Administrators, Staff & Faculty

The faculty and staff of LCI are all native or bilingual speakers of English who have a minimum of a bachelor's degree and several years of teaching experience. Many have completed several years of university graduate level work. Most speak at least one language in addition to English and some speak two or more foreign languages. The majority have worked or studied in another country. The faculty office is located near the main office. Students are encouraged to discuss any class-related issues with their instructors in the faculty office.

Main Administrative Office Hours.  Students who need assistance with immigration matters or more complicated school-related questions need to make an appointment with Dr. Braswell, the Director, or Tammy Karakas, the Registrar. An appointment guarantees a meeting with the Registrar or the Director. Without an appointment, a student may have to return another day. Help with more general school-related information is available at the front desk of the main office.

Administrators

Director: Dr. Jo-Len Braswell

  • Email Dr. Braswell
  • Ph.D. in Spanish and Portuguese from Stanford University, Palo Alto, California
  • M.A. and B.A.in Spanish and Portuguese from University of California, Berkeley
  • Studied Intensive Portuguese Language and Culture at the University of Coimbra, Portugal 
  • Taught English as a Second Language in Africa for two years 
  • Taught ESL at Wayne State University and LCI
  • Taught Spanish and Portuguese at UC Berkeley and  Stanford University

 

Registrar, Student Advisor, and Instructor: Tammy Karakas

  • Email Tammy
  • M.A. in Professional Counseling from Central Michigan University
  • B.A. in German Language/Literature from Wayne State University
  • Studied German in Tuebingen, Germany and Boppard, Germany
  • Taught History, Civics, Writing/Projects, German, and Multicultural Studies at a high school/middle school
  • Interned in Admissions Office at Walsh College
  • At LCI since 1999

 

IT Administrator: Dr. Charles E. Newman

  • Email Chuck
  • Ph.D. in Physics from Stanford University, Palo Alto, California
  • M.S. and B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Michigan State University
  • Taught Physics and Applied Mathematics in Africa, California, and Michigan
  • Research Scientist in Combustion Modeling at Ford Motor Company

Lead Instructor: 

 

 

Main Office Staff

 

 

 

 

Faculty

Full-time Instructors

Linda Probert

  • Email Linda
  • M.A. in Linguistics, TESL Cert., Oakland University, Rochester, MI 
  • Member TESOL International Association  
  • Taught ESL Adult Education at Casa Amiga, Pontiac, MI       
  • Studied French in Montpellier, France 
  • LCI Instructor since 2014

 

Part-time Instructors

Tuba Celik

  • Email Tuba
  • M.A. in Linguistics from California State University, Fullerton,CA
  • B.A.  in American Culture and Literature from Bilkent University, Ankara,Turkey
  • Taught EFL at Kocaeli University, Kocaeli, Turkey
  • Taught ESL at Orange Coast College and Santiago Canyon College in California
  • Currently teaching ESL at LCI