ACCET Staff

The ACCET staff is here to assist you during the accreditation application process. Please take advantage of our expertise. We look forward to working with you.

Res Helfer - Executive Director

Education:

  • M.A. – Education, University of Fribourg, Switzerland

Previous Work Experience:

  • ACCET – Senior Accreditation Coordinator
  • Brandon College, San Francisco – Owner/Director
  • Brandon College, San Francisco – Academic Director

Mr. Helfer’s ACCET journey spans 30 years, first as a student at an ACCET accredited school, then as an instructor, and ultimately as the owner for 20 years. He served as a Commissioner and Chair of the ACCET Commission. Finally, after successfully selling his school, he joined ACCET as a Senior Accreditation Coordinator. Mr. Helfer has participated in numerous site visits to vocational, avocational, and Intensive English Schools. He is widely known and respected by ACCET staff and members and has a deep understanding of accreditation, ACCET standards, and the ACCET culture.
Click Here to download Res’ Bio.
 
(202) 984-2202
RHelfer@accet.org
 

Kate Zulaski - Deputy Executive Director

Ms. Zulaski brings experience in teaching, school administration, non-profit management, and accreditation to her role with ACCET.

As the Deputy Executive Director, she supports the Executive Director in the implementation of the ACCET Commission’s vision for the organization.

(202) 984-2282
KZulaski@accet.org
 

Linsay Oakden - Executive Advisor

(202) 984-2895
LOakden@accet.org
 

Scott Faulstick - Senior Accreditation Coordinator

Education:

M.S. – Applied Linguistics, Georgetown University B.S./B.A. – Linguistics and French Literature, Georgetown University

Previous Work Experience:

      • SOME CET – Assistant Director/Job Developer
      • Technical Education Center – Director of ESL Instruction/Curriculum Specialist
      • LADO International College – ESL Instructor
      • University of Warsaw, Foreign Language Teacher Training College – Lecturer
      • Nagy Lajos Gimnazium – English (EFL) Teacher

Co-Chair – Application Review Committee (Initial Applications)
Co-Chair – Change of Ownership Committee

(202) 984-2210
SFaul@accet.org

 

Beth Hepler - Senior Accreditation Coordinator

Education:

  • M.S. – Counseling Psychology, Gannon University
  • B.A. – English, York College of Pennsylvania

Previous Work Experience:

  • Cyanna Education Services, LLC – Consultant, Director of Accreditation and Licensure
  • NT Holdings LLC d/b/a Cortiva Institutes and Hollywood Institutes – Director of Accreditation and State Licensure
  • Steiner Education Group d/b/a Cortiva Institutes – National Director of Accreditation and State Licensure and ADA Coordinator
  • Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) – Accreditation Specialist

Co-Chair – Completion and Placement Committee
Co-Chair – Annual Conference Committee
Co-Chair – Financial Review Committee (Financial Stability)
 
(202) 984-2290
BHepler@accet.org

Donna Hutchison - Senior Accreditation Coordinator

Education:

B.S. – Business Education, James Madison University (formerly James Madison College)

Previous Work Experience:

      • ACCET – Commission Representative
      • Southern Careers Institute – Corporate Director of Education
      • ComputerTraining.com and TechSkills – Director of Compliance
      • ACCET – Associate Executive Director

Co-Chair – Program Review Committee
 
(202) 984-2889
DHutchison@accet.org
 
 

Emily Keegan - Accreditation Coordinator

Education:

  • B.A. – French, Bowling Green State University

Previous Work Experience:

  • The Language Company (Toledo) – Center Director, Director of Admissions, Instructor
  • Wood County Humane Society – Board Vice President, Fundraising Chair, Outreach Coordinator
  • French Ministry of Education – English teaching assistant

Co-Chair — Application Review Committee (Reaccreditation Applications)
Co-Chair – Branching Review Committee (IEP)
Co-Chair – Financial Review Committee
 
(202) 984-2250
EKeegan@accet.org

Derek Kerr - Accreditation Coordinator

Education:

  • M.A.- Cross-Cultural and International Education – Bowling Green State University
  • B.A.- Spanish- Bowling Green State University
  • International TEFL Certificate- Canterbury Consulting, Spain

Previous Work Experience:

  • The Language Company (Fort Wayne)- Center Director/PDSO/Instructor
  • ELS Language Centers (Bowling Green)- Director of Academics/Instructor
  • Canterbury Consulting, Spain (Madrid)- English as a Second Language Instructor

Co-Chair – Program Review Committee (Avocational & IEP)
Co-Chair – Financial Review Committee
 
(202) 984-2220
DKerr@accet.org

Andre McDuffie - Accreditation Coordinator

Education:

  • M.S. in Human Resource Management
  • B.A. in Communication

Co-Chair – Branching Review Committee (Vocational)
Co-Chair – Conference Committee
Co-Chair – Completion and Placement Committee 
 
(202) 984-2266
AMcDuffie@accet.org
 

Maurice P. Eckstein – Accreditation and Volunteer Leadership Associate

Education:

  • B.A. – Communication, Pacific Lutheran University
  • M.A. – Public Administration, Drake University

Previous Work Experience:

  • Kennesaw State University – Graduate Research Assistant, International Conflict Management (2019-2021).
  • Human Rights Campaign – Manager/Associate Director, Communities and Volunteer Relations (2015-2017/2017-2019).
  • Council for the Advancement and Support of Education – Advancement Programs Coordinator (2013-2015).

(202) 984-2890
MEckstein@accet.org

David Moser – Accreditation Coordinator and Content Editor

Education: BA, Classical Civilization, Beloit College

Previous Work Experience:

  • Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) – Accreditation Content Editor
  • UDC Community College – Curriculum Developer
  • Prince George’s Community College – Adjunct Professor
  • World Bank – English Language Trainer
  • Video Idiomas, S.A. (Madrid, Spain) – English (EFL) Instructor

(202) 984-2899
DMoser@accet.org

Kaitlyn Gough - Administrative Assistant and Database Liaison

Education:

B.A. – Anthropology, Ithaca College

Previous Work Experience:

  • On Our Own of Maryland – Administrative Assistant
  • The Human Rights Campaign’s All Children, All Families Project – Intern

Assistant – Accounts Receivable (sustaining fees, visit fees, application fees, etc.)
Assistant – Initial Applications
Chair – Annual Report and Enrollment Statistics (ACCET Documents 12a and 12b)
Co-Chair – Financial Review Committee
Liaison – Databases
 
(202) 984-2885
KGough@accet.org