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Faculty

Meet the Faculty

The Institute’s faculty members are highly trained and experienced professionals who specialize in teaching English as a Second Language. Drawing from backgrounds in writing, curriculum development, teaching English in foreign countries, and counseling, our teachers are extremely adept at providing top quality instruction using current teaching techniques and materials.

Jean Sims

Jean Sims holds a B.A. in English and an M.A. in Education with a TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) major. She is the author of two textbooks on the subjects of TESOL reading, and listening. After over 30 years of teaching in Africa, Michigan, Colorado, California, and Florida, Jean is semi-retired and teaching TOEFL classes in the Intensive English Institute.

Dana Fishkin

Mr. Fishkin holds a B.A in Spanish from City College of New York, an M.A. in TESOL from Columbia University’s Teachers College, and an M.S. in Educational Administration and Supervision from Pace University. After retiring from a position as Language Department Supervisor at Taft High School in Bronx New York, Mr. Fishkin relocated to South Florida and is now happy to be teaching English as a Second Language at both Florida Atlantic University and Palm Beach Community College .

Jerome Ruderman

Mr. Ruderman received his Juris Doctorate from New York University Law School and subsequently practiced law for several years. Later, he decided to move into the areas of teaching and counseling, and gained an M.A. in Education, Counseling, and Psychology from Fordham University, and an M.A. in Educational Supervision from Pace University. Jerome spent 27 years working in the New York City School System, gaining certification as both a Bilingual Teacher and Counselor. He began teaching ESL at the Embassy School in Ft. Lauderdale in 1999 and transferred to FAU in 2002. He enjoys reading, traveling and teaching English and American Culture to foreign students.

Rhonda Retterath de Garcia

Rhonda Retterath de Garcia graduated from the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire with a double major in Linguistics: French and German. She continued her studies in Mexico, France, and Japan. Her 22 years of teaching experience include university programs as well as domestic and foreign Adult Public projects designed for international students' language and cultural acquisition. Ms. Garcia has also worked in the financial sector as a corporate trainer.

Laura Ballard

Laura Ballard holds a B.A. in Organizational Communication and an M.A. in Multilingual/Multicultural Education with an emphasis in TOEFL from Florida State University. She has gained international teaching experience having taught English in Tokyo, Japan as well as at a small village in the Peruvian Amazon of South America. Prior to joining FAU, she taught English as a Second Language at Arizona State University. Laura is new to South Florida and she is enjoying the weather while working in the Intensive English Institute.