Our Team
Jaydene Elvin, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Linguistics at California State University, Fresno. Her research and teaching interests include L2 speech acquisition (perception, spoken word recognition and production); second L2 teaching and learning and teacher training using acting techniques. Jaydene is responsible for designing an internship course for Linguistics TESOL students at Fresno State where she provides weekly training in movement, voice, improvisation and classroom management.
Jaydene Elvin, PhD
Co-Director
Language Acquisition Specialist
Teacher Trainer
Andy Waldron, PhD
Co-Director
Theatre Specialist
Teacher Trainer
Dr. Andy Waldron is an assistant professor in the Fresno State Department of Theatre and Dance with a focus in theatre education. Waldron earned his Bachelors of Arts in Theatre and Bachelors of Science in Communication Arts and Literature Education from Winona State University. He moved to the Twin Cities, Minnesota metro area to teach high school English, speech, and theatre, where he also earned his Masters of Arts in Education from Hamline University. Waldron later attended Arizona State University and received his Ph.D. in Theatre. Waldron has a wide variety of experience working as an educator, researcher, director, performer, and teaching artist. His research explores theatre education training and pedagogy, Theatre for Young Audiences, queer youth theatre, and socially engaged arts practices.
Cheryl Chan, MA
Co-Director
Pedagogical Specialist
Teacher Trainer
Cheryl Chan, MA, has over twenty-five years of experience in the field of English Language Teaching. After earning a BA in Linguistics from the University of California, Berkeley and an MA in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) from UCLA, she taught in Mexico and then Germany. She went on to teach English as a Second Language at the adult school, community college, California State University, and the University of California levels. In addition, she taught undergraduate TESL training courses at California State University, Fresno. Most recently, she served as the director of the American English Institute, California State University, Fresno’s intensive English program, where she facilitate the English language learning of international students from around the world as well as the training of novice English as a Second Language teachers. Her areas of interest are second language teaching and learning, teacher psychology, and teacher training. She is a dog person who has a healthy respect for cats.
Alyssa Tobar, MA
Co-Director
Pedagogical Specialist
Teacher Trainer
Alyssa Tobar, MA, is passionate about teaching and learning and cares deeply about student success. She earned both her BA in Linguistics and her MA in Linguistics with a Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) from the California State University, Fresno.
During her undergraduate study, she volunteered at the American English Institute, where she discovered not only her love for teaching but also her interest in international education. As a graduate student, she began teaching and teacher training. She is currently the Co-Director of the American English Institute. Her interests include vocabulary development, reading research, teacher training, and international education. She is a cat person with a great appreciation for dogs.