Language Center International

Administrators and Faculty

At present, the faculty and staff of LCI are all native or bi-lingual 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 in the Classroom section of LCI. Students are encouraged to discuss any class issue with their instructors in the faculty office. The main administrative office is open from 8:50-4:30 Monday-Thursday and is closed Friday. 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. from Stanford University, Palo Alto, California
• M.A. and B.A. from University of California, Berkley

Registrar and Student Advisor: Tammy Karakas

• Email Tammy

Curriculum Administrator: Scott Riggs

• Email Scott
• M.A. in TESOL from Eastern Michigan University
• B.A. in Applied Linguistics
• Linguistic studies in Ghana, West Africa
• Former ESL Coordinator for the Catholic Elementary Schools of Detroit
• Former instructor at the University of Detroit Mercy

Student Services:

• Email the Office

Faculty

Katherine Charbeneau

• Email Kathy
• B.S. in Humanities, Lawrence Tech. University
• M.A. in Literature, Oakland University
• Doctoral work, Wayne State University
• Married to George; Two children: Grace and Brandon

Shelly Dunlop

• Email Shelly

Zina Hermez

• Email Zina

Ellen Kulpa

• Email Ellen

Thomas Lapadat

• Email Tom
• B.A. in Classical Languages, German and English Literature
• M.Div.
• TEFL Diploma (Teaching English as a Foreign Language)
• RSA/CELTA (Certificate for English Language Teaching to Adults), Cambridge University
• Assistant English Teacher in Fujisawa, Japan, Public Schools
• Workshop Leader for Chinese Teachers of English, Nanjing, China
• Presenter of Teaching Methods in Anomabo, Ghana
• LCI instructor since 2000

Tina O'Donnell

• Email Tina
• B.A. in German Language and Literature (Cognate areas: Linguistics and Chinese Language)
• M.A. in German Language and Literature (Minor: Linguistics)
• A.B.D. in Germanic Linguistics (Minor: Second Language Acquisition)
• German instructor for Michigan State University, Indiana University, and University of Detroit Mercy
• ESL instructor at Gymnasium Kinderhaus, Munster Germany and for University of Detroit Mercy
• Have taught German and ESL in several corporate settings
• LCI instructor since 1996

Jennifer Piotrowski

• Email Jenni

Sharon Tarlo

• Email Sharon

Michelle Vargo

• Email Michelle