New Key Addition to Our Staff

On Tuesday, the Governing Board approved of the employment of our next full-time faculty member.

Lawrence Lawson received his MA TESOL from the Monterey Institute of International Studies (MIIS) in 2008. Before finishing his degree, Larry and his wife were Peace Corps Volunteers in Ukraine for just over two years. In Ukraine, Larry taught English in secondary school settings, at L'viv National University, and in various English clubs and summer camps across the country. As well, he was involved in facilitating leadership seminars and conferences discussing the rise of HIV/AIDS and human trafficking in Ukraine.

Since returning from Ukraine, Larry has been teaching English to diplomats at MIIS. He has worked with clients from Korea and Japan, and spent the summer of 2008 developing a curriculum for the English for Diplomats program that is currently being piloted at MIIS. In addition to teaching diplomats, Larry has worked with 2nd and 3rd graders, Japanese and Spanish university students, and trained teachers at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California.

Larry says that he is an avid reader and a life-long language learner. His intelligence, enthusiasm, problem-solving skills, and accomplishments, among other things, have impressed his hiring committee.

In the spring 2009 semester, Larry is scheduled to teach ESL 102 and ESL 10 on the main campus and NESL 303 in Fallbrook. He is also going to take over from Gary Sosa as the Fallbrook Coordinator. "I'm very excited about this duty and about starting work at Palomar," says Larry.

In his free time, Larry enjoys playing guitar, writing, and traveling. He and his wife have found a very nice apartment in Escondido and will move in on the 5th. Just as Larry is very happy to have found a home at Palomoar College, we also can't wait to welcome him as a key addition to our staff.