AES Faculty and Staff

Deborah Anholt - AES Co-Director

My name is Debbie Anholt, and I have been teaching here at Lewis & Clark for over 30 years. I love coming to work every day because the students are interesting and fun to teach. I understand the life of an international student because when I was young, I studied in different countries. I think travelling to different cultures and learning about different people is very valuable. In my free time, I am with my family. Both of my children are young adults: Eric graduated from Lewis & Clark, and Katy from another university nearby,  so I understand the lives of college students! My husband and I like to go camping in the beautiful mountains of Oregon or at the coast with our kids.

 

Joann Geddes - AES Co-Director

Greetings from Lewis & Clark! As the Co-Director of the AES, I am fortunate to have a position that I love. This is because I have the opportunity to work with an exceptional faculty and student body. It is fascinating for me to meet students from around the world, and to teach courses that help meet their linguistic and socio-cultural objectives.

Lewis & Clark College is located in a very safe and beautiful part of Portland, Oregon. Through extra-curricular activities such as field trips to the mountains or coast, visits to local businesses, and other activities that support our courses, we introduce students to our city and state. It is always a pleasure to welcome new students, returning students, and alumni from around the world to our campus. If you would like more information about our programs, please contact us. We look forward to hearing from you!

 

John Barritt - Instructor

Welcome!  I’m pleased to be a part of the vibrant LC-AES community.  A “transplant” to Portland (who now thinks of himself as a “nativized”), I’ve taught in both Morocco and Prague (“Portland on the Vltava”).  I’ve also lived in various places throughout the United States, including New York City, California, Wisconsin and Texas.

I come to English language teaching by way of studies in philosophy and art.  In addition to these areas, my teaching interests include courses in the social sciences, technology and literature.  Outside of the classroom, I enjoy cycling, hiking, writing and photography.

Mary Brooks - Instructor 

International education has been the focus of my professional life. I spent two semesters abroad in Florence, Italy when I was a university student. These early experiences really shaped my life. When I got the chance to go to southern Africa and teach in Lusaka, Zambia, I took it. Later, I taught in South Korea, and after that I taught in China. My students were all teachers getting ready for advanced degrees abroad. I became the Director of Studies there. When I returned to America, I began teaching at Eastern Washington University at the English Language Institute, which would be my professional home for the next period in my life. I was both ELI Director and Instructor there. I always felt fortunate to find a job that I loved, a place where I could direct my energies.

My husband and I arrived in Portland recently after nearly four years of teaching at Mukogawa Women’s University, Nishinomiya, Japan. I feel lucky to be here at Lewis & Clark, AES.  The liberal arts culture is evident; the students are interesting and motivated; my colleagues are wonderful; the campus is gorgeous. I am delighted to be here. 

                  

Erica Harris - Instructor

Hello! I am very happy to teach in AES at Lewis & Clark College. This
is a great place to be. I enjoy working with the other instructors and
teaching students from diverse backgrounds. My professional background
includes working in business, and I am always looking for ways to use
my professional experience to help students be more successful in
their language learning and personal goals.

My husband and I live in Portland, where we love to drink excellent
coffee, go on motorcycle rides, enjoy the beautiful places around
Oregon, and eat great food. I also love to read, and I’m always
reading a new book. I have traveled in Europe, the Middle East, and
South Asia, and I hope to visit some new countries soon. 

 

David Hoffman - Instructor 

Hello from the beautifully green state of Oregon. Even though there is a lot of rain, we love our weather and our place in the woods here at Lewis & Clark. Before working here in the AES, I taught English in many locations around Portland. I think you’ll enjoy the small number of students here and the dedicated teachers you will work with.

On a personal note, I am originally from Oregon and have lived in just about every part of the state. I enjoy traveling, but haven’t found anywhere I like as much as Portland. There are many things to do and many wonderful people here. Basketball is my favorite sport, and I am a loyal fan to our local team, the Trail Blazers. I am active also in softball, golf, and running. My beautiful wife and I are raising our twin children, a boy and a girl, which keeps us busy most of the time. I look forward to meeting you!

 

 

Suzanne Groth - Instructor

Hello and welcome to AES.  I’m originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin but have called Portland home for 15 years now.  My undergraduate studies were in business, anthropology, and museum studies, quite different ends of the academic spectrum.  I have always been drawn to exploring different cultures and to language, and this eventually led me to teaching English as a second language.  Before coming to Lewis & Clark College, I taught at Kara Harp Okulu Military Academy in Ankara, Turkey, Portland Community College, and Portland State University.  Since joining the AES faculty in fall 2010, I’ve especially enjoyed the collaborative spirit that thrives between the students and faculty.  I am also so thankful to come to work each day on this lush green forest campus. 

Outside of work, I’m busy keeping up with my 8-year old son, who is a constant source of funny stories.  Together we cook, cycle, swim, garden, read, and play sports and board games.  I am also an avid museum and movie goer and enjoy staying active outdoors.  Last summer, I biked 100 kilometers in one day, and this summer I hope to complete a triathlon.

 

Ursala McCormick - Instructor 

Hello! My name is Ursala McCormick, and I have been an AES instructor at Lewis & Clark for 4 years. I look forward to working here for many more. I love being able to come to a beautiful campus every day and work with dedicated colleagues and students. I have taught English in Portugal, Japan, Korea, and throughout Portland.

I enjoy teaching and learning about subjects focused on the environment, food, cultural studies, religion, and literature.

    

Mimi Morgan - Instructor

Greetings from Lewis & Clark!  My name is Mimi Morgan and I have been a member of the AES team since Fall, 2011.  Before moving to Portland in 2010, I spent 6 years teaching Academic English in Turkey.  Prior to that experience, I also spent two years teaching in Poland.  My passion for teaching came from my love of travel and my interest in meeting and exchanging ideas with people from different areas of the world.  I have been an educator for eleven years and I am always amazed by how much I continue to learn from my students everyday.  I welcome you to Lewis & Clark and look forward to learning about you and your culture first hand.

 

Laura Mundt - Community of Friends Coordinator 

I am the Community of Friends Coordinator for the Academic English Studies (AES) program.  I recruit local families to volunteer to share their Portland experiences with AES students.  If you are interested in being matched with a family who could show you Portland and welcome you in to their homes, please fill out a form in the AES office.

I enjoy reading, spending time with my daughter and husband, going to the beach and taking walks.  I attended Lewis & Clark College myself, so I am very thrilled to be part of this beautiful campus again.

 

 

Alexis Olson - Instructor

Hello! Welcome to Lewis & Clark College, situated in beautiful Portland, Oregon. I feel very lucky to be able to work in the Academic English Studies department because my job allows me to combine two things that I enjoy – working with international students and learning about other cultures. I always welcome the opportunity to hear about the cultures from which my students come and their perspectives on the world.

I came to teach English via my love for language. My undergraduate degree is in Spanish, and I thought I was going to be a Spanish teacher. During my graduate studies, I did an internship at the American English Institute on the University of Oregon campus, and I realized how much I enjoyed working with students from other countries. I switched my focus to English, and the rest is history.

When I’m not at work, I enjoy exploring beautiful Oregon. I love to hike, bike, snowboard, cross country ski, and kayak. If you ever need a recommendation on where to go to do any of these things, let me know. I look forward to working with you!

     

Julie Vorholt - Instructor

Hello from Lewis & Clark College! Our friendly and hard-working students make teaching here a pleasure. My entire career has been dedicated to the field of education. It all began in Ohio, my home state, where I studied to become a high school English teacher and taught English to native speakers preparing to enter university. Then I accepted a position in Turkey and I worked there for three years. Later I was employed in China, Kazakhstan, and at several universities in the United States. My experience is very broad, including teaching students in every age group and every skill level: from beginners to very advanced. In 2006, I moved to Oregon and began teaching at Lewis & Clark.

In my free time, I enjoy exercising, puttering in my garden, and sampling Portland’s ethnic restaurants. I also enjoy attending multicultural festivals, including Lewis & Clark’s International Fair held in March. It may come as no surprise that the Travel Channel is one of my favorite television stations. I also participate in professional organizations, such as TESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages) and OR-TESOL (Oregon’s TESOL group).

 

Susan Wynne - Administrative Specialist

Welcome!  I am the AES Administrative Specialist.  If you decide to attend AES, I am the person who will answer your questions and issue your I-20.

AES is fortunate to have friendly, caring, and helpful teachers with many years of experience. You will enjoy the beautiful Lewis & Clark campus, which has an amazing view of Mount Hood and is landscaped with native plants.

At home, I like to read, do needlework, \work crossword puzzles, walk, bicycle, kayak and spend time with my husband and daughter.