Faculty Profiles
Chris
Mares, Director
Chris has been involved in English Language Teaching since 1981. He has
taught ESL/EFL students, trained teachers, written textbooks and other
teaching materials, as well as presented at many professional
conferences. He has worked and lived in Europe, the Middle East, and the
Far East.
As well as directing the Intensive
English Institute, Chris is involved in the UM Honors Program and
outreach work for ESL and bilingual practitioners in Maine.
When he is not working, Chris can be
found enjoying the beautiful outdoors of Maine where he runs, cycles,
hikes, sea-kayaks, skis, and camps. He also likes to read, play guitar,
cook, and write short fiction.
Chris has an MA in Applied Linguistics
from the University of Reading and also holds a Cambridge Diploma in
TEFLA from International House.
e-mail Chris at
Chris.Mares@umit.maine.edu
Jean
Leighton Mileham
ESL Lecturer
Program Development Specialist
Jean has been involved in English
Language Teaching since 1973. Her experience includes teaching students
and training teachers in university and community-based ESL programs,
supervising international and domestic graduate TAs, developing
intensive program curricula and undergraduate ESL composition sequences,
and designing placement-testing instruments for the University of
Wisconsin System.
Jean has co-edited a collection of
professional papers, presented at state, regional and national
conferences, and served on the Executive Board of Wisconsin TESOL. She
has lived in France, traveled in the UK and northern Europe, and studied
in Slovakia.
Back in her native Maine since August
1999, Jean now calls Lincoln home. There she can watch the birds and
wildlife, take in an ever-changing view of Mount Katahdin, play a little
golf, and view the dark night sky through an 8-inch telescope.
Jean holds a BA in English from the
University of Maine, an MA in Applied English Linguistics from the
University of Wisconsin, and advanced degree coursework, also at UW, in
English historical linguistics.
e-mail Jean at
Jean.Mileham@umit.maine.edu
Laura
Jones-Katz
ESL Lecturer
Laura joined the IEI faculty in the
fall of 2005. Her background is in creative writing, and she always
seeks new ways to incorporate poetry, storytelling, and theater into
her lessons.
Before coming to the IEI, Laura worked
with English language learners at Brooklyn College. She has studied
in Germany and Italy and has traveled throughout Europe. When she
is
not teaching,
Laura
is
writing.
Her
latest play,
Animals that Live in the Mirror, an adaptation of a short
story by Jorge Luis Borges, was recently performed in New York City.
Laura received her BA from Wheaton College
and holds an MFA in Playwriting from Brooklyn College.
e-mail Laura at Laura.Jones-Katz@umit.maine.edu
Erin-Kate
Sousa
ESL Lecturer
Erin-Kate
joined the IEI faculty at the start of 2006. Her background is in
Spanish and Latin American Studies. She is a graduate of the University
of Maine and also attended the University of Guadalajara.
She has traveled in several Latin American countries as well as Europe.
Here in Maine she enjoys hiking, making the most of the short gardening
season, and of course working at the IEI.
e-mail Erin-Kate at Erin-Kate.Sousa@umit.maine.edu
