LCI Houston | ESL in Houston Staff

Susana L., Center Director
B.S. Hotel and Restaurant Management
Certification in ESL and Bilingual Education

Born in Denmark, Susana considers herself an international citizen. As a young college student in Argentina, she moved to France to improve her French and learn about the culture. She then traveled to Texas where she graduated from the University of Houston. Susana has spent 17 years in education as a classroom teacher, teacher supervisor and community and parent involvement coordinator. She has had the opportunity to interact with many cultures while helping immigrant families settle in Houston.

Susana enjoys travel, photography, skiing, gardening and reading. She currently enjoys spending her weekends with her husband and two younger sons watching soccer matches (Messi fan) and discussing international politics. She is also planning future trips to visit her oldest son who is studying abroad.

Marcela B., Special Programs Director
B.S. Science
M.A. Evolutionary Ecology
Certification in ESL and Bilingual Education

Marcela was born in India and continues to dive into new cultural experiences. She spent her formative years in foreign countries, learning to belong to a global community.

Currently at home in Houston, she has found her passion in education. Her experience includes helping start a new public school, leading the School Writing Project at Rice University and participating in the national Annenberg A+ Challenge to help diverse public school students succeed. After overseeing the education branches of several arts non-profits, she continues to be engaged in the arts and other cultural activities afforded by Houston.

Marcela enjoys the exchange of ideas, perspectives and languages, and is passionately committed to authentic communication where diverse voices are expressed and heard. She also enjoys playing and learning with her family, friends and colleagues. She greatly appreciates working at LCI Houston because it allows her to extend this circle.

Martha S., Education Director
B.A. Linguistics, Anthropology and English
M.A. Applied English Linguistics

After spending a decade in the South Pacific supporting language development and translation of unwritten languages, Martha is happy to be back in her home town of Houston along with her husband and two kids! She has over 25 years of experience in adult education and program administration, including university, community college, intensive English and neighborhood outreach programs across the US.

Besides English, Martha speaks and/or reads French, Latin, Ancient Greek, American Sign Language and Melanesian Pidgin. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, cross stitching while catching up on her favorite TV shows and finding interesting things to resell on eBay and at consignment sales. She is excited to join the LCI team and is looking forward to getting to know all the staff and students and helping them succeed!

Aline R., University Partnership Coordinator
B.A. Communications and French

Aline joined the LCI Houston team in 2013, after working primarily in the oil and gas industry as an environmental/regulatory compliance coordinator. With a degree in Communications and French, she has traveled extensively and speaks five languages.

Aline loves to spend time with her friends and family (including her two children), hiking, camping, skiing and traveling. Being a part of the LCI team has been an extremely fulfilling experience for her.

John B., Special Programs Coordinator & Instructor
B.A. International Studies
B.S. Economics/Business
Certification in TESOL/TESL/TEFL

Born in Wyoming, John grew up in Houston. He attended the University of Pennsylvania, majoring in International Studies and Business, with concentrations in French and African studies. He spent several years as an ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher in Seoul, South Korea, where he taught everything from language fundamentals and conversation to TOEFL preparation and academic writing.

John is a huge language nerd, and loves discussing the grammar and pronunciation of English and French—which he speaks fluently—as well as of Korean, Spanish and Wolof (lingua franca of Senegal), and of the languages of his students. The process of communication is fascinating to him, and he's excited to be a part of the LCI Houston community where he can see people not only pursuing their personal goals, but also discovering ways to share their perspective with people from all over the world.

LCI Houston - Faculty

Bess M.
B.A. English
M.A. English

Having taught writing at Marquette University and Tulane University, Bess brings the insights of a seasoned instructor to her English classes at LCI Houston. She has instructed students with native languages as diverse as Mandarin, Farsi, Akan and Swedish. Bess lived in the Netherlands for two years where she was immersed in Dutch culture and language. After returning to Houston, she also decided to learn Spanish.

Bess has a deep awareness of the needs of students learning a new language and living in a new culture. She offers her students the tools to acquire a practical knowledge of English that will help them in whatever they desire to do, be that communicating confidently in social situations, attending university in the US or giving presentations in the business world.

Deborah A.
B.A. Liberal Arts
M.Ed. TESOL (in progress)

A Houston native, Deborah is bilingual in English and Spanish. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Mississippi and is currently working on her master’s degree in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) at Sam Houston State University. With a background in both education and theater, she has had the opportunity to travel around the world and to perform overseas as well.

Deborah’s classroom experience includes life skills, special education, early childhood development and ESL (English as a Second Language). As a teacher at LCI Houston, she has the privilege of working with both students in the classroom and with LCI administration.

Alisa W.
B.A. English
M.Ed. Curriculum and Instruction
Certification in TESOL

Alisa was born in Kyrgyzstan and raised in Houston, Texas. She comes from a very diverse family, which has allowed her to experience a wide variety of cultures and to appreciate how the power of language can bring people together.

In addition to her university degree in English, Alisa also studied Russian and French, which helps her identify with students and understand their needs. She is certified in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) and has taught English in Russia, where she cultivated a deeper appreciation of language learning and helping students find a voice in a foreign language.

Elizabeth B.
B.A. Film Studies
M.F.A. Classical Acting
M.S. Quality Assurance (in progress)
Certification in TESOL/TESL/TEFL

Elizabeth has been teaching ESL (English as a Second Language) since 2006. She has taught both university-bound students and business professionals, instructing all levels from beginning to advanced. Outside of education, she has worked professionally in the arts and in oil and gas, specifically in exploration and geotechnical engineering.

Elizabeth was born in Texas, but grew up in the ski town of Vail, Colorado. Before moving to Houston, she studied and worked for six years in London, England, where she was able to travel extensively. She is delighted to be teaching ESL in Houston at LCI, where she can pursue her personal interest in people and cultures from around the world.

Cynthia S.
B.A. Psychology
M.A. TESL
Certification in TEFL

A native Californian, Cindy began her career in ESL (English as a Second Language) as a middle school teacher in San Jose. After earning her master’s degree in TESL (Teaching English as Second Language) and a certificate in TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language), she decided to teach in an intensive English program at an international university in Turkey. She then moved to the Czech Republic, where she continued teaching ESL to young adults and business professionals.

A recent transplant to Houston, Cindy enjoys discovering more about Houston’s diverse culture, vibrant restaurant scene and natural surroundings. She is excited about this new chapter in her teaching career, and feels that she is very fortunate to have a job at LCI Houston where she can learn about new cultures every day in her own classroom.

Karen H.
B.A. English
Certification in TESOL/TESL/TEFL

Karen knows first-hand the challenges and rewards of learning a new language and being a foreigner in a another country. Growing up in a military family, she has lived around the world, including in Bahrain, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. She has also backpacked through Europe and traveled from Argentina to Mexico by land. She says her life experiences have been her best teacher of new languages, tolerance of differences and appreciation of unique cultures.

Karen loves the power of language to communicate meaning and convey personal expression, and she enjoys helping others achieve their goal to be effective communicators in a second language. Now at LCI Houston, Karen teaches with empathy and enthusiasm for her students’ unique needs.

Maggie A.
B.A. English Literature
M.A. TESL and Linguistics

Maggie developed a deep appreciation for other cultures when she went away to college. While studying for her undergraduate and graduate university degrees, she built friendships with people from all over the world, which led her to choose a career in TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language). Maggie has taught international students of a variety of ages and levels and loves the valuable life lessons she has learned from her students.

When she is not teaching English at LCI Houston, Maggie enjoys spending time with her husband and their cat.

Robert J.
B.A. Philosophy
M.A. Philosophy
Certification in TEFL

Robert has lived all over the US and has traveled to Africa, Europe, South America and Asia. He recently spent three years teaching English in Ukraine. Traveling, living and teaching in different places has taught him how to adjust to new cultures and how to help students as they do the same. Robert has also studied Russian, Greek and Spanish, which helps him understand the challenges his students face in learning a new language.

In addition to earning both bachelor’s and master’s degrees, Robert is also certified in TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language). He enjoys teaching ESL (English as a Second Language) because it promotes intercultural understanding, exposes individuals to new ways of seeing life, and most importantly, lifts people up.