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 this historic milestone approaches, we continue to highlight the remarkable contributions of our participants and alumni who share America with the world while bringing global perspectives back to their home communities.
This month, our focus turns to the Middle Atlantic Region—Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, and Maryland—a dynamic area that stretches from towering urban skylines to expansive farmland and Atlantic seashores, shaped by historic cities, world‑class universities, and longstanding leadership in diplomacy, education, and innovation. Alumni from these states have carried the region’s spirit of intellectual rigor, cultural vibrancy, and global engagement into classrooms, teacher‑training programs, and community initiatives across the globe. Their work strengthens English language education abroad while enriching learning communities at home. Together, their stories reflect how the Middle Atlantic’s rich history and academic institutions help advance U.S. leadership, international collaboration, and educational excellence.
Pennsylvania Alumni
Linh Phung (Pennsylvania) – Dr. Linh Phung is a Pittsburgh‑based language educator, researcher, and creator whose career spans program leadership, educational technology innovation, and research in second language development. She is the Founder and CEO of Eduling, a mobile app featuring thousands of communicative, task‑based activities, and the author of multiple language‑learning and children’s books. Her research has appeared in leading journals such as Language Teaching Research and Studies in Second Language Acquisition, complementing more than a decade directing English Language and Pathways Programs at Chatham University. As an English Language Specialist in Mexico in 2023, Phung contributed to a TESOL Methodology Forum for pre‑service teachers in Sonora, delivering an interactive session on task‑based learning and demonstrating the Eduling app—an event that energized participants and supported U.S. public diplomacy goals by strengthening teacher preparation and professional development. She continues to design technology‑enhanced learning tools and materials that connect learners across contexts and cultures.
Lindsey Kurtz (Pennsylvania) – Lindsey Kurtz is a Pennsylvania‑based legal English educator and English Language Specialist whose work strengthens the ability of legal professionals to communicate across international legal systems. She serves as Director of Legal English Certificate Programs and Language Specialist in the Master of Laws Program at Penn State Dickinson Law, where she also teaches LL.M. Legal Writing. In Russia in 2026, she delivered a six‑part, open‑access webinar series on English for Corporate Law, reaching more than 1,000 lawyers, law students, and legal educators. In Pakistan in 2025, she led a multi‑phase Legal English Advancement Program for the Islamabad Bar Council, conducting a formal needs analysis, developing a 60‑hour Legal English curriculum tailored to Pakistan’s legal context, and training 30 legal professionals to teach it. Across her Specialist engagements, Kurtz advances U.S. public diplomacy by expanding access to Legal English and strengthening professional communication in key legal sectors.
Susan Iannuzzi (Pennsylvania) – Based in Pittsburgh, Susan Iannuzzi is an internationally recognized ELT materials developer, educator, and trainer whose work has shaped English language teaching across global contexts for more than 25 years. A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, where she earned her BA and an MA in applied linguistics with a TESOL emphasis, she also holds a PhD in Instructional Management and Leadership. She has authored and co‑authored numerous widely used textbooks for major international publishers, including Oxford University Press, Cambridge University Press, McGraw‑Hill, and Pearson. As an English Language Specialist, Iannuzzi has led high‑impact projects in Egypt, Pakistan, Vietnam, and India, working with ministries of education and national curriculum teams to strengthen English programs, revise textbooks, and build sustainable teacher‑training systems. Her recent Egypt assignment—developing national training materials for newly revised Al Azhar English textbooks and preparing curriculum team leads to train educators across all governorates—served as the capstone to a multi‑phase initiative poised to reach millions of learners. For this work, she received the 2025 English Language Specialist Impact Award, recognizing her leadership in advancing teacher preparation and her significant contributions to U.S. educational diplomacy.
Mariana Syrotiak (Pennsylvania) – Based in Erie, Dr. Mariana Syrotiak is an educator, administrator, and Virtual English Language Educator with more than 15 years of experience in the TESOL field. She serves as Director of English Language and Global Training at Gannon University, where she also teaches Public Speaking and Intercultural Communication and contributes to the field as a teacher trainer, conference presenter, proposal reviewer, and CEA Peer Reviewer. As a Virtual Educator in Peru, she led a multi‑week training for 22 teachers in Trujillo focused on American culture, cultural frameworks, and classroom strategies aligned with Freedom 250 themes. In Bolivia, she supported the Vice Ministry of Higher Education by training future K–12 English teachers in online course design, virtual pedagogy, and the use of English for All materials—building national capacity to deliver high‑quality online English instruction. Syrotiak holds a PhD in Organizational Learning and Leadership and master’s degrees in Teaching and Intercultural Service, Leadership, and Management.
New York Alumni
Emily Chen (New York) – Emily Chen is a New York City educator, coach, and English Language Fellow whose work blends language teaching, community engagement, and the energy of sport. She spent more than nine years as an English as a New Language (ENL) teacher with the NYC Department of Education. A graduate of Hunter College’s Master of Education program, Chen brings a learner‑centered, movement‑based approach to her teaching, shaped by her passions as a basketball coach, traveler, reader, and cultural enthusiast. As a Fellow in Uzbekistan, she teaches practical English courses and leads professional development for faculty at the Andijan State Institute of Foreign Languages, helping future English teachers build integrated skills and confidence in student‑centered learning while supporting Mission goals to strengthen education and model American classroom practices. She organizes speaking and writing clubs, regional workshops, and materials‑development training, and her Freedom 250 outreach—including frisbee‑based activities, cultural presentations, and basketball‑driven learning sessions—uses sport, storytelling, and shared experiences to highlight American values and spark student motivation. Whether teaching in the classroom or on the court, Chen creates spaces where learners feel energized, supported, and ready to take risks in English.
Robert O’Leary (New York) – Robert O’Leary is a seasoned educator and former New York City Department of Education teacher with more than a decade of experience supporting English learners in the Bronx and Washington Heights. A speaker of English, Spanish, Ukrainian, and Russian, he has worked extensively with international and low‑literacy learners, strengthening communication skills through content‑based instruction, backward planning, and Danielson‑aligned curriculum design. Before entering the NYCDOE, Robert served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Donetsk, Ukraine, and later returned as a Peace Corps Response Volunteer, teaching English for Academic and Specific Purposes at Ivan Franko Zhytomyr State University and leading teacher‑training workshops across the country. As an English Language Fellow with Peru’s Ministry of Education (2017–2018), he trained hundreds of teachers nationwide in student‑centered TESOL methods, materials development, and instructional technology, while supporting Embassy initiatives such as English for Coders, mentoring Peace Corps volunteers and English Teaching Assistants, and leading national webinars. His work contributed to major Ministry–Embassy collaboration efforts and helped strengthen pre‑service English teaching in Peruvian public schools. Robert now teaches at Berlin Metropolitan School in Germany, bringing his global experience, teacher‑training background, and commitment to interactive learning to an international classroom community.
Kevin Colleary (New York) – A native New Yorker now based in Lisbon, Dr. Kevin Colleary is known for his energetic delivery, research‑grounded insights, and ability to make American history accessible and relevant to global educators. He is a social studies scholar, author, and English Language Specialist whose career spans classroom teaching, textbook authorship, and university‑level teacher preparation. A former elementary, middle, and high school teacher in Harlem and Brooklyn, he has taught at Hunter College, CUNY, and Fordham University’s Graduate School of Education while consulting internationally on curriculum, critical thinking, digital literacy, and content‑driven literacy instruction. A graduate of Harvard University (Ed.M., Ed.D.) with a BA in history from Siena College, Dr. Colleary is the author of Ensuring a Better Future: Why Social Studies Matters and multiple McGraw‑Hill elementary textbook programs, along with numerous chapters and journal articles. As an English Language Specialist, he has led Freedom 250 programming across the Balkans, delivering virtual and in‑person seminars for teachers from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Kosovo, Slovakia, and Albania, and giving lectures at universities and American Spaces in Belgrade, Jagodina, and Novi Sad on U.S. history, founding documents, and democratic values. His additional Specialist engagements include keynote work in Morocco on reading instruction and workshops for the Estonian Association of Teachers of English on active learning and critical thinking.
Lisa Pergola (New York) – Lisa Pergola is an experienced educator and instructional leader based in Brooklyn, New York, where she has lived for more than twenty years. With over a decade of experience teaching in K–12 and international contexts, she currently serves as a U.S. Department of State English Language Fellow in Côte d’Ivoire, based at the Institut Pédagogique National de l’Enseignement Technique et Professionnel in Abidjan. In this role, she trains pre‑service and in‑service teachers in methodology, supports English for Specific Purposes instruction across STEM, tourism, and hospitality fields, and contributes to the development of reference teaching materials that strengthen workforce readiness and expand educational opportunity. Her work aligns with Mission goals to enhance English language teaching, support economic growth, and build stronger professional pathways throughout the country. Before her Fellowship, Lisa spent eight years teaching middle school English with the New York City Department of Education and previously taught English as a Foreign Language in China, tutored privately, and wrote and scored assessments for ETS. She is passionate about student‑centered learning, project‑based instruction, and creating joyful, collaborative classrooms—an approach she brings to workshops, university training, and community programs across Côte d’Ivoire.
New Jersey
Laura Baecher (New Jersey) – Cranford, NJ educator Dr. Laura Baecher is the Associate Provost for Faculty Development at Kean University, where she leads institution‑wide curriculum initiatives and designs professional learning that uplifts faculty as central drivers of student success. A New Jersey higher‑education leader committed to community‑building and innovative pedagogy, her scholarship focuses on teacher and faculty learning, video‑based observation and coaching, educational technology, and professional development that fosters connection. She is the author of several influential books, including Playful Pedagogy in Higher Education, Reflecting on Problems of Practice in TESOL, and Video in Teacher Learning: Through Their Own Eyes. Dr. Baecher has an extensive record of service as a U.S. Department of State English Language Specialist with projects in Ecuador, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Cyprus. Most recently in Ecuador (2026), she trained more than 150 educators in AI‑enhanced English language teaching, e‑learning methodology, and Freedom 250‑aligned cultural content. In a separate Ecuador (2024) project, she supported the Ministry of Education in implementing the new national English curriculum and strengthened the Ecuador Habla Inglés teacher‑training initiative through virtual observations, facilitator coaching, and conference design. She also led a four‑day “Teaching for the Future” series in Bahrain (2022), helping teachers reimagine hybrid learning through project‑based approaches and English‑language storytelling. Across her work in New Jersey and abroad, Dr. Baecher champions faculty development, global collaboration, and human‑centered professional learning.
Hansley Cazeau (New Jersey) – Hansley Cazeau is a proud New Jersey native and a multilingual specialist with the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), currently serving as the Multilingual Specialist at the elementary school on the Ansbach Military Base in Germany. He has worked in the TESOL field since 2007, building a career that spans public schools, universities, international programs, and professional‑development initiatives across Asia, Europe, and the United States. As a U.S. Department of State English Language Fellow in Montenegro, Hansley developed and delivered professional‑development programs for university faculty and public‑school English teachers, co‑taught TESOL methodology courses, and collaborated with the English Language Teachers Association of Montenegro on workshops, seminars, and a multi‑city “Think Globally, Teach Locally” tour focused on civic engagement through Socratic Seminar. His fellowship also included community‑based projects, cultural programming at American Corners, and a memorable service‑learning initiative at Farma Magaraca Martinici, where he led Access students in hands‑on animal‑care activities that connected language learning with community engagement. Before his fellowship, Hansley taught in Japan, earned a master’s degree in multilingual education, and spent more than eight years as a high‑school ESL teacher and university adjunct in New Jersey. Though based abroad, he remains connected to his home state and continues to support multilingual learners and educators through his ongoing professional work.
Maria Villalobos‑Buehner (New Jersey) – Based in Lawrenceville, Dr. Maria Villalobos‑Buehner is a professor of Spanish, World Language, ESL, and Bilingual Education at Rider University, where she prepares future language educators and advances immersive, technology‑enhanced approaches to teaching and learning. A U.S. Department of State English Language Specialist with projects in Peru, Bangladesh, and Nepal, she most recently led a 2026 Peru initiative supporting the Secretariat for Government and Digital Transformation by designing a technical‑English training program that strengthened participants’ ability to draft reports, engage in international digital‑innovation discussions, and collaborate with U.S. partners in cybersecurity and AI. In a separate 2024 multi‑country project in Bangladesh and Nepal, she served as the opening keynote and plenary speaker for the NELTA Conference in Kathmandu—one of South Asia’s largest ELT gatherings—where she worked with more than 700 educators on technological innovation in English language teaching and facilitated workshops that strengthened teacher‑training networks across the region. Dr. Villalobos‑Buehner’s Specialist work draws on her expertise in possible selves in language acquisition, self‑determination theory, translanguaging, and the role of AI in language learning, as well as her research on intercultural competence. Across her work in New Jersey and abroad, she advances global teacher preparation and expands access to high‑quality, technology‑supported language education.
Teresita Eldredge (New Jersey) – Teresita Juliet Eldredge is a distinguished global educator and champion of multilingualism with more than 25 years of experience advancing language education. She serves as Supervisor of World Languages for Jersey City Public Schools, guiding programs that reach nearly 25,000 students, and has long taught at Rutgers University–Newark, where she helped design the ESL and Bilingual Teacher Certification curriculum and prepares new educators in language acquisition and curriculum design. Internationally, Eldredge has led major diplomatic and educational initiatives as a Fulbright Scholar and U.S. Department of State English Language Specialist, including developing a foundational English training program for Honduran National Police units in partnership with binational centers and the U.S. Embassy (2024–2025) and training faculty at Bukhara State University in Uzbekistan (2021–2022) in digital literacy and technology‑enhanced instruction. Across all her work—whether strengthening world‑language programs in New Jersey, shaping teacher‑training systems, or supporting U.S. educational diplomacy abroad—Eldredge is driven by a deep commitment to multilingualism, critical pedagogy, and expanding meaningful access to high‑quality language learning, consistently working to elevate teacher expertise and transform how communities understand and value language.
Maryland
Gina Karlin (Maryland) – Based in Baltimore, Dr. Gina Karlin is an educator specializing in higher education and adult learning with deep expertise in English for security, military, and law‑enforcement contexts. She serves as Director of English Language Services at Baltimore City Community College and has designed and delivered language and communication programs for academic institutions, government agencies, and security‑sector partners across the Middle East, East Asia, Latin America, Southeast Asia, and Africa. Karlin served as a Virtual English Language Fellow in Indonesia from 2020 to 2022 and later as an in‑country Fellow from 2022 to 2024, working with the Police Language School (SEBASA Polri) to strengthen English proficiency among law‑enforcement personnel and support Indonesia’s broader security and justice‑sector goals. She has since completed Specialist assignments in Madagascar and Morocco. In Madagascar, she collaborated with ELTA Madagascar and national police and gendarmerie academies to develop English for Law Enforcement curricula, materials, and train‑the‑trainer programs. Her current Morocco project provides a three‑week TESOL/ESP methods certification course preparing Royal Gendarmerie officers and NCOs to serve as internal English instructors, expanding institutional capacity and advancing bilateral cooperation on regional stability. A recipient of the 2025 English Language Fellow Impact Award, Karlin holds a master’s in TESOL with a concentration in curriculum development and a doctorate in Education Policy, Organization, and Leadership with a specialization in global studies.
Margot Harris (Maryland) – Based in Baltimore, Margot Harris is a distinguished English language educator with more than thirty years of experience across K–12 schools, universities, government programs, and international teacher‑training initiatives. She currently serves as an instructional coach in a large Maryland public high school and as a consultant with Third Spaces, supporting general educators in applying TESOL methods and strategies to meet the needs of multilingual learners. Harris spent over nineteen years with Baltimore City Public Schools, where she taught K–12 ELL, chaired the ESOL Department at a major high school, and led a team of teachers, bilingual paraprofessionals, and volunteers in supporting English learners’ linguistic and academic development. Internationally, she served as an English Language Fellow in Algeria and Morocco, training future teachers in competency‑based and project‑based approaches while teaching English to learners ranging from firefighters and business professionals to university students and faculty. As an English Language Specialist, she has contributed to capacity‑building projects in Egypt, Guatemala, Mexico, Morocco, Bahrain, and across the Gulf, and recently led an English for Defense initiative for Kurdish Peshmerga officers in Iraq, designing curricula, digital learning environments, and advanced communication training to support U.S. diplomatic and security objectives. With an MA in Leadership in Teaching and TESOL from Notre Dame of Maryland University, Harris continues to strengthen Maryland’s role in global English language education through her commitment to teacher development and international collaboration.
Lewis “Terry” Daugherty (Maryland) – Based in Hyattsville, Lewis Daugherty is a TESOL‑certified instructor whose second career in English language education builds on decades of international experience in technology, business, and community development. He teaches at American University and Prince George’s Community College and directs Terry’s Toolshed for Teachers, a channel focused on instructional technologies and practical teaching techniques. Daugherty has completed multiple Virtual English Language Fellow and Virtual Educator assignments in Moldova, the Palestinian Territories, and Ukraine, where he has taught Oral English, Business English, academic communication, and teacher‑training modules for universities navigating remote learning and conflict‑affected environments. His projects have included developing student‑produced cultural magazines for Luhansk Shevchenko National University, creating a YouTube‑based professional development library for Comrat State University, and leading workshops on American English, pronunciation, and communicative teaching for educators across Moldova. A former Peace Corps Volunteer in Bulgaria and the Philippines, he later earned an MSEd in Intercultural Studies as a Peace Corps Fellow at Western Illinois University and holds a master’s degree in financial services, expertise that strengthens his work in Business English and ESP instruction. Through his virtual diplomacy, technology‑enhanced teaching, and commitment to accessible, student‑centered learning, Daugherty continues to advance Maryland’s contributions to global English language education.
Karen Terrell (Maryland) – Based in Towson, Dr. Karen L. Terrell is an Assistant Professor of Mathematics Education at Loyola University Maryland and the Chief Executive Officer of the Terrell Educational Foundation, a nonprofit providing student scholarships and teacher grants, as well as the Terrell Educational Group LLC — providing professional development and other educational services. With more than twenty‑five years of experience as a teacher, coach, consultant, and higher‑education instructor, she specializes in content‑and‑language integration, mathematics education, genre pedagogy, technology, and assessment. Terrell has completed multiple English Language Specialist assignments for the U.S. Department of State, including two virtual projects in Russia, where she supported English faculty and pre‑service STEM and economics teachers implementing Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) approaches, and an in‑person assignment in Kazakhstan, where she trained more than fifty educators in sheltered English strategies for STEM instruction. She previously worked as a mathematics coach in Boston and taught in higher education for more than fifteen years. Terrell holds a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Boston College and remains active in professional leadership roles, including serving as Editor of The Banneker Banner and outgoing Senior Co‑Chair of AERA’s Research in Mathematics Education SIG. Through her scholarship, teacher‑education leadership, and international expertise in integrating language and content for STEM learning, she strengthens Maryland’s contributions to global education.
