Tina Chen, Speech Consultant. Tina holds an MA in Applied Linguistics from Teachers College, Columbia University and a BA in Economics from National Chengchi University in Taiwan. She has worked with English learners from diverse language backgrounds in Taiwan and the United States, specializing in teaching pronunciation and oral communication skills. She is passionate about singing and finding creative ways to incorporate music into language learning.
Jessica Coyle, Speech Consultant. Jessica Coyle received a BA in International Studies from The University of Dayton and a MA in TESOL from The New School University. After teaching English for several years in France and Korea, her heart found its home right here in NYC. In addition to her work at TfCS, Jessica teaches and tutors at The New School. She is passionate about theatre, art, traveling, and language learning.
DJ Dolack, Director. DJ earned a BFA in Writing from Emerson College, and an MFA from Vermont College, Union Institute and University. He came to Baruch in 2006 as a consultant in the College’s Writing Center, and has continued to help improve the communication skills of Baruch students as an adjunct lecturer in the English Department, the Writing and Communications Tutorial Coordinator at the Student Academic Consulting Center, and in his current position at TfCS. He enjoys working with talented students and staff to build an innovative student service like none other!
Kim Edmunds, Curriculum Specialist. Kim holds an MA in TESOL from Teachers College, Columbia University and a BA in Linguistics and Creative Writing from Emory University. She has been working with ESL learners in various capacities for over 8 years, specializing in teaching speaking and pronunciation skills. At Baruch, she enjoys pursuing her interests in phonetics and phonology, working with English learners in higher education settings, and sharing her passion for finding a voice in a new language. She is also an adjunct faculty member in the Hunter College MA TESOL program, The New School’s Certificate in Teaching English, and the NYU English Language Institute.
Nicole Gunn, Speech Consultant. Nicole received a BA in Political Science from Rutgers University and a MA in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) from Teachers College, Columbia University. She has more than 10 years of experience teaching pronunciation, communication, conversation, listening, reading, vocabulary, business writing, and interviewing skills to English language learners at institutions such as Baruch College, Pace University, and Columbia University. Prior to becoming a teacher, Nicole worked for many years as a senior human resources professional. She enjoys incorporating her business experience into her teaching to best prepare students for success throughout their lives.
Michelle Kaplan, Speech Consultant. Michelle holds a BA in Theatre from the University of Maryland and an MA in TESOL from The New School. She has taught in programs in the New York area including The New School, Columbia University, and St. John’s University. She is also the co-host of an ESL podcast called All Ears English. Michelle has a background in media, theatre, music, and comedy, and often incorporates these passions into her classes!
Christina Kwon, Speech Consultant & Advocacy Officer. Christina holds a BA in Comparative Literature from Hamilton College and an MA in TESOL from Teachers College, Columbia University. Since 2011, she has taught ESL learners at Baruch College, Teachers College, the University of Maine, Seton Hall University, The New School, and at Kean University’s campus in Wenzhou, China. Christina enjoys getting to know her students and equipping them with the tools and skills they need to instill confidence in their English language abilities. She also hopes to promote an awareness of diversity, equity, and inclusion issues and initiatives, with a particular emphasis on prevalent issues faced by English language learners in the United States.
Julie Lee, Speech Consultant. Julie Lee received a BA in Psychology from UCLA and an MA in TESOL from Teachers College, Columbia University. She taught beginning to advanced-level ESL classes at several universities in and around New York City for more than 10 years. She enjoys working with students both in class as well as in one-on-one settings, and she loves learning about different cultures.
Carolyn Saylor-Lööf, Speech Consultant. Carolyn Saylor-Lööf has been working in the ESL profession since 1991, primarily as a university lecturer, but also as a teacher-trainer and program coordinator. She has taught in Japan, the Czech Republic, Germany, Sweden, and Holland. After many years abroad, she returned several years ago to her hometown of New York, where she is enjoying working at both TfCS and in the American Language Program at Columbia University. She holds a BA in Psychology from McGill University in Montreal, Canada, and an MA in TESL from Saint Michael’s College in Vermont, along with a TESL Certificate from Seattle University. Her areas of interest are current pronunciation changes in English, culture-based conversation strategies, and intercultural communication.
Tristan Thorne, Associate Director. Tristan holds a BA in Language Studies from UC Santa Cruz and an MA in Applied Linguistics from Teachers College, Columbia University. He has more than ten years of English teaching experience in Spain, Japan, and the United States. At TfCS, Tristan spearheads specialized cohort programming, assessment analysis and norming, and staff professional development. His interests include second language identity, pronunciation teaching practices, and assessment of second language speaking skills.
Andrea Tienan, Adjunct Instructor. Andrea teaches Speech Communication to both native and non-native speakers at Baruch College and Pace University. While specializing in Accent Reduction and all aspects of Speech Communication, for over 20 years she has taught Public Speaking, Voice and Diction, and English as a Second Language at New York University, and other colleges within the CUNY system. She has an M.A. in TESOL and an MFA in Theatre History and Criticism.
Fred Tsutagawa, Assessment Analyst. Fred is a current doctoral student of second language testing and assessment at Teachers College, Columbia University. He has worked on various research projects for the Educational Testing Service as a Doctoral Research Fellow for three years from 2013-2016 and has over 12 years of English teaching experience in Japan and the United States. He has also served as an adjunct lecturer at CUNY’s Hunter College School of Education for three years, and as an instructor and mentor for the TESOL Certificate Program at Teachers College, Columbia University for two years. His interests include the instruction and assessment of pragmatic knowledge and ability, test development and validation, and humor.