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The Applied Language Institute

People

ALI staff

ALI staff

Monica Mingucci

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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)

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

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

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.


ALI staff:

The ALI teaching and administrative members are highly qualified individuals who have lived and worked abroad, and who enjoy working with international students.

ALI Instructors:

Are trained in the field of teaching English as a second language

Hold master’s degrees or higher

Are professionals who often speak at national and international conferences

Are innovative and up to date in teaching methods and technology

Contact Info

Applied Language Institute
5301 Rockhill Road
Kansas City, MO 64110
Phone: 816.235.1233
Fax: 816.235.5437
E-Mail: ali@umkc.edu
Hours: Monday – Friday,
8 am – 4 pm