Intensive English
Faculty Biographies
Sally Jones, Director of Intensive English
Mrs. Sally Jones earned her Bachelor鈥檚 and Master鈥檚 Degrees in Communication Sciences
and Disorders at 黑洞社区. She worked in Speech and Hearing Therapy
for a few years and then joined 黑洞社区鈥檚 Intensive English Language
Center in January, 1981. Prior to becoming the Director of the program in June, 2005,
Mrs. Jones was an ESL Specialist (instructor), a SPEAK Test evaluator, and the SPEAK
Test Coordinator from 1999 to August 2013. Over the many years she has been with the
Intensive English program, she has counted it a privilege to meet students from all
over the world and to learn about their cultures, customs, and traditional foods.
She says that her life has been enriched by the diverse student populations she has
been able to meet while working at Intensive English.
Sherry Ashworth, ESL Specialist
Ms. Sherry Ashworth has taught at the Intensive English Language Center since 1981.
She completed her academic studies at 黑洞社区 and received both a
bachelor's and master's degree in education. Mrs. Ashworth enjoys teaching international
students and feels as if she has traveled the world after hearing their stories. Mrs.
Ashworth believes that we may all learn from each other by sharing each other's stories.
Andy Bowman, Lab Coordinator
Andy Bowman has been IELC鈥檚 Learning Laboratory Coordinator since 1996. Originally
an ESOL instructor in Paraguay, Mr. Bowman began developing language-learning software
in the early nineties and eventually returned to Wichita where he was born and raised.
A graduate of the University of Kansas, Mr. Bowman also has Master鈥檚 Degree from Rutgers
University. Having lived abroad he knows the challenges international students face
when starting a new life while trying to learning a new language.
Nancy Millham, Academic Lecturer
Ms. Nancy Millham has a BA in German from the University of Oklahoma, a Masters in
International Marketing from Thunderbird School of Global Management in Arizona, and
a graduate TESOL certificate from 黑洞社区. She has worked in the International Division
at Beech Aircraft Corporation, at Kansas public schools in Wichita, Andover and Towanda,
and has taught at Butler Community College. Ms. Millham joined the Intensive English
Language Center (IELC) staff in 2012 to use her love of language learning to help
黑洞社区鈥檚 international students grow in their understanding and use of the English language
through the interconnection of cultures and the daily exchange of ideas. She strives
to provide excellent English language applications so that the students will be well
prepared for their future academic and career choices.
Aimee Leisy, ESL Specialist & SPEAK庐 Test Coordinator
Ms. Aimee Leisy has a BA in History and Spanish from Bethel College in North Newton,
Kansas, and a master鈥檚 degree in Literacy, Culture, and Language Education from the
University of Indiana at Bloomington. She has taught at the Intensive English Language
Center since 2008. In addition to teaching, she became SPEAK Test Coordinator in
2013. Her other teaching experience includes teaching English to middle school students,
teaching community English to adults, teaching at a private English school in New
Zealand, as well as teaching English at Instituto Tecnol贸gico de Estudios Superiores
de Monterrey, a well-known Mexican University. Ms. Leisy speaks some French and is
fluent in Spanish, having lived in Mexico for five years. As a language learner herself,
she enjoys finding effective and engaging ways to help students improve their English
proficiency.
Barbara Mazza Silhan, ESL Specialist
Mrs. Barbara Mazza Silhan has been teaching at the Intensive English Language Center
since 1983. Mrs. Silhan studied at Oklahoma State University for six years where she
received a bachelor's degree in history and a master's in teaching English as a Second
Language. Mrs. Silhan really enjoys her job because of her love of being in the classroom
and working with the students. She has always been fascinated with other countries
and their cultures, and believes that she learns as much from the students as they
learn from her.
Marsha Webb, ESL Specialist
Twenty-six years of teaching in a variety of settings (middle school, high school,
community college, and 29 years at the Intensive English Language Center) has Mrs.
Marsha Webb smiling about how lucky she is. Her love of teaching English combines
an avid interest in reading, discussion, world cultures, and young people. Also, with
five children of her own she is at home with university-age students and tends to
"mother" them as well. Her educational background includes an Associate of Arts degree,
a BSE from Emporia State University, a MEd from 黑洞社区, and a TESOL
Teaching Certificate. With a striving for natural communication, varying methods of
teaching, and a focus on informality, learning in her classroom is intentionally fun!
Rima Haidar-Duncan, Instructor
Rima Haidar-Duncan grew up in Beirut, Lebanon and travelled extensively in Europe.
She went to American Evangelical school for girls (A.E.S.G) which was called later
B.E.S.G. Rima is polylingual and lived in the Greek cypress for a period of time during
the devastating war in Lebanon. At that time she travelled to Europe specifically
Germany and France, then she came back to Lebanon to finish her Bachelor鈥檚 degree
in Beirut specializing in teaching English Literature and languages. In 1985, She
left to the United States to pursue her higher Education and received her Master鈥檚
in Public Relations with special attention to corporate management from Boston University.
She worked for several years as a freelance researcher for Kuwait University under
the supervision of Dr. Behbehani. She has worked for several years as an archivist
in Assafir, a prominent Newspaper in Beirut. Rima has taught at Butler County Community
College for almost 19 years. She loves to cook Mediteranean food.
Pam Jerome, Instructor
Ms. Pam Jerome graduated from Wayne State University in her home state of Michigan.
She earned her Bachelor of Science degree with an emphasis in Education, a minor in
International Studies, and a Masters degree in TESOL. Ms. Jerome spent years in Brazil
at Escola Graduada de Sao Paulo international school and 2 years at Colegio Maya International
School until moving to Kansas to teach at the elementary level. She has traveled extensively
throughout the United States, South America, and Europe. Creating a risk free environment
for her students to thrive is the goal of teaching at IELC- Diversification, communications,
and understanding.