Maurea Brown

ESOL Faculty, ET (Educational Technology) Faculty in Residence
Email: mbrown@highline.edu

I am a second generation Filipina American, born in Hawaii and lived most of my life in Washington State. I was an exchange student in Guadalajara, Mexico, so I understand what it’s like to speak Spanish as a third language. Ten years later, I went back to teach English at the Universidad de Panamericana in Zapopan, Mexico. I have been teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages since 1998 and I taught all ESL levels, I-BEST and the online Bridge to College class. I especially love to teach with technology and help others use it. I have a Master’s in Education in Adult Education and Training from Seattle University. When it comes to advising, my purpose is to help empower the student to make informed decisions into reaching their educational and career goals. Students come in with lots of knowledge and experience, and I’m here to help navigate the complex college system while acknowledging the skills the students already bring. I’m here to help bring that out more in each student. When I am not working, I love to practice yoga, play beach volleyball, and go mountain biking on rolling hills.

Shana Friend

GED & Career Prep/ Jumpstart Faculty
Email: sfriend@highline.edu

I am from a small island in Canada and immigrated to the United States after meeting my husband in Asia. My bachelor’s degree is in Applied Linguistics (ESOL), and I started teaching GED subjects at Highline in 2000. In 2008 I earned a Master’s degree in Adult Education and became a U.S. citizen. These days my teaching focus is math, but I also love to teach English, Social Studies, and Science. I like to go for walks, spend time with friends and family, bake, garden, read, crochet, and talk about faith. I enjoy helping people reach their goals.

Christie Knighton

ESOL/College Prep/I-BEST Faculty
Email: cknighton@highline.edu

I am a native Washingtonian, and have lived in the Des Moines area for more than 20 years. I have a Bachelors in Arts in Education with an emphasis in mathematics, from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, and began my career at Highline teaching foundational mathematics in 1995. My Master’s degree is in Education, Curriculum and Instruction, Developmental Reading, from the University of Washington.

I taught both foundational math and reading courses at Highline for many years, and then earned a TESOL Certificate and began teaching ESOL at Highline in 2002. I have been teaching in integrated programs (I-BEST) since 2006 and love working with students to build their academic skills while they build their knowledge in a particular career or academic field.

Most recently I earned a Ph.D. in Adult and Higher Education from Oregon State University. My passion is to build relationships with others, create inclusive environments where people will thrive, and to help empower students to have control over their learning to meet their career and academic goals.

Rashmi Koushik

ESOL, GED and College Prep Faculty; Jumpstart Coordinator
Email: rkoushik@highline.edu

I am a first generation immigrant born in India. I have lived in the United States since I was three years old and have been a Pacific Northwest Native since elementary school. I did environmental work for many years after finishing my Bachelor’s Degree at University of Washington, and then I had the opportunity to teach abroad in South Korea.

I fell in love with teaching and so returned to the US to complete my Master’s degree in TESOL and Adult Education. I have taught at various colleges in the Puget Sound area for the past 12 years, and I think helps me to understand the community college system as I advise students. I have been teaching ESOL, College Preparation, GED and Jumpstart since I started at Highline in 2015.

I currently coordinate the Jumpstart program and this has energized my passion for helping students begin college and navigate new systems in their lives. This year I will be having my first child and am very excited to be a mom! When I am not working, I love cooking, hiking, having picnics, eating out, and going to movies.

Amal Mahmoud

ESL/Writing Professor
Email: amahmoud@highline.edu

I have taught ESL/Linguistics around the world for about half a century. I am a three-time Fulbright Scholar and an ESL/Writing professor at Highline College, Washington. I have Ph.D. and Master’s degrees in linguistics from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. and an MA in TEFL from the American University in Cairo. My BA is in English and Education from Ain-Shams University, Egypt.

I have taught graduate and undergraduate linguistics courses in numerous universities. I have also trained teachers of English in several universities both in the US and overseas. My teaching is interactive and student focused. I love traveling and exploring other languages, cultures and countries.

Robin Martin

ESOL Faculty
Email: rmartin@highline.edu

I am the granddaughter of a Colombian immigrant, and the daughter of a teenage mother. My identity is complex. I was born in California then in 2005 I moved to Seattle. I finished my AA or 2-year transfer degree at South Seattle Community College. I transferred to the University of Washington (UW), and there I studied until I finished my Master’s in Teaching. I began as a student teacher in a local high school. After that, I got a job in Madrid, Spain and taught English abroad for 2 years. Since returning, I have taught ESOL classes in local community colleges around the Seattle area. My creative and wonderful daughter, Claire, was born in 2013, and I spend any free time I have with her and my husband, Justin. I also like roller skating, going for walks in parks, and finding secret beaches. I enjoy talking to students and learning about their lives. This helps me understand the entire student, so I can be a helpful guide.”

Angie Meyer

ESOL Faculty
Email: ameyer@highline.edu

I grew up in Illinois where I studied and worked in healthcare for years. In 2002, I moved to Washington to help elementary children learn English with AmeriCorps. That work inspired me to get my Master’s in Education in TESOL from Seattle University. I love teaching immigrants and refugees from around the world and have worked at Highline since 2006. When I am not working, I enjoy spending time with my family and pets, traveling, taking pictures, enjoying the outdoors, and learning new things.

Lijun Shen

ESOL Faculty
Email: LSHEN@highline.edu

I am a first generation Chinese American, born and grew up in Shanghai, China. I received my Master’s and Doctor’s degree in Education, majoring in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), Reading, and Language Arts from the University of Washington. Since 1993, I have been teaching academic reading and ESOL at various colleges in Washington State.

As a seasoned professor with many years of teaching experience, I have also taught graduate courses to students who seek Master’s Degree in TESOL at Seattle University. I’ve been teaching college reading, academic ESL, I-BEST, transition to college, and all levels of ESOL at Highline College since 1997. I love teaching because I think teachers are doing the most difficult, challenging, and important work in the world.

It is for this reason that I have set my life goal in the field of education–the acquisition and the transfer of knowledge. When I am not working, I love reading, traveling, and spending time with my family and friends.

Angel Steadman

ESOL Faculty
Email: asteadman@highline.edu
I’m originally from Tennessee and also lived in Arizona for 13 years before moving to Washington in 2020. Teaching English is the best job I can imagine, and I’m so lucky to have experience teaching and managing teacher education programs in countries around the world.

I have a Bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing from the University of Tennessee, as well as Master’s degree in English Language/Linguistics and a PhD in Second Language Acquisition and Teaching from the University of Arizona. I love learning languages, traveling, writing, and cooking food I learned about from my travels or my students. You can also find me hiking and camping with my dogs in the mountains.

It’s my goal as an advisor to work closely with students to help them identify their strengths, envision their future, and take the steps they need to achieve their goals. I believe that advising is a conversation, and it is most successful when students leave with a sense of purpose and direction and the feeling that they can make positive change in their lives

Laurie Stusser-McNeil

ESOL Faculty; Dept. Coordinator
Email: lstussermcneil@highline.edu

I am a Seattle native, going back 5 generations. I had many different careers before getting my Master’s degree in Education for TESOL in 2012 including theater, international arts festivals, massage therapy, and developing parks and playgrounds. I have always loved studying languages and traveling to meet people from other cultures. Teaching English to refugee and immigrant students at Highline College allows me to be out in the world, right here, connecting and learning with my students. I have 2 adult children and when I can, I spend time going to live theater, swimming in Lake Washington, scuba diving, and reading.

Bevin Taylor

ESOL Faculty
Email: btaylor@highline.edu

I was born and raised in the Midwest (Ohio). I love studying languages, and I have lived aboard for short times in Spain and China. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish and Linguistics, and a Master’s degree in Teaching English as a Second Language. I moved to Washington in 2003 to teach English at Highline, and I’m so happy to still be here! I’ve taught all levels of ESOL at Highline, including I-BEST, Jumpstart, and Bridge to College. When I’m not teaching, I love to hike, garden, watch movies, and spend time playing with 2-year-old daughter.

I love getting to know students from all over the world and working with them improve their English communication skills and achieve their goals beyond ESOL classes. In advising students, I like to find out what skills someone already has and then talk about where they want to be in the future. I would love to help you reach your goals!