BA, Spanish and ESL Education

MA, Education with a focus on Teaching Adult English Language Learners

Michelle, or Shelli, as she is better known, began her career teaching Spanish at the high school level and has studied and resided in many Spanish-speaking countries, including Spain, Costa Rica, and Guatemala. She has also worked at several Milwaukee area nonprofit organizations, leading parental education and literacy programs. It was while volunteer tutoring a student from Myanmar when she decided to make a change and begin using her certification in ESL (English as a Second Language) at a more professional level. After teaching English for several years at MATC, she is very happy to join the IEP program at UWM. She enjoys focusing on developing strong connections with students and believes that these connections, along with a sense of curiosity, are the key to success and fulfillment in one's career and life.

Shelli's passions include experimenting with new language acquisition techniques in the classroom, reading, and exploring new areas of the world. Her favorite trips include the Halong Bay area in Vietnam, the Arenal Volcano in Costa Rica, and Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado.