ACCET Appeals Panel

Ms. Manal Alawneh, RN, MSN (Institutional/Academic Representative)

Managing Director for Quality Control and Co-Founder, California Career Institute

Education:

  • B.N.A. – Nursing, Jordan University
  • M.S.N. – Nursing, California State University

Previous Work Experience:

  • Kaiser Permanente – Compliance RN Coordinator for Medical and State Sponsored Programs
  • Anaheim General Hospital – Manager for Quality and Risk Management
  • Premier Nursing Services – Registered Nurse
  • Jordan University of Science and Technology – Research and Teaching Assistant, School of Nursing

Mr. Lawrence Bennett (Public Representative)

Former Associate Director of Career Education (Retired), Maryland Higher Education Commission

Education:

  • M.S. – Indiana University
  • B.A. – Hiram College

Previous Work Experience:

  • Maryland Higher Education Commission – Scholarship Program Manager
  • State Board for Higher Education – Assistant to Commissioner
  • McDaniel College – Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid

Ms. Jill Fisher (Institutional/Administrative Representative)

Campus Director, The Language Company

Education:

  • M.B.A. – University of St. Francis
  • B.A. – Speech Pathology and Psychology

Previous Work Experience:

  • L.I.F.E., Inc. – Director of Day Services
  • YFN, Inc. – Manager of Organizational Excellence
  • Trinity Case Management – Targeted Case Manager
  • Residential Services – Senior Manager

Mr. Peter Graves (Public Representative)

Director of Academic Development, UTP High School, New York

Education:

  • M.A. – TESOL, New York University
  • B.A. – English, SUNY New Paltz

Previous Work Experience:

  • Embassy – Regional Academic Director
  • Oxford University Press – Editor
  • Kaplan – Academic Director
  • Embassy – Center Director, Director of Studies/National Academic Coordinator

Ms. Caroline Grear (Institutional/Academic Representative)

Executive Director, International Language Institute of Massachusetts

Education:

  • M.A. – Spanish Literature, Michigan State University
  • B.A. – Spanish, State University of New York

Previous Work Experience:

  • Institute of North American Studies – ESOL Instructor
  • Graduate Institute School of International Training – Master Trainer
  • State of New Hampshire – Teacher Trainer

Dr. Sheila Hoffman-Hicks (Institutional/Academic Representative)

President/Co-Owner, Global Language Institute

Education:

  • Ph.D. – French/Applied Linguistics, Indiana University
  • M.A. – Applied Linguistics, Indiana University
  • B.A. – English, St. Cloud University

Previous Work Experience:

  • Global Language Institute – Vice President
  • Hamline University – Adjunct Professor
  • Universite des Sciences Humaines – Lecturer in EFL and Linguistics
  • Indiana University – Associate Instructor of French & ESL Tutor
  • Cloud State University – Co-Supervisor/Tutor, ESL Center

Mr. Dean Kendall (Public Representative)

 

Career and Technology Education Regional Coordinator, Maryland State Department of Education

Education:

  • M.A. – Mass Communications, Towson University
  • M.F.A. – Music/Theater, Baylor University

Previous Work Experience:

  • Maryland Higher Education Commission – Associate Director, Career and Workforce Education
  • Harford Community College – Adjunct Instructors
  • Broadcasting Institute of Maryland, Inc. – Director of Education & Instructor

Ms. Megan Kobzej (Institutional/Academic Representative)

Assistant Dean and Senior Instructor, New America College

Education:

  • M.Ed. – Education in Curriculum and Instruction, University of Maryland, College Park
  • B.A. – English, University of Missouri

Previous Work Experience:

  • New America School – ELA Instructor
  • ACCET – Commission Representative
  • Montgomery County Public Schools, Eastern Middle School – ESOL Teacher
  • Montgomery College – ESOL Instructor

Ms. Alexis Lasheras (Public Representative)

Former Owner/Director (Retired), International Center for American English

Education:

  • M.A. – TESOL, University of California
  • B.A. – English Literature, University of California

Previous Work Experience:

  • English Language Center – Assistant Director
  • Los Angeles Unified School District – ESL Instructor, Adult Education
  • Colleges de Bethusy and Belvedere – ESL Instructor, Adult Education

Ms. Tibby Loveman (Public Representative)

Nurse (retired)

Education:

  • B.S.N. – Nursing, University of Alabama

Ms. Brenda Nazari-Robati (Institutional/Administrative Representative)

Chief Executive Officer, The Language Company

Education:

  • The Language Company – Director
  • DeMarge College – Director, South Campus
  • United Technical Institute – Dean/Evening Studies Director
  • Oklahoma State University – Administrative Supervisor, Department of English

 Commissions/Boards:

  • ACCET Accrediting Commission (Former Commissioner)

Ms. Teresa O’Donnell (Public Representative)

Former Executive Director (Retired), Commission on English Language Program Accreditation (CEA)

Education:

  • M.A. – Linguistics/Speech, University of Colorado
  • B.A. – English, University of Colorado

Previous Work Experience:

  • TESOL – Executive Director
  • TESOL – Director of Field Services
  • Northern Virginia Community College – Associate Professor/Assistant Division Chair

Ms. Danielle Rueter (Institutional/Administrative Representative)

Director of Compliance, The Culinary School of Fort Worth

Education:

  • A.A. – General Studies, Saint Petersburg College

Previous Work Experience:

  • Jewell Auto – Office Manager
  • Viatek Solutions – Office Manager

Ms. Yadexy Sierra (Institutional/Administrative Representative)

Chief Operating Officer, Mech-Tech College

Education:

  • B.A. – Business Administration, Columbia Centro Universitario

Previous Work Experience:

  • Mech-Tech College – Executive Secretary
  • Mech-Tech College – Executive Assistant

Mr. Ray Thomas (Institutional/Academic Representative)

Faculty, The Joseph Business School

Education:

  • M.B.A. – Finance/Marketing, University of Chicago
  • Master of Divinity – Oral Roberts University
  • B.A. – Economics, Swarthmore College

Previous Work Experience:

  • Joseph Center for Business Development – Vice President
  • Living World Christian Center – Vice President
  • Ameritech – Vice President, Sales