EDUCATION
M.A. in English with Concentration in TESOL, San Francisco State University, December 2004
B.A. in Rhetoric with Concentration in Public Discourse, University of California Berkeley, May 2001
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Senior Lecturer, Aug. 2025 – Current
Language and Culture Center, Duke Kunshan University
English for Academic Purposes: 101A and 101B
English language coach with the Writing and Language Studio: This course taught communicative English and basic business writing skills for professionals in government offices. Topics includes: greetings and introductions at the airport, making appointments, small talk with guests, drafting emails and text messages, and business writing etiquette..
Lecturer, Aug. 2020 – Aug. 2022
English Language Teaching Unit, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Teaching English across the curriculum to enhance English language use in specific disciplines for Year 1-3 students. Each term involved three preps and six sections. Conducted online teaching via Zoom for three terms. Courses taught:
ELTU1002: English Communication for University Studies provides a foundation for essential academic skills for university studies which culminates in a final expository research paper (1,400 – 1,600 words).
ELTU2012 and 3012: Business Communication I & II are for second and third year business majors. The courses focus on creating a business proposal and presentation with a team to write business case responses, conduct business meetings, and business reports.
ELTU2019 and 3018: English for Science Students I & II are for second and third year science majors. Courses concentrate on science research writing and developing skills necessary to obtain a job or gain admission to a graduate program.
Lecturer, Aug. 2015 – Aug. 2018
Foundation Program Department of English, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
Served on a variety of committees that included organizing international conferences to producing a play. Collaborated regularly with the School of Law, Business, and Medicine faculty in volunteer activities, editing, tutoring, and research. Courses taught:
ENGL 110: Embedded English I and ENGL 111: Embedded English II are core curriculum courses for students enrolled in Arabic language majors. These courses integrate listening, speaking, reading, and writing through the use of practical task-based lessons and activities.
ENGL 202: English Language I Post Foundation and ENGL 203: English Language II Post Foundation are core curriculum courses for students enrolled in English language majors. Emphasis placed on understanding the writing process and being able to apply it to a number of different academic essay genres culminating in a research paper with references. Focus is also placed on the development of critical and reflective thinking skills.
Personal Travel, Sep. 2011 – Sep. 2014
U.S., Europe, Middle East, and Asia
Lived in England for 1.5 years, using it as a home base for various travel throughout Europe. One year driving over 20,000 miles in a road trip around the United States. Six months in Asia improving Thai and Mandarin skills and volunteering with sea turtle conservation.
Instructor, Aug. 2006 – Aug. 2011
Department of Writing Studies, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah, UAE
Served on a variety of committees including Academic Task Force Committee, Hiring Committee and Strategic Planning Committee. Conducted interdepartmental and institutional research in business writing and academic honesty. Courses taught:
WRI 101: Academic Writing I: Developed ability to read and and analyze academic text and compoase a varity of expository essays.
WRI 102: Reading and Writing Across the Curriculum. Strengthened reasoning skills and understanding of various rhetorical strategies to produce argumentative essays.
ESL Composition Instructor, April 2005 – July 2006
Language Arts Department, Foothill College, Los Altos Hills, CA
Courses included:
ESL 25 and 26: Integrated Reading and Writing included techniques and practices of expository and argumentative writing based on critical reading and thinking.
ESL 167: Basic Composition Skills emphasized short clear prose.
ESL 177: Advanced Vocabulary expanded academic vocabulary needs for students in an academic setting.
ESL Instructor, Jan. 2005 – June 2006
English Institute, Canada College, Redwood City, CA
Taught a variety of ESL courses to non-native English Speakers. Courses include Grammar, Vocabulary, Listening/Speaking, Basic Skills (four skills), and Writing.
Literacy Instructor, Aug. 2004 – Dec. 2004
CBET Program, Canada College, Redwood City, CA
Assisted teachers in community-based education (CBET) literacy courses to immigrants and disenfranchised communities. Tutored individuals and small groups of up to eight people.
Graduate Assistant, Sep. 2003 – Dec. 2004
English Department, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA
Assisted Dr. Sugie Goen and Dr. Helen Gillotte-Tropp in their FIPSE funded Literacy Unleashed program. Responsible for gathering and organizing data from three semesters of coursework from remedial English in integrated reading and writing.
PAPERS PRESENTED AT CONFERENCES
Language Learning with Portable Devices. Presented at the 2010 International Journal of Arts and Sciences, Rome, Italy
Cultural Influences on Business Writing in the American University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. Presented at the 2008 11th New Zealand Language and Society Conference, Dunedin, New Zealand
Competency Based Education in Literacy Classrooms. Presented at the 2004 M.A. TESOL Conference, San Francisco State University, CA
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES/AWARDS/CERTIFICATION
Specialized Program in Professional Writing, expected completion Summer 2025
Completed four out of six post-graduate level courses from University of California Berkeley Extension including Introduction to Public Relations, Fundamentals of Freelancing, and Writing for Social Media.
Professional Development Course Series, June 2022
Three-part series from the Centre for Learning Enhancement and Research at The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Part I: Understanding the Teaching Context at CUHK (4 hours). Part II: Techniques and Strategies (4 hours). Part III: Practicum that includes statement of teaching philosophy and behavioral classroom observation.
1st - 3rd International Conference & Exhibition on ELT, 2016 - 2018
Organized an international conference for three consecutive years on English Language Teaching at the University of Qatar. In charge of hospitality and logistics for speakers and guests including transportation and tours.
Flipped Classroom Certification, February 2017
Completed four tutorials, quizzes, and designed several tutorials for an English composition course on SOPHIA.org.
Faculty Professional Development Grant, $3500 USD, May 2010
Institutional research conducted at American University of Sharjah. Implemented the Academic Integrity Survey for all university students and conducted focus groups to improve ethical understanding at AUS.
CAS Conference Grants, $3000 USD, 2008 and 2010
College of Arts and Sciences grants awarded by the American University of Sharjah. Conference presentations in Dunedin, New Zealand and Rome, Italy.
Seed Grant, $5000 AED, October 2008
Interdepartmental research conducted with the School of Business at the American University of Sharjah. Researched the culture of English writing in MBA Programs in the Middle East.
Program Book Editor, 2004
M.A. TESOL Conference at San Francisco State University, California.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, Inc.
California Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages
Association for Writing Across the Curriculum
LANGUAGES
English (Native)
Mandarin and Thai (Intermediate Listening and Speaking only)
French (Elementary / A2)