Program Alumni

Maria Coolican’s interests and expertise include second language acquisition theory and practices, student teacher learning and development, and the role and phenomenon of failure in preservice teacher education. She has extensive experience as a high school teacher, assistant principal, and principal.

Heather Dornoff’s work with A2LP focuses on program development and oversight as well as recruitment. She has been at the University of Michigan for more than 20 years enjoying roles in research and public engagement. She loves working with the A2LP community of students, staff, alumni and community partners.

Claudia Cameratti-Baeza is a graduate student at the University of Michigan School of Education in the Teaching and Teacher Education doctoral program. She has been a passionate teacher educator for 15 years both in Chile, her home country, and in the United States working at the Ann Arbor Languages Partnership. She is interested in supporting Language Teaching Assistants (LTAs) as they learn and develop their teaching in the program, hoping that this year results in a wonderful experience.

Martha Epperson is a student in the University of Michigan’s School of Education Teaching and Teacher Education doctoral program. Prior to her arrival in Michigan, Martha served as an English Language Fellow in Chile, training public school teachers on behalf of the Chilean Ministry of Education. She has taught English to immigrant and refugee children in US public schools as well as English as a foreign language in Europe and Puerto Rico.

Ann Crowley taught Spanish for 31 years at Chelsea High School and is now retired. She attended Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri, and earned a master’s degree in Spanish from Michigan State University. She has lived and studied in Spain. Ann truly enjoyed working with the A2LP program last year. She is interested in helping the teaching interns do their very best by offering feedback and suggestions in a non-threatening, professional manner.

I fell in love with Spanish while studying abroad in Salamanca, Spain in high school. While I am not studying Spanish at Michigan, A2LP allows me to practice my Spanish in a fun and unique way.

Elaina Rahrig is a prelaw sophomore from Grand Rapids, Michigan studying political science and Spanish. On campus, she is involved in LSA Student Government, the Gamma Phi Beta Sorority, and the University of Michigan Women’s Glee Club. Elaina joined A2LP because she loves Spanish and working with kids. Her favorite parts of the program are singing the “adios” song at the end of each class in different styles (e.g. opera, rap) and getting to know the students.

I am a Biopsychology, Cognition and Neuroscience (BCN) and Spanish major and have learning Spanish since I was in 8th grade. I studied abroad in Salamanca, Spain this past summer! I also taught Spanish to second graders when I was in high school. I hope to be a pediatric dentist one day, so it’s great to be able to work with kids twice a week. A2LP is an amazing program and I love my students!

I am a current Senior studying International Studies and Spanish. My love for Spanish goes back to grade school, which I hope to inspire in my fourth graders. I studied abroad in Barcelona my junior year, where I practiced my speaking skills. I have also used Spanish professionally while working for an immigration reform organization.

One of my majors as an undergraduate student was Spanish, so I decided to enroll in A2LP. I fell in love with the program and it was the biggest influence in my decision to become a teacher.

¡Hola, Yo soy la Señorita Jackie! I’m an inner-city girl with a small town girl’s heart. I was born and raised in the infamous Motor City. I became bilingual at a very young age; I attended a Spanish immersion elementary and middle school. Through A2LP I am able to play in role in teaching students a second, or sometimes even a third language, and in doing so I believe that I am helping them become more apt to participate in a globalized society.

My name is Maria Lopez. I am a junior at the University in Michigan, majoring in Spanish and minoring in Translation Studies. I am a native Spanish speaker and it is fulfilling to be able to share my language with others. I have been teaching 4th grade Spanish for two years now and I want to continue teaching after I graduate.

I grew up speaking Spanish and English because my mother is fluent in both. I’ve been to Mexico (vacation) and Costa Rica (mission trip) and I plan to study abroad in Spain in 2017. I have six nieces and one nephew and I nanny in the summer, so it’s safe to say that I really like spending time with kids. I enjoy A2LP because it combines my passion for Spanish with my love for children!

Sarah is a Senior at U of M studying Spanish, Women’s Studies, and Linguistics. She will be studying abroad in Santiago de Compostela, Spain this summer to round out her language and culture knowledge. She loves working with children and hopes to continue doing so in the future.

Meagan is a senior, studying Cognitive Science: Language and Cognition. This is Meagan’s third semester teaching Spanish at Logan Elementary, where she had the distinct pleasure of moving with her third grade classes up to fourth grade this past Fall. Meagan plans to pursue a career in education, especially in language-learning contexts.

A2LP has given me the chance to expand my teaching experience through actual classroom time with real students. The program helped me realize that I truly enjoy working with students of any age and that I might want to share my knowledge and passion of Cellular & Molecular Biology (my major at U-M) with others in my future. Although I am planning on going into secondary education, I feel like A2LP has given me good initial preparation on how to manage a classroom throughout a given lesson.

Linda is a 5th year senior studying Bimolecular Science and Spanish. She has been with A2LP for two years and has enjoyed the unique opportunity to teach Spanish to fourth grade students at Pittsfield Elementary. She plans to apply to medical school this spring, and would love to be involved in health education in the near future. Teaching through A2LP has equipped her with many important skills she will use in her future endeavors.

Erin is a 2015 University of Michigan graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Communications Studies and a minor in Community Action and Social Change, and works for an advertising agency in Chicago, IL . She has a passion for education and Spanish, and continues to work with youth in her community.

I am a sophomore majoring in Psychology and International Studies, studying different cultures with a focus on Latin America and Spanish. I have taken Spanish for six years now and love working with children, so this was a great program for me to try. I have enjoyed working with A2LP, it has really helped me to become less afraid of talking in public and I have really enjoyed teaching the children Spanish.

I am majoring in Linguistics and Romance Languages (Spanish and Portuguese). I’ve studied Spanish since seventh grade and have always had a passion for learning about the language. I teach fourth grade at Carpenter Elementary—my teaching partner and I are so lucky to have been placed in such a wonderful school with such a wonderful principal—not to mention our wonderful students! The best feeling is seeing my kids’ faces light up when we walk into the room.

I’ve always loved Spanish and after doing a homestay program in Turrialba, Costa Rica after my sophomore year in high school, I made myself a personal goal of being fluent in Spanish by the time I graduate from college. I also love working with kids, whether it be babysitting, tutoring, counseling, etc, so A2LP seemed like the perfect opportunity for me to combine my passion for Spanish with my passion for working with kids. It has been nothing but a positive experience so far!

Hi! I studied abroad in Salamanca, Spain for 6 weeks my Sophomore summer and then in Buenos Aires, Argentina for 6 months in the winter of my junior year. Learning a new language opens up a totally different world from what you are accustomed to. Adjectives and nouns are switched. Things sound funny. You understand why foreigners talk the way they do. It is a bridge into another culture/way of life. That is part of the reason teaching these kids is so cool and why I chose to participate in the program!

I’m a senior in Physics, with a passion for Hispanic culture and language. A2LP is an amazing opportunity for anyone looking for some extra practice with Spanish to those who wish to pursue the education profession. It’s the perfect class to balance out the stress in your life – my students continue to surprise and make me smile.

I am a junior studying Spanish and Communications. I have loved learning Spanish since middle school and am very passionate about the language and culture. I have plans to study abroad in Santiago, Spain before I graduate. I have never taught before, but I was a nanny for several years for school age children. Experiencing Spanish as a student and a teacher has been a truly enriching opportunity.

I am a sophomore studying Spanish Education. I have been studying Spanish for eight years now and I love it! In this past year, I have had the opportunity to go abroad twice. In the summer of 2015 I spent a month and a half in southern Mexico working at a migrant shelter, volunteering and talking to migrants to hear their stories. Also, over winter break I was in Honduras helping build a school with an organization called Students Helping Honduras that seeks to combat poverty and gang violence through education.

I am a Junior studying Communications and Spanish. After studying abroad in Granada, Spain during Winter 2015, I re-joined A2LP and have loved every moment since! Education and education reform is a passion of mine, so having the opportunity to combine my own language learning with teaching through A2LP has been one of the highlights of my time at The University of Michigan!

I am a senior majoring in Spanish and Latin American Studies. I have been a summer camp director for the city of Ann Arbor for four summers, and I am really excited to bring that experience into the classroom.

I am a sophomore from Detroit studying Elementary Education. I have studied Spanish since first being introduced to it in middle school. I love working with children and watching them develop more confidence in their ability as learners but also as teachers as well; I am able to learn just as much from them as they may learn from me. They have shown me the importance of being flexible, prepared for the unexpected, and simply having fun!

I am from Saint Clair Shores, with a major in Spanish and a Mathematics minor. My end goal is to be a teacher and I honestly love creating connections with other people through learning processes. I am so happy I chose to be a part of A2LP because visiting my students has been the BEST part of my week for 39 weeks and counting.

I am a Spanish major who is from southwest Michigan, and my best college experience was when I studied abroad in Madrid, Spain for a semester. There, I took 5 classes all taught in Spanish, and I enjoyed teaching an English class once a week in a local elementary school to 2nd grade children. I am also involved in the Crossfit community, and I enjoy being in the outdoors and spending time with friends and family.

I am a junior double majoring in Spanish and History. My passion for Spanish came out of my love for people. Studying Spanish has given me the opportunity to meet and connect with communities in spite of language barriers. Through non-profit work in my home state of California, I have developed an equivalent passion for the power of education. For me, A2LP is the perfect combination of these two fields.

Emma Kuske is a Sophomore currently pursuing majors through both the Honors program and School of Music, Theatre, and Dance in Spanish and Drama. She is from Grand Rapids, Michigan and this will be her fifteenth year studying the Spanish language and culture. She has always been inspired to learn and teach the language because of her passion for traveling, whether it’s hiking, touring, or just visiting. Along with Spanish and Drama, Emma competes with the Ballroom Dance Team, experiments with piano, ukulele, and guitar, and plays field hockey.

Hi! I’m Nicole Haggerty and I am currently a sophomore at the University of Michigan. I am a Spanish major and Biology minor with plans to apply to medical school. My drive to help people and my love for Spanish is what lead me to this program and I am very excited to make a difference through it. I can’t wait to spread my Spanish knowledge on to kids who are excited to learn.

I am thinking I will majoring in Spanish and History and minor in Writing. This past summer I taught English and a little Spanish in Morocco. I have also tutored at my high school in northern Michigan and at Community High School in Ann Arbor. I wish to become a secondary education Spanish teacher.

I am a Sophomore, my intended major is Mathematics with a minor is Psychology. My first language was Spanish, my family and I would travel to Mexico every winter where I would be enrolled in school for a couple of months. My teaching experience has been as a catechist assistant and math tutor. One of my teachers let me teach our class for a week, to help me consider if I wanted to be a teacher.

I am from Owosso, Michigan and a Sophomore in LSA studying International Studies. I started learning Spanish in high school but really fell in love with the study of the cultures and language in the Intensive Residential College here at Michigan. I have always had a passion for youngsters and am excited to combine my love of children and Spanish through A2LP this year.

I’m a Pre-PA senior majoring in Spanish. While I don’t have any proper experience in teaching, I have previously held workshops while serving as an executive board member in a student organization. I hope to further improve my Spanish as well as develop invaluable skills in leadership and instruction from working with children. I’m excited to be part of this community and look forward to being challenged by this new environment!

I am a senior studying Spanish and Political Science. My interest in Spanish was sparked by lively, engaging professors at the University of Michigan, and I hope to bring the same energy to the classes I teach. During spring term of my junior year, I studied abroad in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, and lived with an entirely Spanish-speaking family. I hope to show students how fun and rewarding learning a new language can be.

I, Asha Burns, am a Sophomore at the University of Michigan. I am pre-med with a double major in Biomolecular Science and Spanish. I have taken Spanish for 6 years now and have recently completed a study abroad program in Salamanca, Spain. I have Mexican heritage but I am not a native speaker. Therefore, I am studying the language because it is a huge part of my culture and I love learning it.

My name is Susie Wager and I am from Cleveland, Ohio. I am majoring in Cellular and Molecular Biology on a premed track, and I am minoring in Spanish. I have a background in tutoring both younger students in the 4th and 5th grade as well as high school students. I am eager to teach a full class of students and help them improve their skills in Spanish.