program manager.
Visit the CILIA-T YouTube Channel to meet the team virtually!
Visit the CILIA-T YouTube Channel to meet the team virtually!
Click HERE for introduction videos:
Click HERE for introduction videos:
CILIA-T Curriculum:
Written by: Aydin Y. Durgunoğlu, Erin Cary, John Trerotola, Leah Hauge, Mya Shaftel, Nell Eckersley
With support from: (in alphabetical order) David Bortolotto, Kathy Fagan, Daphne Greenberg, Victoria Harrison, Jack Hartford, Marian Hassan, Christy Jarrard, Kristine Kelly, Lucas Kerin, Lita Lind, Anurag Sagar, Vera Stenhouse, Janet Stewart, Seanna Stinnett, Theresa Sladek, Elizabeth Tighe, Kiana Yarbough, Hannah Zimmerman
Pilot teachers: Jill Ashley-Grochowski, Carly Carte, Steve Hunt, Azul Kmiecik, Laurie Patton, Jitka Sebek
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