The Speakers

[Danny Kessler]

Danny Kessler is a Professor at Dongseo University, International College, with over a decade of experience in higher education. He specializes in wellness tourism, human resource management, and organizational behavior. As an Ambassador to the Global Wellness Institute, he is recognized as a leading authority in the wellness industry. Kessler directs the Workplace Wellness Research Lab and developed the Global Workplace Wellness Micro degree. He has published in international journals, co-authored a textbook, and serves as a foreign advisor to Busan Global Tourism City. Additionally, he is a senior researcher at the Wellness Tourism Institute and a Research Associate with the Wellness Tourism Association.

[Lowell Sanborn]

Lowell Sanborn is the International Faculty Coordinator for Gyeongsang National University’s School of Language Education. His research focuses on linguistic identity, discourse analysis, and support for emerging English language teachers. He holds a Master’s degree in TESOL from the University of Birmingham and a Bachelor’s degree in Linguistics from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver. He has previously published research in KOTESOL identifying collaborative discourse parameters. He has also published textbooks for university students looking to work in English-speaking workplaces and young learners in everyday situations abroad. Lowell is completing a doctorate at the University of British Columbia focused on transformative leadership in Education.

[Jason Teale]

Jason Teale has lived in Ulsan for over 20 years and holds a Master of Education from St. Francis Xavier University. As a Business English instructor, he helps professionals enhance their communication and conversational skills. Alongside teaching, Jason is an accomplished landscape and travel photographer whose work has been featured in National Geographic and Travel+Leisure and other prominent publications. He also shares his passion through photography classes at the Ulsan Support Center for Foreign Residents. Additionally, Jason runs Ulsan Online, the city’s largest community for foreigners, fostering connection and support.

[Marte-Marie Bezuidenhout & Petri Swanepoel]

Marte-Meri Bezuidenhout is an English instructor at the University of Ulsan, with a diverse background in marketing, PR, and teaching English to speakers of other languages. Currently pursuing an MA in Education, Marte-Meri is passionate about the effects of globalization on education and the field of sociolinguistics. Her interdisciplinary experience allows her to bring a unique perspective to the classroom, focusing on how global trends and language dynamics shape learning environments. She is dedicated to exploring innovative educational practices that address the challenges of teaching in a globalized world.

Petri Swanepoel is an English instructor at the University of Ulsan and is currently pursuing an MA in Education. With a strong interest in linguistics, educational practices, and the integration of AI into the classroom, he is focused on exploring innovative ways to enhance learning experiences. His work combines traditional language instruction with technology, aiming to foster both linguistic proficiency and critical thinking in students. Through his studies and teaching, Petri is committed to developing forward-thinking educational methods that balance the benefits of AI with the essential human elements of learning.

[Alvaro Fuentes]

Alvaro Fuentes is a Research Professor at the Core Research Institute of Intelligent Robots (CRIIR-JBNU) and the Department of Electronics Engineering at Jeonbuk National University in South Korea. He leads the Multimedia Laboratory research group and is a fellow at the Trustworthy AI Lab at Seoul National University. Fuentes earned his Engineering degree in Mechatronics from Tecnica del Norte University in Ecuador in 2012, followed by an M.Eng. and PhD in Electronics Engineering, specializing in Artificial Intelligence and Computer Vision, from Jeonbuk National University in 2016 and 2019, respectively. His postdoctoral research at CRIIR-JBNU focused on AI for Smart Farming, leading to several influential publications.

His research interests include Computer Vision, Deep Learning, Machine Learning, and Robotics. Fuentes is dedicated to the ethical application of AI, with a commitment to sustainable development. He is currently teaching "Advanced Intelligent Programming" at JBNU, where his course has been extremely popular since its introduction in 2022.

[KC Washington]

KC Washington is a Foreign Language Lecturer at Gyeongsang National University, a novelist, a travel blogger, and a freelance independent historian. She has an Associate of Arts degree in Journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia, a Bachelor of Arts in English from Brooklyn College, and a Master of Arts in Bilingual Education/ESL and Reading from the University of Texas Permian Basin.

KC has written articles on feminism, African American culture, and travel and is currently a contributing writer for BlackPast.org, “The English Connection”, and the “KOTESOL Journal”.

She has been the vice president of the Busan-Gyeongnam KOTESOL chapter since 2022 and in 2025 will also assume the role of Director of Communications.

[Daniel Jones]

Daniel Jones has been working and living in Korea for over thirteen years teaching all ages. He is the former financial affairs chair of KOTESOL at large, and the current treasurer of KOTESOL's Busan-Gyeongnam Branch. He's also hosted several workshops and seminars, especially related to financial education. In his free time, he's a total dork and loves anything about sci-fi, fantasy, comic books, or similar.

[Lisa MacIntyre-Park]

Lisa MacIntyre-Park holds a BEd (TESL) and BA (Hons) with a focus in psychology and language learning from Brock University in Canada and has been teaching English in Korea since 1997. In her free time, Lisa enjoys reading and practising the art of modern calligraphy. She has been an officer of the Jeonju-North Jeolla Chapter of KOTESOL since late 2018 and the chapter’s president since 2023.

[Cory Balderas]

Cory Balderas holds a Master’s degree in TESOL from Arizona State University and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Arlington. With eight years of teaching experience in Asia, Cory currently teaches at the University of Ulsan, where they integrate new technologies to enhance student engagement and practical language skills. Cory is dedicated to creating interactive learning experiences that prepare students for effective global communication.

[Chris Edwards]

Chris Edwards has taught English in Korea since 2002. He has worked with children of all ages at public and private schools, and has been teaching university students since 2006. He now works at Kyungsung University, teaching writing and conversation classes to Korean and foreign students. He is also an author, and has recently published a science fiction novel. Chris continues to share his love of writing and teaching with other teachers in the Busan creative community.

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