Texas Intensive English Program - [Administrative Staff]

Administrative Staff

The administrators and faculty of TIEP are supported by an experienced staff who provide assistance with immigration, housing, medical insurance and other student concerns.

	Dr. Terry Simon - Director Dr. Simon has a Ph.D. in Foreign Language Education with an emphasis in Applied Linguistics from The University of Texas at Austin and an M.A. in Applied English Linguistics and a B.A. in French from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has studied in France and Mexico, and he has taught English in Colombia, Mexico, and the U.S.A. He has served the Texas Intensive English Program in many capacities, as director since 1993, and before then, as academic coordinator, level supervisor, and instructor. Dr. Simon's service to professional organizations includes Treasurer of TexTESOL III 1987-1997, member of the Executive Board of the American Association of Intensive English Programs 1995-1997 and 2000-2003 (President 2001-2002), and Commissioner of the Commission on English Language Program Accreditation 2004-2007 (Commission Chair 2007). He has given presentations at regional and international TESOL and NAFSA conventions. He co-authored with John Schmidt the ESL textbook Frontiers: An Active Introduction to English Grammar and has also published in the journals Brain and Language and Neuropsychologia.
	Karen Easterday - Academic Coordinator Ms. Easterday has a B.A. in French and a certification in English as a Second Language from Miami University in Ohio. She has an M.A. in Student Affairs in Higher Education from the Ohio State University. She has extensive experience working in the U.S. and abroad in international education in English as a Second Language teaching and program management, international student advising, and study abroad. She has taught all levels of English as a Second Language in international schools, private corporations, foreign and American universities and has managed a large English program for the U.S. government. She has lived, worked, and studied in nine countries including the U.S. Ms. Easterday is professionally active in TESOL and NAFSA: Association of International Educators. She currently serves as Academic Coordinator and supervisor of the Foundations of English and English for Communication and Culture programs. [back to top]
	Dr. John Schmidt - Academic Coordinator Dr. Schmidt has been involved in TIEC projects overseas and in the United States since 1985. He began teaching ESL at the University of Texas at Austin Intensive English Program (now TIEP) in 1978, where he has worked as a student advisor, as a supervisor of Foundations levels and as the developer and supervisor of the English for Business program. He is currently an academic coordinator at TIEP, overseeing the English for Academic Purposes program and the evening program. He has trained teachers of English on five continents. Prior to coming to Austin, he taught English in Spain at the University of Barcelona and Spanish at the University of Illinois. His master's level studies in Spanish Linguistics at both of these institutions were preceded by undergraduate work in Spanish and Ibero-American Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Madrid. Dr. Schmidt received his Ph.D. in Foreign Language Education from the University of Texas at Austin. He co-authored Frontiers: An Active Introduction to English Grammar (Addison-Wesley, 1988) with Dr. Terry Simon. He has served as President of the national consortium UCIEP (University and College Intensive English Programs) and President of TEXTESOL III. He is serving on the international Board of Directors of TESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages) through 2009. [back to top]
	Dr. Cheryl Nuwash - University Express Coordinator Dr. Nuwash studied in Mexico and Nicaragua before receiving her B.A. degree in Spanish from Wilmington College, Wilmington, Ohio. She received her M.A. in Applied English Linguistics from the University of Texas at El Paso. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin in Foreign Language Education. She taught ESL and other subjects in public schools in New Mexico and Texas. She has taught Adult Basic Education and ESL at Austin Community College. At Concordia University at Austin, she designed the curriculum and taught a course to help prepare education majors to work with Spanish-speaking children. She also tutors prospective teachers for the TExES test for certification to teach ESL and Bilingual Education in Texas. She has presented at TESOL and International Reading Association conventions. [back to top]
	Laura Coco - Student Services Administrator Ms. Coco is currently in her senior year at the University of Texas majoring in Latin American Studies with a minor in Spanish. Her overseas experience includes a 6-month stay in Chile where she studied at a University and taught English at a local middle school. In addition to coordinating the TIEC Sponsored Student program, her responsibilities include responding to inquires, preparing immigration documents, registering students, and counseling current and prospective students. [back to top]
	Sophia Kwong - Student Adviser Ms. Kwong graduated from the Liberal Arts Honors program at the University of Texas at Austin with a double major in English and Spanish. As part of her Hispanic Studies degree, Sophia spent a summer doing intensive Spanish study in Salamanca, Spain – the oldest university in Europe. Recently, Sophia traveled to the Instituto Britanico in San Jose, Costa Rica where she obtained her CELTA certificate for teaching English. In this program, she taught beginner and intermediate level English. Her primary responsibilities at TIEP include advising and counseling University Express students. [back to top]
	Naoko Otani - Office Assistant Ms. Otani came to the United States from Japan in 1997 to study as an F-1 visa student. She earned a master's degree in Applied Linguistics & Teaching English as a Second Language at UCLA. She has taught college-level Japanese and worked with international students at El Camino College in California. She has met people from over 60 countries and traveled in 15 countries. She believes that people have more things in common than differences regardless of their language or culture. Her responsibilities at TIEP include responding to inquiries, assisting students, and processing applications. [back to top]
	Dr. Woody Smith - Program Coordinator Dr. Smith has been employed by the Texas Intensive English Program since the fall of 2005. During that time he has been the program coordinator for 2 training programs for Korean teachers of English sponsored by the Korean-American Educational Commission (Fulbright), 4 teacher training programs for English teachers from South America sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, 1 English language and culture program for students from Nihon University, 2 programs for students from Nihon University-Mishima Senior High School, and 1 program for high school students from Taichung, Taiwan. He has a Ph.D. in Foreign Language Education with an emphasis in Applied Linguistics, an M.A. in Slavic Linguistics, and a B.A. in Russian, all from The University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Smith has studied in the former Soviet Union and the former Czechoslovakia; in addition, he has led several educational tours to these countries. Previous to his work at TIEC, Dr. Smith taught Russian and Czech at The University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas State University (formerly known as Southwest Texas State University), as well as at several community colleges and junior colleges throughout the state. While at Texas A&M University, Dr. Smith taught ESL in the English Language Institute. Most recently Dr. Smith served for three years as Executive Director of the Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center, a developing multi-million dollar facility in La Grange, Texas. Dr. Smith serves on the Boards of various Texas-Czech organizations. He is President of the Czech Educational Foundation of Texas and Vice Chairman of the Czech Heritage Society of Texas. [back to top]
	Jim Stelling - Administrative Coordinator Mr. Stelling has a B.S. with Honors in Radio-Television-Film from The University of Texas at Austin and has completed technical training at the Southwest School of Electronics in Austin, Texas. Employed by the Texas Intensive English Program since 1978, Mr. Stelling is responsible for the Tape Library, the Computer Lab, and the maintenance of audio-visual equipment and computer hardware. He also administers the TIEP database which produces forms, reports, and summarized statistical information. [back to top]