Linguistics Faculty

To contact any member of the faculty or staff for information, please email linguistics@harpercollege.edu. Your email will be directed to the correct person.

Marjorie Allen
Bilingual & ESL Endorsements and TESOL Certificate Coordinator, Professor
B.A., Spanish, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
M.A., Linguistics, American University, Washington, D.C.

Alina Pajtek
Professor
B.A., English and French Language, Literature, and Methodology, West University of Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania
M.A., TESOL, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Ph.D., Applied Linguistics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA

"I think education is a process that entails enthusiasm and rigor and that should foster learner autonomy and critical thinking. I view teachers as resources rather than as the only sources of information, and students as active participants to the learning process; along the same lines, I believe that learning does not end, but begins in the classroom and continues in all the social contexts in which students participate."

Kathleen Reynolds
Associate Professor
B.A. Spanish and Political Science, College of Wooster, Wooster, OH
M.A. Applied Linguistics / TESOL, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL

"Harper College is a great place to learn English, and a great place to teach. I love helping students to master English and reach their goals."

Kelly Coronado
Assistant Professor
B.A. Psychology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
M.A. Linguistics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL

Mary F. Gawienowski
Professor
B.A., Comparative Literature, Spanish minor, University of Massachusetts at Amherst
M.A., English and TESOL, California State University at Sacramento
Ph.D., English: Rhetoric and Linguistics, Indiana University of Pennsylvania

"The study of language opens up people to so many new ideas and revelations. In our linguistics classes, I try to ensure that this kind of discovery is a large part of our educational experience while offering solid foundations in theories and practices to apply new concepts. Learning in these courses is truly a partnership, and all of us have something to contribute. My hope is that students will feel excited about the topics to continue their learning even after the course ends and empowered to look deeper into critical language issues of today."

Lin Cui

Professor
B.A., Economics, Shanghai University of International Business and Economics, Shanghai, China
M.A., English: Language and Professional Writing, University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
B.Ed., Faculty of Education, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada

"I firmly believe that education is a lifelong endeavor and that teaching is a privilege to inspire my students on and through this journey, one step at a time. It has been one of my greatest pleasures to empower my students with better English skills so they are able to reach their academic, professional, and personal goals."

Kathy Zuo
Associate Professor
B.A., International Studies, Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, IL
M.A., Applied Linguistics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL