Since 1978, the Gonzaga University’s ESL Program has been successfully helping students from all over the world achieve their English language goals. More than 8,500 students from more than 70 nations have made up the ELC student population since the program's inception. Our graduates work worldwide in such fields as business, engineering, teaching, health care, computer science, government, and more.
Gonzaga's English Language Center is accredited by the Commission on English Language Program Accreditation for the period August 2016 through August 2026 and agrees to uphold the CEA Standards for English Language Programs. CEA is recognized by the US Secretary of Education as a nationally accrediting agency for English language programs and institutions in the United States.
Nicholas David, PhD - Director, English Language Center
Dr. Nick David grew up in Arizona’s Gila Valley and is a fourth-generation English teacher. He received a BA in English Language and an MA in Teaching English as a Second/Other Language (TESOL) from Brigham Young University as well as a PhD in Language Education from Boston University. His teaching experience includes work at ESL programs in Iowa, Utah, and Massachusetts. He has also worked as an English as a Second Language program coordinator and has served on the MATSOL and ITESOL executive boards. When not working, he enjoys fishing and spending time with his family.
Responsibilities
- Teaches ELCT courses
- Develops and implements the mission, vision, organizational structure, and strategic goals of the ELC
- Monitors procedures for placement testing
- Oversees student progression, student concerns (e.g., attendance, behavior, academic), student complains, dismissal procedures, and student success-related goals
- Collaborates with academic and administrative units across the university to develop programs that meet and strengthen the missions of the ELC and the university
Email Dr. Nick David | 509-313-3368 | first floor Welch
Lisa Cox, DA - Coordinator, ELC Pathways Program
Dr. Lisa Cox is the Coordinator for the English Language Pathways Program at Gonzaga University. Lisa has a Doctor of Arts in English Pedagogy and Technology and a Master of Arts in Teaching English to Students of Other Languages (TESOL) from Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky. She has a passion for and considerable experience teaching languages (English, ESL, and Spanish) to adult learners as well as serving as an advisor, coordinator, and curriculum writer.
Lisa served on the Board of Directors for Kentucky TESOL, including in the role of President. In addition, she regularly reviews proposals and manuscripts for several professional organizations, such as TESOL International Association and Literacy Education and Second Language Learning for Adults (LESLLA). Her research interests include online teaching and learning, adult literacy, multimodal composition, and students with limited or interrupted formal educational backgrounds. Lisa’s latest publication was on the emotional experiences and attitudes of English learners with refugee and immigrant backgrounds in online courses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In her free time, Lisa enjoys hiking with her husband and dog and drinking a good cup of coffee.
Responsibilities
- Teaches ELCT courses
- Pathways Program coordination and advising
- Coordinates enrollment into ELCT and linked Pathways undergraduate classes
- Assists with/coordinates tutoring (embedded and general) and other academic support
- Provides support of students in their overall experience as GU students
Email Dr. Lisa Cox | 509 313-6590 | first floor Welch
Cade Christensen, MA, CELTA - Coordinator, Intensive English Program
Originally from the Washington D.C. area, Cade has lived in many places around the country, including 13 years in Hawaiʻi. He has also travelled widely, including places like Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Ecuador, the Dominican Republic, and Turkey.
Prior to joining the Gonzaga family, he spent over 20-years in pastoral ministry; providing teaching and guidance to adult learners in churches and non-profit Christian settings in Hawaiʻi, Washington, and the Southern United States. In 2018, he joined the field of English Language Education and has since taught English to students in both overseas and stateside University contexts. He is passionate about building connection, communication, and commonality between people from around the world through the life-giving and unifying bond of language.
Cade received his BA in English from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (1989), an MS in Ministry from Pepperdine University (1994), and both a CELTA and an MA in Second Language Studies from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (2018 and 2022).
He loves to travel with his wife, exploring and learning about new places, people, cultures, and foods. He also enjoys having a really good cup of coffee, reading educational and soul-nourishing books, taking long walks in nature, and having meaningful conversations with friends and family.
Responsibilities
- Teaches ELCT courses
- Intensive English Program coordination and advising
- Coordinates Global Conversations
- Provides support of students in their overall experience as GU students
Email Cade Christensen | 509-313-6566 | first floor Welch
Sara Spaner, MA - Coordinator, ELC Programs Accreditation
Sara Spaner has a background in the performing arts, having graduated from Skidmore College with a degree in music. She holds a Master of Arts in Teaching English as a Second Language from Simmons College and has been working with second language learners for over 30 years. Sara spent 16 years teaching middle and high school students in US public schools, but her teaching has taken her abroad as well to countries such as Taiwan, Switzerland and Rwanda. A former instructor at Montclair State University and Johnson & Wales University, Sara is excited to be back in higher education. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, traveling and photography.
Responsibilities
- Teaches ELCT courses
- Develops the campus organization and preparation for, and the successful conduct of, CEA accreditation reviews
- Provides support of students in their overall experience as GU students
Email Sara Spaner | 509-313-5562 | first floor Welch