Welcome to the 2021 Virtual Fulbright English for Graduate Studies Program at Michigan State University. This activity is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs as part of its Fulbright Program, the U.S. government’s flagship international exchange program supported by the people of the United States and partner countries around the world. For more information, visit fulbright.state.gov. This activity is administered by the Institute of International Education (IIE).

The program is hosted by the English Language Center at Michigan State University.

The Fulbright English for Graduate Studies Program at MSU is a four-week long program. The goal of the program is to help you prepare for your graduate studies in the U.S. by providing you with:

coursework to help you refine your oral and written communication skills that you will need for academic success
seminars on the following topics: U.S. Higher Education Institutions, Understanding Key Relationships in Academia, U.S. Healthcare, Police Interactions and Rights as Non-U.S. Citizens, U.S. Classroom Culture, and Appropriate Interpersonal Relationships and Sexual Assault
networking opportunities to orient you to your graduate studies and the Fulbright organization

Daily Agenda

Week 1

July 10, Saturday

Program Orientation (Asynchronous)

July 11, Sunday

Self-Introductions Due (Asynchronous)

July 12, Monday

Cultural Artifacts Small Group Introductions with Oral Communications & Academic Writing Skills Instructors (Synchronous)
Academic Writing Skills Orientation

July 13, Tuesday

Oral Communication Skills Coursework (Asynchronous)
Academic Writing Skills Coursework (Asynchronous)

July 14, Wednesday

Campus and Academic Culture Orientation (Synchronous)
Fulbright EGSP Social Hour(Synchronous)

July 15, Thursday

Oral Communication Skills Synchronous Orientation (Synchronous)
Academic Writing Skills Office Hours (Optional, Synchronous); Academic Writing Skills Coursework (Asynchronous)
Campus and Academic Culture: U.S. Higher Education Institutions (Asynchronous)

July 16, Friday

Academic Writing Skills Asynchronous Coursework (Asynchronous)
Peer-Led Networking (Synchronous)
Coffee Hour (Synchronous)

Week 2

July 19, Monday

Oral Communication Skills Class (Synchronous)
Academic Writing Skills Class (Synchronous)
Campus and Academic Culture: US Classroom Culture (Asynchronous)

July 20, Tuesday

Oral Communication Skills Class (Synchronous)
Academic Writing Skills Coursework (Asynchronous)

July 21, Wednesday

Campus and Academic Culture: Graduate Student Forum (Synchronous)

July 22, Thursday

Oral Communication Skills Class (Synchronous)
Academic Writing Skills Office Hours (Optional, Synchronous); Academic Writing Skills Coursework (Asynchronous)
Campus and Academic Culture: Understanding Key Relationships (Asynchronous)

July 23, Friday

Oral Communication Skills Class (Synchronous)
Academic Writing Skills Coursework (Asynchronous)
Coffee Hour (Synchronous)

Week 3

July 26, Monday

Oral Communication Skills Class (Synchronous)
Academic Writing Skills Class (Synchronous)
Campus and Academic Culture: US Healthcare (Asynchronous)

July 27, Tuesday

Oral Communication Skills Class (Synchronous)
Academic Writing Skills Coursework (Asynchronous)

July 28, Wednesday

Campus and Academic Culture: Appropriate Interpersonal Relationships and Sexual Assault (Synchronous)
- Synchronous sessions at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. (EST)

July 29, Thursday

Oral Communication Skills Class (Synchronous)
Academic Writing Skills Office Hours (Optional, Synchronous); Academic Writing Skills Coursework (Asynchronous)

July 30, Friday

Oral Communication Skills Class (Synchronous)
Academic Writing Skills Coursework (Asynchronous)
Coffee Hour (Synchronous)

Week 4

August 2, Monday

Oral Communication Skills Class (Synchronous)
Academic Writing Skills Class (Synchronous)
Campus and Academic Culture: Police Interactions and Rights as Non-U.S. Citizens (Asynchronous)

August 3, Tuesday

Oral Communication Skills Class (Synchronous)
Academic Writing Skills Coursework (Asynchronous)

August 4 , Wednesday

Networking with MSU Fulbrighters (Synchronous)

August 5 , Thursday

Oral Communication Skills Class (Synchronous)
Academic Writing Skills Office Hours (Optional, Synchronous); Academic Writing Skills Coursework (Asynchronous)

August 6 , Friday

Oral Communication Skills Class (Synchronous)
Academic Writing Skills Coursework (Asynchronous)

August 7 , Saturday

Program Evaluation (Asynchronous)

Session Descriptions

U.S. Higher Education Institutions and the U.S. Academic Hierarchical Structure

Dr. Robert Coffee

The US higher (postsecondary) education sector is remarkably broad and diverse with regard to institutional histories, affiliations, missions, rigor, and scale. In this session participants will (1) briefly discuss the history of higher education in the US; (2) consider the historical, social, and economic forces that have shaped development of the sector; (3) identify and discuss prevailing institution types, from liberal arts colleges to large, research-intensive universities.

Classroom Culture

Mr. David Krise

This session will begin with a brief examination of the multi-modal instructional methods you may experience in graduate programs at U.S. universities. What should you expect? What will instructors expect of you? How can you successfully navigate the diverse academic cultures and expectations you encounter? This session will conclude with a primary focus on the seminar method of instruction and explore the many approaches used by instructors and the expectations placed on students in seminar classes. A seminar practicum will conclude the time together.

Understanding Key Relationships

Dr. Nicole Namy

This session will explore building professional relationships with faculty, staff, advisors and classmates to assist in social and academic success while pursuing a degree in the U.S. The session will also include campus resources that are available to support relationship building and mentorship.

Graduate Student Forum

MSU Graduate Students

Participants will meet with MSU graduate students from a variety of departments, first in small groups to discuss academics, graduate student life, faculty advisors, assistantships, etc.

U.S. Healthcare and Mental Health Resources

Ms. Jessica Scott-Niehls

Dealing with an illness or injury in a foreign country is very difficult, and the U.S. health care system is quite complex. This session will give participants the tools and knowledge they will need to seek appropriate medical care during their programs.

Sexual Harassment and Discrimination: Your Rights and Responsibilities

Lydia Weiss and Sophie Walters

This session will review the U.S policies in regards to harassment and discrimination. The presenters will discuss Fulbright Scholars’ rights and their respective Universities’ responsibility to protect them against harassment and discrimination while studying in the United States.

Police Interactions and Rights as Non-U.S. Citizens

Lt. Daniel Munford

This session will include information on police interactions, arrest, and detention. U.S. Laws on driving, drugs, and alcohol will also be discussed.

Director Biography

Dr. Dustin De Felice (defelic5@msu.edu) is the director of the English Language Center at Michigan State University and he is an Assistant Professor in the Master of Arts in Foreign Language Teaching Program. In addition to his administrative responsibilities, he teaches courses on Language Concepts in Foreign Language Teaching, Pedagogical Grammar, and Technology in Foreign Language Classrooms. In his previous life, he was an ESL Instructor at a number of community-based organizations in the Chicagoland area including the Albany Park Community Center where he served as the director of the Citizenship Preparation program. In his academic life, he holds a B.A. from Northeastern Illinois University in Speech Communication with a minor in Spanish and Linguistics. He also earned an M.A. in Linguistics with a concentration in TESL from the same esteemed institution. Finally, he completed his doctoral studies in 2013 and successfully defended his dissertation in December of 2012.

Coordinator Biographies

Mr. Mark Albee (malbee@msu.edu) is the MSU English Language Center’s External Programs Coordinator. He is also an ELC student advisor and instructor. He oversees the coordination of all ELC special programs and is responsible for all sponsored student issues at the ELC. He co-coordinates the ELC’s Extended Orientation Program for IEP students, a program that aims to help students adjust to U.S. academic and cultural issues. He has developed special programs for universities, government agencies, and corporations in Japan, Korea, Panama, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, China and Brazil. He received his BA from the University of Florida and an MA in TESOL from the University of Birmingham, UK. Mark’s prior experience includes EFL teaching and teacher training at Kyungil University and Daegu Catholic University in South Korea, and ESL teaching at Hodges University in Naples, Florida.

Ms. Kimberly Benedicto (benedi59@msu.edu) is an instructor at the the MSU English Language Center and the Special Program Coordinator. Kim is responsible for all ELC special program scheduling and works closely with Mark Albee on day to day special program issues. Kim received her MA in TESOL from Ohio State University, and she taught ESL at University of Maryland before coming to MSU. She teaches in the English for Academic Purposes program and has developed an online reading class for the Online Academic English Program.

Faculty Biographies

Ms. Amy Kroesche (kroesche@msu.edu) is an MSU English Language Center student advisor, instructor, and teacher trainer. She has been providing seminars for the Fulbright Language Teaching Assistant program hosted at MSU for several years. She co-coordinates the ELC’s Extended Orientation Program for IEP students, a program that aims to help students adjust to U.S. academic and cultural issues. Amy got her MA in TESOL from Michigan State University, and she has more than eighteen years of teaching experience, both internationally and in the U.S.

Mr. Matthew Rynbrant (rynbran1@msu.edu) received his Bachelor’s degree in English from Michigan State University, spent some time teaching in China, and then returned to MSU to get his Master’s degree in TESOL. After receiving his Master’s degree, he accepted a job in the United Arab Emirates in the Middle East and taught English at Zayed University for 3 years. He thoroughly enjoyed his time in the desert. When he finished his time of living and traveling overseas, he accepted a job here at MSU’s English Language Center. He is currently an instructor and oversees the ELC’s Speaking/Listening courses.

Ms. Carol Arnold (carnold@msu.edu), originally from Colorado, graduated with a B.A. in English Literature and Political Science from Colorado State University-Pueblo, and holds an M.A. in English Literature and Cultural Studies from Kansas State University. She spent more than a decade overseas working first in Bulgaria as a Peace Corps volunteer, then as an ESL writing instructor at Koç University in Istanbul, Turkey, and finally, as a writing instructor at the American University of Beirut, Lebanon. Since 2010, she has been at Michigan State’s English Language Center teaching and serving as the Writing Curriculum Coordinator.

Mr. David Krise (krisedav@msu.edu) is an MSU English Language Center instructor and frequent special programs group coordinator. He works closely with the MA TESOL program in training and overseeing MA TESOL teaching assistants at MSU’s English Language Center. David earned his M.A. in TESOL at Michigan State University and spent several years teaching ESL in Japan. David’s professional interests include teacher training and the use of technology to enhance speaking and listening skills.

Mr. Andrew McCullough (mccullo4@msu.edu) received an MA TESOL degree from the University of Northern Iowa. Before coming to MSU in 1992, he taught EFL for four years at the U.S. Binational Center in Medellín, Colombia, also serving as Director of Curriculum for three years, then taught ESL for two years at LCP International in Glendora, CA. Andy teaches higher level writing, is a testing coordinator, has worked with special programs, the writing lab, and has served on the MITESOL Board for several years. Research interests include ESL writing, testing and teacher development. Advocating for ESL students and teachers are also important to him. Married, with three children and one grandchild, Andy enjoys his family, and activities like bicycling, reading, writing, public speaking, attending concerts, theater-going, watching movies, and time with friends.

Ms. Laura Ramm (rammbo@msu.edu) studied at Eastern Michigan University and received a B.S. in Communication and Theatre Arts, an M.S. in Educational Theatre, and an M.A. in TESOL. She trained in the K-12 schools and taught Adult Basic Education (ABE) English in Ann Arbor. As a graduate teaching assistant for two years, she taught speech communication and then worked and traveled abroad before completing her degrees. In London, she was an assistant at an international preschool, and back in the U.S., she worked in New York at CIEE with European and South American international university students. These experiences have inspired her work in English pronunciation published in the TESOL New Ways series and presentations at TESOL and MITESOL conferences.

Megan Walsh (walshme9@msu.edu) has a B.A. in Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language and is a recent graduate from Michigan State University’s M.A. in TESOL program. They have previous experience as a teaching assistant at MSU’s English Language Center, where they taught various academic writing and grammar courses for international students online. Megan also has interest in second language pragmatics (or, how language varies across contexts and genres).

Ms. Carol Wilson-Duffy (wilson77@msu.edu) has a B.A. in Linguistics and an M.A. in TESOL from Michigan State University. Besides teaching ESL, Carol has worked developing the ELC’s external special programs for 10 years. She has created programs for individuals and groups of students and teachers from Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Latin America and parts of Africa. Carol has almost 20 years of educational technology training experience in the U.S. and Korea, including ESL CALL teaching methods by distance to remote areas in Micronesia. She was the web designer/editor for the journal Language Learning & Technology, Past President of Michigan’s Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages organization (MITESOL) and has served on TESOL’s Technology Advisory Board.

Presenter Biographies

Dr. Robert Coffey was the Assistant Director of International Admissions at MSU. He received his Ph.D. in Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education from Michigan State University. Robert worked for nearly twenty years across multiple functional areas, including conflict management, multicultural/LGBTQ student services, residential life/housing, and undergraduate research, and he consulted with government agencies, policy centers, and postsecondary institutions in the U.S. and Canada.

Dr. Nicole Namy (namynico@msu.edu) is the International Sponsored Student advisor at MSU’s Office for International Students and Scholars. She received her M.A. in Education from MSU, and she is currently working on an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Administration. Prior to working at MSU, Nicole worked in the Detroit area administering youth programming for a community center and area schools.

Ms. Jessica Scott-Niehls (scottj46@msu.edu) is an International Student and Scholar Advisor with the Office for International Students and Scholars at MSU. She is currently pursuing her Master’s in Social Work at Michigan State University. Jessica primarily advises international students and scholars on regulatory matters (including maintaining status and employment), health care, and health insurance. She also works with academic departments on J-visa requests.

Lydia Weiss (POE.LydiaWeiss@msu.edu) is a Climate & Response Program Administrator for the Prevention, Outreach and Education Department at MSU. Lydia (she/her/hers) works on creating a university network of programs, outreach and support for all MSU employees and students. She coordinates training, supports and evaluations in response to relationship violence and sexual misconduct climate concerns or requests.

Lydia earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from MSU and a master’s degree in women, gender and sexuality studies from the University of Cincinnati. She has worked at MSU since 2013. Prior to joining the POE team, she worked in the Women’s Resource Center and the WorkLife Office, where her passion for educational programming blossomed. Lydia is dedicated to creating equal access to resources, services and educational opportunities for all, with a particular focus on gender justice issues.

Sophie Walters (POE.SophieWalters@msu.edu) is a Prevention Specialist for the Prevention, Outreach and Education Department. Sophie (she/her/hers) oversees the prevention programs at POE for Faculty, Staff, and Graduate/Professional Students, where she provides professional development workshops on relationship violence, sexual misconduct, and Title IX.

Originally from France, Sophie earned her law degree in Paris, and later moved to New York City where she received her master’s degree in criminal justice and law & procedures from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. She started her career working at the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime, NY Office and transitioned to the New York Police Department (NYPD)/ Safe Horizon where she provided advocacy and support to survivors of crimes. Before relocating to Michigan, Sophie worked at the Bronx District Attorney’s Office as a sexual violence prevention specialist for eight different colleges and institutions.

Lt. Dan Munford (munfordd@police.msu.edu) joined the Michigan State University Police Department as an officer in 1998. Currently, he is assigned as a Lieutenant with the Uniform Division for the department. In this role, he supervises the road patrol division of the department. Dan received his B.A in Criminal Justice from Michigan State University. He has held a variety of positions at the department including Field Training Officer, K9 Handler for 18 years, Verbal De-escalation instructor, Defensive Tactics Instructor, Crash Reconstructionist, Patrol Shift Commander, First Aid and CPR instructor, Naloxone Instructor, Radar and Speed Measurement Instructor, a Community Team Policing Team Leader and was a member of the Ingham Regional Special Response Team for five years.