Instructor Bios

Melanie Adams - French

madams65chs@gmail.com

I think this is my 6th year teaching at La Causerie. When I retired from teaching high school French and Spanish (45 years!) I came to La Causerie as a student of Italian. I served on the board for two years and then became a teacher at LCF. Two of my passions are learning languages and traveling. I also volunteer twice a week with Lead to Read. Other places where I have taught include Alliance Francaise and Johnson County Community College.

My name is Siacka. I am originally from Senegal, West Africa. I am a passionate and dedicated French teacher with more than 15 years of experience in education. I am thrilled to be teaching French at La Causerie.

I hold a Master's degree in French and Francophone Literature from Kansas State University with a focus on the plight of women in male dominated society. I hold another Master's degree from Université Cheikh Diop Dakar - Senegal.  Before coming to the United States, I have spent several years teaching French language to a diverse range of people from students to workers. In 2009, as a graduate teaching assistant in the department of modern languages at Kansas State University, I have started teaching French in the US at college level. I have taught French in various schools in the U.S. such as Kansas State University, Kansas City Kansas Community College, Washburn University, Alliance Française and La Causerie. 

Outside the classroom, I am an interpreter and translator. I enjoy reading, writing, cooking , watching movies and soccer is my favorite sport. I look forward to a great semester!

Doug Eikermann - Spanish

Duende44@sbcglobal.net

Doug Eikermann taught Spanish classes at La Causerie for 14 years, took a three-year hiatus, and then returned for the 2024-25 school year. In his other life, he runs a farming business to support himself and paints with oils on canvas in his spare time. He has written five books—three novels, a book of short stories, and a non-fiction book for folks who need a lawyer. He speaks Spanish and Portuguese and is currently humbling himself in Helene’s 11:30 French class.

At other times he has worked as a consultant negotiating and writing contracts for companies that do business in Latin America. Throughout his career, he has practiced immigration law, engaged in civil and criminal litigation, and performed legal work for a number of corporations. Early in his law career, he practiced with private firms on the U.S.-Mexican border, worked for a law firm in Madrid, served as in-house counsel for a propane gas company in Mexico, and studied international law in Salzburg, Austria.

Law school at KU was before that, and in his twenties, he served as an officer on two ships in the U.S. Navy—a destroyer based in Seattle, Washington, and a nuclear cruiser out of San Diego, California. Previous to that, he attended the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, and at the beginning, he spent four years at Bonner Springs High School and was raised in a small, eastern-Kansas community called Lake of the Forest.

Nacer Khelouz - French

khelouznacer@umkc.edu

Patricia Marein - Spanish

pmarein@gmail.com

Sylvie Murphy - Italian

sylviehogg@gmail.com

Sylvie is an Italian language instructor with experience teaching levels from beginner to advanced. She is passionate about Roman archeology and Italian art history, as well as all forms of Italian culture, from food and mid century design to tabloids and talk shows. She is the author of guidebooks and extensive online travel content about Rome and Italy for outlets such as Google, Frommer’s, and TimeOut.

Sylvie has a B.A. in Classics from Dartmouth College. She worked as a tour guide in Rome for 5 years and currently works part-time as a travel advisor specializing in Italy. She is originally from the San Francisco Bay Area and has lived in Kansas City since 2008. She and her husband, Tim, have three teenage boys, two dogs, and two cats. They (minus the pets) travel to Italy often. Sylvie’s family recently embarked on the adventure of Italian home ownership. Their apartment in the small medieval village of Allerona (near Orvieto, in Umbria) is undergoing renovations and may be finished…someday!

Nolan brings a deep passion for Spanish language education and an impressive academic background to our school. He holds both a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Spanish Language and Literature from San Diego State University, graduating with high honors. During his time at SDSU, he taught multiple sections of beginning and intermediate Spanish, earning recognition as an Outstanding First-Year Teaching Associate from the Department of Spanish & Portuguese.

Beyond the classroom, Nolan has put his bilingual skills to work in a variety of professional settings - from supporting Spanish-speaking customers across the United States and Latin America at Garmin International, to developing and delivering Spanish-language programming and training at BikeWalkKC in Kansas City, where he serves as Director of Education and manages one of the largest Safe Routes To School Programs in the country. He is not only fluent in Spanish but genuinely enthusiastic about helping others reach proficiency in the language, due to his experience as a non-native Spanish learner himself. For fun, he loves cooking, traveling, hiking, and cycling.

Nolan is known for his dedication, warmth, and ability to connect with students at all levels. He always knew he wanted to work in education, as his teachers were always his biggest inspiration and he loves to share his knowledge with others. We know he will be a wonderful addition to our community, and we look forward to the energy and expertise he will bring to our adult learners.

Hélène Perriguey-Keene - French

heleneperrigueykeene@gmail.com

I’ve been teaching at La Causerie since 2008, sharing my passion for French with learners of all levels. I also teach French and Spanish full-time at the college level and offer French for Travelers on Saturdays.  I hold master’s degrees in English (France) and French (U.S.), along with three years of PhD coursework in Spanish. Over the years, I’ve taught at various colleges, co-led study programs abroad, and helped organize a Spanish retreat for high school teachers across Kansas.

I discovered my love for languages at an international boarding school near Nice and have lived in the U.S. for 30 years. I enjoy traveling, gourmet cuisine, art, theatre, and nature—but most of all, I cherish time with my husband and friends.

Teaching at La Causerie has been a true joy, and I feel so fortunate to share my passion for French with such wonderful learners!

Cristy Schmidt - Spanish

nannyschmidt1212@gmail.com

Irene Schmidt - Spanish

adjunctconnections@gmail.com

I am a native Spanish speaker with 25 years of experience teaching Spanish in higher education after earning degrees in Spanish and Latin American Literature (at GWU for undergrad and KU for her master´s.) At KU and Johnson County Community College, I taught students of all ages, abilities, and walks of life.  I consider myself a facilitator for language learning, delight in grammar tips and tricks, and love to share cultural insights whenever applicable.  In particular, I am a fan of Mexican telenovelas which have international appeal.  

I have been at La Causerie since Fall 2022.  The students here are the BEST!!!  It has been a wonderful transition to semi-retirement but my students know that I don't hold back on fun parties.  Expect two parties per semester -- Día de los Muertos y Navidad, then Día de la Amistad (San Valentín) y Cinco de Mayo.  I am always looking for creative outlets to use Spanish and coach pronunciation -- students have volunteered to make a video and sing in Spanish, and read dialogues or short readings in class.  Expect emails that share cultural links, music, handouts, etc.  ¡Vengan a aprender conmigo!

Becky Tucker - French

beckyfr@swbell.net

I started my love affair (with French!) at William Chrisman High School. A girlfriend said, "Take French, the teacher is nice", and that was all it took. I've spent a lifetime hoping students say that about me.  I have a B.S. in Education from Central Missouri State University and an M.A. in French Language and Culture from University of California at Santa Barbara. I've lived in a lot of countries and learned a lot of languages, plus raised a wonderful son. I'm also a writer, with a series of Women's Fiction and a series of French language readers in levels from beginner to advanced. It's amazing what life can send your way!