People
ALI staff
Monica Mingucci, Ph.D.
Program Director
Phone: 816-235-5399
E-mail
Originally from Brazil, Dr. Mingucci has been working with language teaching and acquisition for more than 30 years. Dr. Mingucci oversees all administrative and academic functions of the ALI.
Adam Shoemaker
Assistant Director / Lecturer
Phone: 816-235-5436
E-mail
Adam has studied in Brazil, Chile and Germany. He was a guest professor/teacher-trainer at Harbin Medical University in Harbin, China.
Hea Kyung Shoemaker
Administrative associate
Phone: 816-235-5435
E-mail
Originally from South Korea, Hea Kyung recruits international students and coordinates all internal administrative and financial functions of the ALI.
Patricia Byrd
Administrative Assistant
Phone: 816-235-1149
E-mail
Patricia has been working with international and immigrant students since she joined the ALI in 2006. She graduated with a degree in Bachelors of Liberal Arts from UMKC in 2007. As the International Student Liaison with the ALI, she is the contact for all applications, questions, or concerns.
Jessica Brookman
Academic Advisor
Phone: 816-235-1233
E-mail
Jessica lived 5 years in Europe as a PR Specialist for the US Air Force and 2 years as a civilian counselor at RAF Upwood, England. She holds a Master's in Counseling and a Master's in TESOL. Before joining ALI, she taught high school for 12 years.
Fran Golden
ESL specialist
Phone: 816-235-1233
E-mail
Before joining the ALI in 1995, Fran lived, studied and worked in 7 different countries. Fran is an ESL specialist and coordinates all of the housing, social activities and special programs for the ALI.
ALI faculty
Phil Ruggiero
Lecturer
Phone: 816-235-5433
E-mail
Phil has worked abroad for 20 years as Director of Courses for a chain of language schools, and has taught English for business purposes internationally.
Stephen Holland-Wempe
ESL specialist
Phone: 816-235-5438
E-mail
Steve has 20 years of experience in international education, conducting teacher trainings and teaching both at the undergraduate and graduate levels. He has taught ESOL, Spanish, French and cross-cultural and diversity studies.
Heather Sheese
Lecturer
Phone: 816-235-1186
E-mail
Heather participated in a study-abroad program in Papua, Indonesia and taught in South Korea for 2 years as an English Foreign Language instructor.
Michael Dix
Lecturer
Phone: 816-235-5139
E-mail
Michael has lived, studied or worked in eight countries and has traveled widely, principally through the U.S. Peace Corps as a volunteer, trainer and program director.
Michael Turner
Lecturer
Phone: 816-235-1233
E-mail
Michael Turner graduated from Truman State University in 1997 with a Bachelor of Science in English and from the University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon with a Master’s degree in Linguistics in 1999. Michael’s interests include interlanguage phonology and computer assisted language learning.
Tammy Adams
Lecturer
Phone: 816-235-1186
E-mail
Before joining the ALI in 2005, Tammy completed her ESL Certification at the University of Texas, Arlington, and she worked with international and immigrant students through non-profit organizations, high schools, and community colleges.
Clint Hughes
Lecturer
Phone: 816-235-5136
E-mail
Clint has lived and worked abroad in China and Taiwan for two years, and directed Intrax International Institute for six years before joining the ALI.
Kate DeBenedetti
Lecturer
Phone: 816-235-5139
E-mail
Kate has taught in a variety of settings, including English for beginning to advanced students and as a teacher trainer of English Foreign Language. She is fluent in Spanish and taught at the University of Guanajuato in Mexico for several years.
Samantha Farr
Lecturer
Phone: 816-235-1233
E-mail
Sam taught at the Orlando Language School for 3 years, where she educated students from all over the world, including South America and Asia.
Robert Bohning
Lecturer
Phone: 816-235-1233
E-mail
Rob has extensive international experience having lived and worked in more than 10 countries before joining the ALI.
Christina Hunt
Lecturer
Phone: 816-235-1233
E-mail
Christina has studied in Spain and Costa Rica and taught English in Japan and Guatemala. She has a Master's in Education and over 6 years of English teaching experience.
Darin Seal
Lecturer
E-mail
Phone: 816-235-1233
Darin grew up overseas as the son of diplomats in the United States Foreign Service. After getting his Bachelors in English and Anthropology, he worked in Japan as an Assistant Language Teacher.
Kathy Axe
Tutor
Phone: 816-235-1233
E-mail
Dr. Axe has more than 17 years working, teaching, tutoring and advising non-native English speaking students.
Deany Burger-Goode
Tutor
Phone: 816-235-1233
E-mail
Deany has worked for the Grossmont College Tutoring Center and the Grossmont College English Writing Center in El Cajon, California.
Christine Shields
Tutor
Phone: 816-235-1233
E-mail
Christine worked with the Applied Language Institute from its beginnings, retiring as Assistant Director in 2006. She now works part-time for the Institute, does writing and volunteer work, and works part-time for the Educational Testing Service.
Janine O'Shea
Lecturer
Phone: 816-235-1233
E-mail
Janine was an English Foreign Language Instructor in South Korea for a year. Prior to that she lived and worked in New Zealand for three years.
Melissa Thomas
Lecturer
Phone: 816-235-5406 *1
E-mail
Melissa has 10 years of experience teaching foreign language. She has studied and worked in France, and travelled in Europe and Australia. She has a Master’s of Arts in Teaching and completed TESOL training at UMKC.
Ashley Lynd
Lecturer
Phone: 816-235-5438
E-mail
Ashley has a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies and Italian from the University of Kansas. She has studied abroad in Italy, taught in Korea, and traveled through parts of Europe, South America, and Asia.
Cho, Hangduk (Danny)
Student Assistant
Phone: 816-235-1233
E-mail
Originally from Korea, Danny completed ESL courses at UMKC in 2007. He is now a student at UMKC majoring in Business Marketing, and he helps new students at the ALI front desk.
Mustafa Almakrami
Student Assistant
Phone: 816-235-1233
E-mail
Mustafa is a student at UMKC majoring in Accounting. He is from Saudi Arabia and has a scholarship from SACM. Mustafa speaks both Arabic and English and has traveled in Europe countries. He has been in the USA since 2007.
Malick Ba
Student Assistant
Phone: 816-235-1233
E-mail
Malick is originally from Senegal, West Africa where he graduated from high school. He speaks both French and English. He is a UMKC student majoring in Political Science and Criminal Justice. He works at the front desk helping fellow international students.