Meet the Team

Ahmed started his career in Egypt working in customer service for two years and then as an English teacher at an elementary school in Saudi Arabia. After earning his master’s degree in English Language and Literature from the University of Nottingham, he started working as a university lecturer of English at multiple universities in Japan, including Waseda University. Ahmed’s hobbies include motorcycling, snowboarding, mountain biking, fishing, sailing, and generally anything outdoors. He speaks English and Arabic fluently and Japanese conversationally.

Annie (they/them) is enthusiastic about international education and intercultural communication. They graduated with an MA (University of Denver) and a BA (University of New Mexico) in International Studies. Annie studied at Ritsumeikan University in Japan and taught English for two years at a public school in Daegu, South Korea. They value creating a sense of community and enjoy writing, spending time with their cat, and dance.

Anqi (she/her) is studying for her master’s degree in Information Systems Bridge at Northeastern University – Seattle Campus. Before this, she got her bachelor’s in Communication Studies from Huazhong University of Science and Technology. Anqi loves meeting new people, supporting them, and discovering diverse cultures. She’s part of the GLS Ambassador team, where she helps organize fun events that celebrate different cultures and bring people together at the Seattle campus. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, exploring, and reading.

Bianca (she/her) holds an MA in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) from the University of Southern Maine and is currently pursuing her MA in Adult and Higher Education at the same institution. In addition, she has a BA in Public Relations (Brazil). She has been working with TESOL for the past 16 years and is passionate about teaching English learners and engaging and facilitating intercultural communication. She enjoys learning new languages, going to the beach, painting, and reading.

Claire is both an avid learner and teacher/tutor. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with an MS in Education, the University of Illinois (BA), and the Art Institute of Chicago (BFA). Claire is an excellent resource for ways to find success in higher education. Her hobbies include travel, reading, and music.

Haedy (she/her) brings over 20 years of teaching and leadership experience to the English language classroom. She grew up bilingual (Spanish and English) in New York City and learned Mandarin Chinese as an adult, so she developed a tremendous personal appreciation for the interaction of language, culture, and learning. She has lived and worked overseas in Asia for over 15 years in a variety of educational contexts. Haedy holds a master’s in TESOL and earned her Ph.D. in intercultural education. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family, jogging, hiking, and exploring languages and cultures.

Huayra (she/her) has worked with English language learners across various educational settings, including in higher education both locally and internationally. She has a BA in French from Suffolk University, an MA in Études françaises et francophones from the University of Toulouse Jean Jaurès, and a CELTA qualification. Huayra combines her professional experience with a passion for studying languages and discovering new cultures.

Jeremy (he/him) oversees the development and delivery of GLS services across Northeastern University’s global network system. He aims to ensure all learners at Northeastern receive language, academic, and cultural support so that they can be successful academically, professionally, and personally. Jeremy has a Doctorate in Education from Northeastern University, an MA in Applied Linguistics & TESOL from Newcastle University, and a BA in English Studies from Illinois State University. As a lifelong learner and lover of cultures, he enjoys traveling, learning new languages, and playing various musical instruments.

Joseph (he/him) joined the GLS team in 2022 and brings over ten years of English language education to the Northeastern community. With a passion for fostering educational growth and cultural exchange, he leverages his background in higher education to help manage and develop GLS services. Joseph has an MA in Pacific and Asian Studies, a Diploma in TESOL, and a BA in English. His thesis is focused on educational reform in Japan within the context of the globalization of education. Joseph’s hobbies include writing, painting, snowboarding, basketball, and he also loves traveling.

Josephine holds a BA in English and Spanish from Bucknell University. She has extensive experience in editing, design, and project management. As Program Assistant, she leads the marketing and promotional efforts of Global Learner Support through designing flyers, updating the GLS website, and creating post-event surveys and course evaluations. She enjoys indoor gardening, reading, and cultural arts.

Keren (she/her) has experience teaching English language and literature to high school and college students. More recently, she has volunteered with music and education-related non-profits. She has a BA (UCLA), an MA (Stanford) in English, and an MEd (Harvard) in Teaching and Curriculum. She enjoys good stories, tennis, long walks, coffee, and tea.

Lise is a settler in Canada of English heritage. She is a daughter, a sister, a wife, and the proud mother of a fifteen-year-old son who moved to Canada with his father from The Gambia, West Africa, seven years ago. Lise was a student service counsellor for over twenty years at the University of Toronto before joining Northeastern. Lise holds an MA in Theory and Policy Studies in Higher Education and a TESL certificate from the University of Toronto. In her spare time, she indulges her passions in Toronto’s African music and media communities, and as a freelance writer for CBC.

Lynn Nakazawa (she/her) is an experienced international educator, specializing in English language teaching. She holds an MS in Linguistics from Georgetown University, an MS.Ed in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) from the University of Pennsylvania, and a BM in Violin Performance from Vanderbilt University. She has worked with English language learners and teachers in various domestic and international teaching contexts, including Japan, Taiwan, and Malaysia. Lynn loves travelling, spending quality time with family and friends, going to concerts, and learning about new cultures.

Meera is currently setting up a new Academic English Skills Hub at the London campus. Her previous experience includes teaching Academic English at UK universities, along with being a Training Consultant and an IELTS Examiner (India) for the British Council. She has an MSc in History of Islamic Art (University of Edinburgh) and an MA in Leadership (UCL). Meera also has a Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults (CELTA) as well as Teaching English for Academic Purposes (TEAP) qualifications from London, UK and is also a qualified Career Counsellor. She enjoys volunteering, reading, music, and exploring different cultures.

Ruth (she/her) is passionate about working with students and has taught ESL for over 30 years. She has run programs in Japan, Spain, England, New Zealand, Canada, and the U.S. Ruth has a Doctorate in Education from Alverno College, an MA in Education from the Open University in the U.K., a Diploma in English Language Teaching to Adults from Cambridge University, and two BAs from the University of Washington. She values music, travel, and time with her family.

Sujata Gaimar (she/her) is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Analytics at Northeastern University’s Toronto Campus. While she enjoys working with numbers, she is also passionate about helping the community, meeting new people, and learning about their cultures. As a GLS Ambassador, she is committed to creating inclusive spaces, organising cultural activities, and sparking engaging conversations through events like the Global Village. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, baking, and exploring Toronto’s vibrant neighbourhoods for cozy cafes.

Tamara holds a Master of Environmental Studies and Bachelor of Arts degrees in Kinesiology & Health Sciences and Latin American & Caribbean Studies from York University. She also holds a Social Service Worker diploma from George Brown College and is certified in TESOL/TESL/TEFL teacher training. Her work is inspired by her family’s immigration journey and stories from the Caribbean, as well as her life experiences growing up in the multicultural community of Parkdale, located west of downtown Toronto.

Tim (he/him) loves helping students reach their academic and professional goals, whether it involves studying for an exam, improving a written assignment, preparing for a job interview, or practicing English conversation. He has a PhD in Ethnic Studies from UC Berkeley, an MA in TESOL from San Jose State University, and a BA in Sociology/Anthropology from Knox College. Tim enjoys traveling, working out, learning languages, and meeting people from different backgrounds and cultures.

Young He (she/her) is an experienced ESL teacher with over 7 years of experience in China and Canada. She holds a master’s in Educational Psychology and a BA in English studies. She provides personalized suggestions to help students learn English. In her free time, she enjoys dancing and chatting with cats.