Faculty and Staff

English Language Institute

The instructors who teach in the ELI are experienced, dedicated, and caring teachers with advanced degrees in teaching English as a Second Language or related fields. All ELI instructors have either lived or traveled abroad extensively. They know the challenges of being in a new culture and having to speak a new language!

The administrativestaff in the ELI program are here to support your academic and immigration advising needs. Each staff member has international advising experience.

	Thomas Tyner Director of the English Language Institute B.A. Wake Forest University, M.A. George Washington University Academic Interests: Access to higher education for language learners, language acquisition and development, comparative higher education systems. Advice to Students: Find a good publication on a subject that you are interested in and try to read every day. I would also recommend finding English speaking friends.
	Karin Sandler Associate Director of the English Language Institute B.S. Georgetown University, M.A.T. Georgetown University Academic Interests: Cross-cultural communication, writing for academic purposes, pronunciation, and the use of technology in the classroom. Advice to Students: Focus on communication and don't be afraid of making mistakes. Take advantage of all the extra-curricular activities that Mercer offers. This is a great way to practice your English and make new friends!
	Ann Stewart Coordinator of International Students and Scholars
	Muriel Vega Admissions Specialist B.A. Georgia State University Academic Interests: Post-Colonial Literature, Creative Writing, Grammar and Language Acquisition Advice to Students: Watch movies with English subtitles, it helps with pronunciation and listening skills. Read and then read some more - find your favorite books in English and re-read them. Try to interact with your new environment and learn about other cultures.
	Cem Turan International Admissions Counselor B.B.A. Mercer University Academic Interests: Organizational Leadership, Marketing Communications, and Advertising. Advice to Students: Learning English requires a lot of practice, so you should use any opportunity to practice it. Reading a newspaper on a daily basis, watching movies, and making English-speaking friends are good ways to practice your English. You can also find an interest and develop your English in that direction.
	ILknur Eginli ELI Instructor, Assistant Professor at CCPS, Bridge Program Advisor M.A. Minnesota State University, M.S. George Mason University, Ph.D. George Mason University Academic Interests: Research Skills, Academic Writing, Technology Integration in the Classroom Advice to Students: Have long-term goals and short-term goals for studying English. You could break your distant goals into short-term goals. You could have a short term goal for your weekly assignments, and have daily goals related homework. Set a goal to work towards each time you study English, and learn how to self-regulate your own learning for academic achievement.
	Shawn Beaty Instructor B.A. Johns Hopkins University, M.A. The University of Montana Academic Interests: Reading and Literature, Composition and Creative Writing Advice to Students: Study hard to learn, but try to have fun doing it; if you enjoy learning, half the battle is won.
	Wayne Edgecomb Instructor B.A. Seattle Pacific University, M.A. Pacific University Academic Interests: Reading and vocabulary development, test preparation, and American cultural studies Advice to Students: Practice English everyday by reading, watching T.V. and movies, and making English speaking friends.
	Barbara Derrick Instructor (Part-time) B.A. Southern Methodist University, M.A. University of Wisconsin, Madison Academic Interests: Intercultural communication, second language acquisition, language teaching techniques Advice to Students: In the E.S.L. classroom, we are here to learn and help each other. It's O.K. to make mistakes. Making mistakes is a natural part of the learning process. Relax and enjoy!
	Kari Loomis Instructor (Part-time) B.A. Georgia State University, M.S. Georgia State University Academic Interests: Teaching grammar and writing in context in ways that make acquisition more effective. Finding topics that can speed that acquisition. Advice to Students: Read, read, read. Read books in English that you have already read in your native language. Find an English-speaking friend to hang out with. Keep an English journal of your daily activities and thoughts. Utilize the language-choices on new DVD systems. Watch the movies in your own language and in English.
	Sonnia Chung Moon Instructor M.A. University of Northern Iowa Academic Interests: English for academic purposes, Test Preparation, Pronunciation, Presentation skills Advice to Students: Language is not just a set of rules but art. You may use those rules to create and express what you want. Learn the meaningand use of language as well and apply it in speaking, writing and reading. Your English will improve a lot if you know how to apply your knowledge in everyday life!
	Norman Richards Instructor B.A. Queen's University (Canada), M.A. Georgia State University Academic Interests: Vocabulary acquisition, advanced listening, cross-cultural communication Advice to Students: Keep an Englishvocabulary journal and write down the unfamiliarvocabulary that you encounter every day. Later, you can look up those words in an English dictionary, or ask native speakers for more information about how to use those words in conversationor writing.
	Lynette Robson Instructor B.A. Hamline University, M.A. Georgia State University Academic Interests: Using drama to teach fluency, curriculum development (focusing on content-based courses), and intercultural understanding. Advice to Students: If you want to learn English, you must talk in English (a lot!). Do something each week that you are not able to do in your native country.
	Judye Smith Instructor B.S. University of Alabama, M. Ed. University of North Carolina Academic Interests: Basic language development through vocabulary building, Incorporation of Grammar Structures into Writing and Speaking, and Transitioning from language learning into degree seeking programs. Advice to Students: Take small, determined steps toward reaching your goals; maintain a "can-do" spirit. Ask a teacher for help when you don't understand!
	Jenny Duckworth Instructor, Student Activities Coordinator B.A. Samford University, M.A. University of Alabama at Birmingham Academic Interests: American English pronunciation, Designing Assessment Tools, English through Music, and Cross-cultural Understanding Advice to Students: Find ways to make American friends. Don't be shy! Try to learn about American culture through friendship, music, TV, people-watching, and exploring the city. The more we understand each other, the more we can live at peace with one another.
	Mary Louise Hendley Instructor, Testing Coordinator B.S. Samford University, M.A. Georgia State University Academic Interests: Second Language Acquisition, Reading and Vocabulary Development, and Intercultural Communication Advice to Students: Take every opportunity while you're in the U.S. to practice your English; don't be afraid to use what you learn in and outside class to interact with new people and achieve your language learning goals.
	Marsha Wood Instructor B.A. Clark Atlanta University, M.A. Hawaii Pacific University Academic Interests: International Education, Textbook Design and Publishing Advice to Students: READ! Read something in authentic English every day! It can be something as simple as a sales advertisement or for more challenging reading, try something from the Young Adults section at the local library. Reading also helps with your writing skills. Also, try to learn about American culture, including everyday speech.

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English Language Institute

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