Meet Our Staff

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Lynda Mermell

Director

After earning her Masters Degree in TEFL/TESL from the American University in Cairo, Egypt in 1988, she joined the ELC as a classroom instructor before becoming the Associate Director in 1997.

Shelley Etzine

Associate Director

In 2003, after working at the English Language Center for ten years, I became the Associate Director. I feel blessed to work in a job I love and with colleagues I consider to be my second family. In addition to my administrative duties, I also teach two classes. My life has been enriched by the international students I have had the privilege to meet. They have taught me more about culture and about life than I could possibly teach them. I have lived in three countries on two continents, and have studied abroad myself, so I have first-hand experience of the challenges international students face adjusting to life in a new culture. I am originally from Johannesburg, South Africa, where I graduated with a BA in English Literature and a post-graduate degree in Personnel Management and Training. I got my MA in TESOL from the New School in New York.

Anne Colgan

Teacher

I'm a country girl who now lives in the city of Baltimore with my husband and a bunch of animals. Before that, I taught in Yemen and Sudan and traveled around the world quite a bit. I was born in Malaysia and have always been interested in other cultures. I am also a tree hugging dirt worshiper!

Michael Eastwood 

Teacher

Born and raised in Baltimore, I am an alumnus of Towson University (BA, English) and Shenandoah University in Winchester, VA (MSED, TESOL).  For eight years I lived in Aomori and Iwate prefectures in the Tohoku region of Japan while teaching English at the elementary and junior high school level.  I returned to Maryland in 2014 and enjoy working with students from all over the world here at the ELC.

Denise Link-Farajali

Teacher

I turn my classes into warm family units, infusing each with laughter and music from my Eastman School of Music background in singing and acting.  With over 35 years of experience in teaching, management, industry, and government and a Master's degree in Foreign Language Instruction specializing in ESL, I will get you to speak!  While French and Russian are my main languages, I know bits and pieces of several others, especially since my husband was not born in this country. Come learn with me!

Alex Lokey

Teacher

After a brief romance with South America, I discovered my real love in language. I am a graduate of Towson University, I majored in English literature, and I am currently a TESOL graduate student at UMBC. 

Mark McTague

Teacher

I began my TESL career in 1973 with the Peace Corps in Korea, where I lived for six years. I have taught almost continuously since then, primarily English for Academic Purposes at the university level. My doctorate is in applied linguistics from the University of Texas, and I have been with the ELC since 1995. In the not quite vain hope of maintaining a modicum of sanity (judge for yourself from the picture), I read, write, and following Voltaire's advice, assiduously cultivate my garden with intermittent joy and gratitude. Ask me about my bees. (It’s Lyle’s fault, the dear man.)

  

Lyle Nash

Teacher

I have worked overseas for nearly twenty years as a teacher, interpreter and translator. I have spent time living in Asia, Africa, South America, and Europe. I have a PhD in Latin American Literature from Rutgers University, and I specialize in literature and second language acquisition. I'm immensely interested in different cultures and learn something new every day from my students. 

Peggy Olson 

Teacher

I am originally from Ohio, and have spent time living in Belgium, China, and Australia. I love traveling, long distance running and playing soccer. I have my Bachelor of Arts in Media, Culture, and Communications from Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia, and my CELTA (Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) from the University of Cambridge. In addition to the normal courses at the ELC, I also teach a media course, and I love working together with students to help them improve their video, photography, computer and social media skills.

Sara Rose 

Teacher

Originally from Pennsylvania, I left the United States in the 70s to study abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark. After receiving my master's in English as a Foreign Language at a Danish institution, I decided to remain in Denmark, where I lived for twenty years. Upon returning to the U.S. in 1990, I moved to Baltimore, where I have taught ESL at a number of local colleges and universities. I enjoy working with international students at the English Language Center.

Greg Rosenthal

Administrative Assistant

I have a Master’s degree in Intercultural Communication and a Bachelor’s in Communications and U.S. History. I have been working with international students for three years and have been an international student myself in Latin America. I have over ten years of community organizing and human rights education experience working in Baltimore City.

Ronnie Tornow

Teacher

I have been teaching English for 15 years in both Germany and The United States. I received my B.A. in German and Education with a minor in history from Penn State University and my M.A.Ed. in Adult Education and Training from Phoenix University. I have traveled to over 12 different countries cultivating my interest in working with international students. My teaching philosophy is based on student-centered teaching, as well as incorporating various instructional strategies into the classroom to promote effective learning.

Anna Shin

Teacher

I am new here in Towson and in America like most of our students. I've taught English to many Korean and German students before I came here. I love traveling to other countries. I love eating all different kinds of food, meeting people from different culture, and being in classroom with my students. I love it here already! I am sure you would feel the same way.