In 2026, English Language Programs proudly joins the nation in Freedom 250—Celebrating the Triumph of the American Spirit—as we honor the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. As we approach this historic milestone, we are highlighting the remarkable contributions of our participants and alumni who share America with the world and bring global perspectives back to their home communities.
This month, our focus turns to Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, and Montana—an expanse defined by sweeping deserts, towering peaks, wide‑open skies, and a long tradition of resilience, innovation, and service. Alumni from across these states have carried the spirit of the Mountain West into classrooms, teacher‑training programs, and community initiatives around the globe. Their stories showcase U.S. leadership in educational technology and in teaching English for entrepreneurship and business and reflect the wide range of experiences of our network, including former military officers whose service-informed perspectives strengthen leadership, resilience, and cross-cultural collaboration in every setting they engage.
Arizona Alumni
Paul Kei Matsuda (Arizona) – Paul Kei Matsuda is a leading American applied linguist and one of the most influential voices in second‑language writing in the world. Based in Arizona, he is Professor of English and Director of Second Language Writing at Arizona State University, where he mentors doctoral researchers and advances scholarship on writing and language instruction. As a U.S. Department of State English Language Specialist, Matsuda has contributed to major initiatives worldwide, including a plenary, workshops, and expert panel at Honduras’s XIII International TEFL Conference; a TESOL Master Class webinar series for educators across China; and a featured talk on multiple literacies in the digital age for ELT professionals in Türkiye. His work strengthens global writing pedagogy and elevates U.S. expertise in TESOL and applied linguistics.
Hannah Landers Organ (Arizona) – With master’s degrees in Teaching English as a Second Language and Secondary Education, Hannah Landers Organ began her career teaching in China before spending seven years as a high school English teacher in rural Arizona. As a Fellow in Uzbekistan, Landers Organ did it all—from teaching English to future pilots, organizing international conferences with her host institution, and giving keynote addresses across Central Asia, to facilitating an escape room activity at an American Corner. Since returning to her home state, Landers Organ now teaches geometry and English language arts at Sedona Red Rock Jr./Sr. High School, translating her Fellow experience into impact in U.S. STEM education.
Erin Whittig (Arizona) – Arizona-based and Idaho-born educator Erin Whittig has built a global career in English language education. After graduate study at Boise State University, she served as an English Language Fellow in Bosnia & Herzegovina and Ethiopia, experiences that led her to direct the American Center in Yangon, Myanmar. Now the Writing Program Assistant Director of Placement and Assessment at the University of Arizona, Whittig continues to strengthen student success and writing education—a testament to her lifelong commitment to improving learning experiences at home and around the world and to American leadership in education.
Vincent Lauter (Arizona) – Vincent Lauter is a Senior Global Educator at ASU Global Launch whose work bridges instructional design and AI‑integrated language learning. As a U.S. Department of State English Language Specialist, he has led major initiatives in Georgia, Armenia, and Türkiye, including the “AI for Education in the Caucasus” project, which trained more than 270 educators in ethical, effective AI integration. His current Specialist project, Artificial Intelligence in Education: Building Local Capacity, supports Armenia’s goal of becoming a regional leader in innovative teaching by developing a facilitator toolkit, cascade training materials, and a sustainable support framework. By helping educators move from hesitation to confident, collaborative AI use, Lauter strengthens local capacity and advances U.S. priorities of digital literacy and EdTech innovation.
Colorado Alumni
Virginia Nicolai (Colorado) – Virginia Nicolai, an ESL professor at Colorado Mountain College, brings more than 20 years of TESOL experience across five continents to her teaching and international service. A former English Language Fellow in Cameroon and English Language Specialist in Panama and India, she has strengthened English programs, trained educators, and supported emerging professionals worldwide. Her Specialist project in India—English for Business Communication & Presentation Skills for participants in the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs—advanced workforce development by helping women entrepreneurs build the communication and presentation skills needed to grow businesses, attract investment, and engage global markets. In Cameroon, she supported university students in science, technology, management, and business, expanding access to language skills essential for academic and professional advancement. A past president of CoTESOL, Nicolai remains an active leader in the organization today.
Olivia Livneh (Colorado) – English Language Specialist Olivia Livneh brings a rare blend of English language teaching, instructional design, and program management to her international work. After nearly a decade as an instructor, assessment coordinator, and curriculum coordinator at the University of Colorado Boulder, she now serves as a Consortium Program Manager and Online Learning Experience Designer at the Colorado School of Mines, where she leads global professional education initiatives for technical and STEM audiences. In Mérida, Mexico, Livneh conducted a comprehensive exam and curriculum assessment for the Institutional English Program at the Autonomous University of Yucatán. Through campus visits, workshops, interviews, and strategic planning, she helped strengthen program quality and support adoption of new materials and practices—advancing workforce development by improving English proficiency, academic mobility, and employability for students across the region.
Michelle Duvall (Colorado) – Michelle Duvall is an experienced English language educator whose career spans more than two decades across the United States, Bulgaria, France, and international online programs. Based in Boulder since 2012, she has taught at the University of Colorado Boulder’s International English Center and previously designed global learning programs for the World Bank. Most recently, Duvall completed a Virtual English Language Educator project with Civic Alliance Latvia, supporting NGOs in the Latgale region as they strengthened professional English skills for community‑focused initiatives. She guided participants through drafting and practicing elevator pitches—building targeted vocabulary, clear organization, pronunciation, and confident delivery. Her workshops on networking, virtual communication, and proposal writing helped NGOs compete for funding and expand partnerships. By enhancing organizational competitiveness, her work supports Latvian civil society and helps safeguard communities against external pressures.
Scott Kupferman (Colorado) – Colorado educator Scott Kupferman is an Associate Professor and Special Education Faculty Director at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, where he also leads the National Collaborative for Disability and Technology, a federally funded network of researchers, technology companies, and people with disabilities who co‑develop and study emerging tools, including artificial intelligence. An internationally recognized scholar and Fulbright alumnus, he has completed English Language Specialist projects in Peru, the Philippines, Kazakhstan, and Russia. Most recently, he led an in‑person workshop series at the Universidad Nacional de la Amazonia Peruana, training faculty to better support English learners with disabilities through strategies involving AI, assistive technology, differentiation, and universal design for learning. He also partnered with a university in the Philippines to develop assessment tools and remedial modules for Deaf students transitioning to college. His work illustrates American impact and expertise in the advancement of cutting-edge educational technology on a global scale.
Idaho Alumni
Kimberly Price (Idaho) – With roots in Idaho and a degree in English from Boise State University, Kimberly Price has built a global career helping students find their voice in English. Since 2010, her work has taken her across Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Turkey, and China, where she has taught, developed curriculum, and supported learners in a wide range of academic settings. As a Virtual English Language Educator at the Regional Center for Normal Education (CREN) in Navojoa, Mexico, she co‑taught English courses for pre‑service K–6 teachers, using gamified tools like Kahoot, Wordwall, and Mentimeter to boost engagement and build classroom‑ready skills. She also led workshops on lesson planning, classroom management, and TOEFL preparation, and strengthened the English Language Programs Community of Practice by sharing resources such as her Overview of the American Education System for Educators in Mexico. The skills she honed as a Virtual Educator contributed to an opportunity to shine in the EdTech space, as she has taken taken on her role as the Curriculum and Operations Director at e‑learning institute ThinkTalk.
Tara Brandenburg-Weeks (Idaho) – Idaho educator Tara Brandenburg‑Weeks has spent her career supporting English learners across the state and currently teaches English Language Learning in the Boise School District. As an English Language Fellow in Pavlodar, Kazakhstan, she taught general and professional English to university students, led seminars and workshops for regional teachers, and delivered a plenary keynote on integrating technology into English classrooms. She also created a video series highlighting practical teaching strategies for educators worldwide. Beyond the classroom, Brandenburg‑Weeks built meaningful community connections—from celebrating the Fourth of July with Access students to hosting cultural activities at the American Corner, where she introduced visiting Kazakh soldiers to American traditions. Her work reflects Idaho’s commitment to innovative teaching and expanding opportunities for learners locally and globally.
Montana Alumni
Judy Emerson (Montana) – Based in Missoula, Judy Emerson is an experienced English language educator whose career reflects a deep commitment to teacher development and cross‑cultural exchange. She first served as an English Language Fellow in Mongolia, where she designed curriculum, mentored more than sixty English instructors, and taught ESP courses for future engineers, designers, and scientists. Emerson later worked in Idaho as Academic Coordinator of the Institute of Intensive English at Lewis‑Clark State College, supporting faculty mentoring and curriculum improvement. She has since built a strong record of ESP Medical English instruction at the University of Montana’s English Language Institute. Emerson now serves as an English Language Specialist in Belarus, designing a Medical English course that helps healthcare professionals strengthen communication skills and engage more confidently in international medical settings.
Sophia Romanic (Montana) – Raised in the mountains of Montana and a former eLearning Specialist at Helena College, University of Montana, Sophia Romanic has built an international career advancing digital learning and teacher development. As a Virtual English Language Educator in Ukraine, she led extensive online trainings for primary and secondary teachers, introducing interactive tools and instructional design strategies that strengthened engagement and collaboration in digital classrooms. Romanic is now an English Language Fellow in Costa Rica, supporting in‑service and pre‑service teachers at Universidad Nacional in designing communicative lessons, strengthening online and hybrid instruction, and improving English proficiency across all skills. Her work expands access to high‑quality English teaching in Pérez Zeledón, supports Costa Rica’s goal of producing bilingual graduates, and advances U.S. strategic interests by fostering educational cooperation and workforce readiness.
