CLASE

Where are they now?

Jairo Arcila was a graduate assistant with CLASE from 2004 to 2007. He is a doctoral student at UGA.

Emily Bernier completed her middle school teaching certification in Mathematics and Social Studies from the Department of Elementary Education at UGA in 2006 and is preparing to take a teaching job. She worked with CLASE during 2004-06.

Lisa Bush is currently an art educator at the Marietta Center for Advanced Academics, a new magnet school in the Marietta City School System. When not teaching, Lisa is painting and showing her art locally.

Robin Capozzoli is teaching in Houston.

Soria Colomer is a doctoral student in Language and Literacy Education. She worked with CLASE during 2006-07.

Luz del Carmen Cerda is a native of Mexico and is currently enrolled in the masters program in Middle School Education, focusing on Mathematics Education. She worked with CLASE during 2005-06.

Marta Deán is native from Spain, and is currently enrolled in the EdS Reading Education program at UGA. She finished her M.Ed in Foreign Language education while working for CLASE during 2004-05.She has taught Social studies, advanced reading and Spanish to gifted eight graders, regular-struggling language arts to eight graders, and high school Spanish .

Her scholarly interests include developing first and second language literacy, critical educational theory, and the relation between public policy and student achievement. She is particularly interested in the social, historical, cultural, linguistic and individual factors affecting school performance. She has been involved in after school clubs, workshops/presentations, and community and group work such as family literacy, mother daughter sessions, or theater of the oppressed performances. When not working or studying, Marta enjoys kayaking, hiking, or socializing with friends, family or colleagues.

Marcia Drumhiller is a doctoral student in Educational Psychology. She currently teaches Medical Spanish at Emory University and is employed as a nutritionist by the DeKalb County Department of Public Health. She worked with CLASE during 2005-06.

Fuad Elhage is starting his doctoral program in Teaching Foreign Languages, teaching intermediate Spanish at UGA with the Romance Language Department and salsa dance on Monday nights at Last Call in Athens.

Heather Edelblute works in Atlanta at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) as a marketing manager for Healthy People 2010, a federal program aimed at getting Americans to live healthier lives. She will be returning to the UGA College of Public Health in Fall 2007 for graduate work..

Christa Hofacre is a doctoral student in Adult Education at UGA and works with the African Studies program.

David Latimer was a graduate assistant with CLASE from 2004 to 2007. He is completing his dissertation in Language Education at UGA.

Paula Mellom completed her Ph.D. in the UGA linguistics program with a focus on Second Language Acquisition. She works with UGA’s TELL Program and coordinated CLASE’s 2006 Steps to College-Gwinnett.

Dr. Bernadette Musetti served as the CLASE Co-Director from 2003 to 2007.

Brian Padilla was a graduate assistant with CLASE from 2005-2007. He graduated with a masters in community counseling in 2007 and is working in Latin America.

Dr. Michael J. Padilla was CLASE's executive director from 2002-2006. After retiring from the University of Georgia, Mike now directs the School of Education at Clemson University.

Elida Perez-Knapp served as CLASE’s community liaison specialist from 2003 to 2006. She is presently the Community Leadership Development Latino Coordinator for the Center for Family Resources in Cobb Co.

Beda Roberts currently serves as the Homeless Education Liaison for Forsyth County Schools after working as a school social worker for the district.

Leslie Rodriguez-Zeigler Leslie Rodriguez-Zeigler is a doctoral student studying Health Communications in the Department of Health Promotion and Behavior. She worked with CLASE from 2004-2006, most recently on research projects entailing diabetes education kiosks and creating cross-cultural communication resources for Georgia’s public information/risk communication officers.

Spencer Salas Presidential Graduate Fellow, joined the Department of Language and Literacy Education in August 2003, and is scheduled to graduate with his Ph.D. in Spring 2007. His scholarly interests include academic literacies, cultural historical activity theory, and ethnographic approaches to qualitative research in education. He worked with CLASE during 2004-06.

Shanaal Smothers is a graduate student in Educational Psychology. She worked with CLASE in 2006-07

Regina Suriel was a graduate assistant with CLASE from 2005-2007. She is a doctoral student in Science Education at UGA.

Darlene Xiomara Rodriguez Schaefer is working on her dissertation for her doctoral program at the School of Public and International Affairs at UGA.

Sara Tolbert completed her masters and certification in Middle School Education with concentrations in science and social studies and student taught in New Zealand. She is presently a doctoral student in California. She worked with CLASE during 2005-06.

CLASE Alumni

Where are they now?