ESL Faculty & Staff

ESL Faculty
Gonzaga University is proud of its experienced and dedicated faculty. They care about their students and know how to make learning English enjoyable. They are committed to making sure that students have a happy and successful educational experience in the United States.

Faculty Advisors
Each ELC student is assigned a faculty advisor for individual guidance. The advisors will help you to achieve your academic goals.

Meet our ESL Faculty!

Jennifer Akins, M.A.

Jennifer graduated from Westmont College, Santa Barbara, CA B.A. in English Literature. She also has M.A. in TESOL from WSU in Pullman. She lived and taught in France for three years. She has two boys ages 14 & 10. Jennifer likes to be outside biking or hiking, or inside reading, watching movies,or drinking coffee with her friends.

email: akins@gonzaga.edu

Beata Arciszewska-Russo, M.A.

Beata studied linguistics, English and American literature at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan and received her MA in TESL from Gdansk University in Poland. Her work as an ESL teacher has brought her to several small and large cities in her second home, the United States. Some of her favorite places include London, New York and Tucson. Beata has traveled to France, Italy, Spain, Hungary, Sweden, and India, among others. Guiding students through the intricacies of English is her passion because of the incredible variety of human experience and culture she meets every day in the classroom. email: arciszewska-russo@gonzaga.edu

Heidi Doolittle, M.A.

Heidi spent almost three years in Japan teaching English and learning about Japanese culture. She has also traveled to India, Singapore, Thailand, Borneo, France, England, Belgium and Holland. Heidi received her Bachelor's Degree in Biology from Gonzaga as well as her Master's in Teaching English as a Second Language. She describes teaching ESL as an "adventure because each student brings so many different experiences and ideas to the classroom." In her free time, Heidi enjoys hiking, mountain biking, camping and playing basketball. doolittleh@gonzaga.edu

Ron Harris, Ph.D

Ron has four degrees in English, including a doctorate, all from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). He has traveled to Japan, Australia, Mexico, Canada, England, France, Austria, Hungary and Italy. He enjoys teaching students who are excited about learning English! In his spare time, Ron likes listening to jazz, classical and opera music. He also enjoys tennis, carpentry, home remodeling, travel, literature and philosophy. harris@gonzaga.edu

James Hunter, M.A.

James has lived and traveled all over the world! Some highlights of his travel adventures include Hong Kong, Malaysia, Algeria,Ireland, China, Japan, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, Thailand, and many more. He graduated from the University of Sheffield in England with a degree in Japanese and Political Science.James received his Master's in TESL from Eastern Washington University. He enjoys getting to know people from other cultures and loves helping students communicate in English! James is married to another ESL teacher and has three children along with a dog named "Guapo." He enjoys playing traditional Irish music with his band, Celtic Nots, and has recorded four CDs! Check out their website: www.celticnots.com hunter@gonzaga.edu



Mary Jeannot, Ed.D

Mary studied French and Education at Seattle University and went on to receive her advanced degrees in ESL Education, Language, Literacy and Culture from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Mary has taught English in Central African Republic, and has trained teachers in Mexico, Hungary, Micronesia, and theIvory Coast. She also studied in France and traveled throughout Spain, Greece, Italy, Benin, Togo, Cameroon and Zaire. Mary enjoys hiking, reading, writing and research; specifically ethnography in the classroom and critical applied linguistics. jeannot@gonzaga.edu

Marilyn Runyan, M.A.

Marilyn received her Bachelor's Degree in Art with a minor in Teaching English as a Second Language. She went on to graduate with her Master's in TESL from Eastern Washington University. Marilyn enjoys interacting with people from different cultures because it provides her with a new perspective on American culture and the world. She has traveled to Europe and Mexico and enjoys art, specifically drawing and painting. She also likes to read and cook! email: runyan@gonzaga.edu



Martha Savage, M.S.

Martha has a Bachelor's degree in Communicative Disorders from California State University Fresno and a Master's in Speech Pathology from San Jose State. She received her teaching credential from Gonzaga and is currently pursuing a PhD in Organizational Leadership. Martha's experiences abroad include studying in Mexico, consulting for a deaf school in El Salvador, vacationing in the British Isles, and living in China and Hong Kongfor six months.She enjoys being part of the learning process and says teaching ESL gives her the "opportunity to interact with people from all over the world - each class brings new energy and stretches my thinking and views!" savage@gonzaga.edu

Jennie Sevedge, M.A.

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