Meet the Faculty & Staff | English as a Second Language (ESL)

Shoshana Bianchi-McElwee

Title: Adjunct Assistant Professor
Degrees: M.A., English, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), San Francisco State University; B.S., Biology: Ecology, Behavior and Evolution, University of California, San Diego
Teaching Experience: Since 2004
Hobbies: Reading, gardening, hiking, playing music, dancing, and spending time with family
Quote: "Your work is to discover your work and then with all your heart give yourself to it." – Buddha

Jill Haberlin

Title: Instructional Aide II
Degrees: Postgraduate Diploma, Sustainable Development, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia; BA, International Studies, University of California, San Diego
CSM Experience: Since 2017
Hobbies: puzzles, traveling, spending time with her nieces and nephew, exploring the Bay Area

Soonyoung (Sue) Hwang

Title: Professor
Speaks: Korean
Degrees: M.S. Ed., Educational Linguistics, University of Pennsylvania; B.A., Fine Arts, University of Nebraska
Teaching Experience: Since 2005
Career Highlights: Taught at University of Pennsylvania (Philadephia, PA), Rice University (Houston, TX), and Stanford University; taught at Pagoda Language Institute and Chung-Ang University in Seoul, Korea; edited academic journals/booklets for TESOL Journal
Hobbies: Spending time with her family and friends, singing, playing piano, and reading.

Evan Kaiser

Title: Associate Professor
Degrees: M.A., English, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), San Francisco State University; B.A., Linguistics, University of California, Santa Cruz
Teaching Experience: Since 2012
Career Highlights: Teaching ESL at the American Language Institute (San Francisco, CA) and Composition at San Francisco State University
Hobbies: Seeing live music, playing the drums, spending time with cats, and cooking with friends.

Emily Kurland

Title: Professor
Speaks: Spanish
Degrees: M.A., English, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), San Francisco State University; B.A., Community Studies, University of California, Santa Cruz
Teaching Experience: Since 2008
Career Highlights: Taught at Skyline College (San Bruno, CA), San Francisco State University and the American Language Institute (San Francisco, CA)
Hobbies: Painting, hiking, dancing, relaxing on tropical beaches, and spending time with my friends, family, and two cats.

Tim Murphy

Title: Adjunct Assistant Professor
Degrees: M.A., English, San Francisco State University; B.A., Economics/Spanish, Denison University
Teaching Experience: ESL since 2003
Career Highlights: Taught ESL in China in 2006 and in Peru in 2019
Hobbies: Running, spin cycling, listening to music, and watching football and baseball.

Colleen Olle

Title: Instructional Aide II
Degrees: MFA, Bennington College Writing Seminars, Vermont; BA, English, Teaching Certificate in Secondary Education, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
CSM Experience: Since 2006
Hobbies: Fiction writing, reading, hiking, photography, clarinet, and traveling with her husband
Quote: "Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement." – Helen Keller

Kristi Ridgway

Title: ProfessorDegrees: M.S., Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL), University of Southern California; B.A., Journalism & Mass Communication, Drake UniversityTeaching Experience: At CSM, since 2002Career Highlights: Taught English oversees in St. Petersburg, Russia; reporter for Los Angeles Times; editor at Contra Costa Times; >15 years teaching ESL at CSM; 6 years in CSM administration: Dean of Language Arts (2017-2021; 2022-23); CSM acting Vice President of Student Services (2021-22)
Hobbies: Watching live theater (especially musicals), hiking, gardening, reading, writing, spending time with family.

Liz Schuler

Title: Adjunct Professor
Degrees: M.A., English, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), San Francisco State University; B.A. English Literature, California State University, Fullerton
Teaching Experience: Over 30 years teaching English
Career Highlights: Taught English in Gabon, Central Africa; taught at Sequoia Adult School; taught at Cañada College since 2008 and CSM since 2018; taught at Silicon Valley Intensive English Program (SVIEP)
Hobbies: Hiking, baking, camping, reading, travelling, spending time with her family and friends, and watching British miniseries and telenovelas.

Frances Schulze

Title: Professor Emeritus
Degrees: M.A., Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), San Francisco State University; B.A., Mandarin/Linguistics, San Francisco State University
Teaching Experience: Over 35 years in ESL: Adult Schools, San Francisco City College, Skyline College, College of San Mateo
Hobbies: Running, hiking, biking, swimming, traveling, playing Scrabble, and relaxing

Elinor Westfold

Title: Professor
Degrees: M.A. Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), University of Washington; B.A., Art History and Visual Culture Studies and Classics, Whitman College
Teaching Experience: Since 2007
Career Highlights: Taught ESL at Seattle Central College and the University of Washington in Seattle; taught at Antalya International University in Antalya, Turkey; taught at Shantou University in Shantou, China
Hobbies: Reading, travelling, hiking, sewing, visiting museums, and watching sports (especially soccer).

Todd Windisch

Title: Associate Professor
Degrees: M.S. Education (TESOL), California State University, Fullerton; B.A. French & Francophone Studies, University of California, Los Angeles
Teaching Experience: Since 2013
Career Highlights: Taught at credit and noncredit ESL Programs across Southern California, including Mt. San Antonio College, Saddleback College, and California State University, Fullerton
Hobbies: Seeing live theater & music, watching & discussing films, playing video games, and exploring the Bay Area.