Linda Faaren

Director of the Puget Sound Welcome Back Center and Manager of Special English Programs

I am from Olympia, Washington and my work in education has spanned more than 40 years and taken me to Japan, France and Cameroon. Here at Highline College, I help refugee and immigrant students access English classes and assist them in navigating various systems here in Washington. I also work with the Puget Sound Welcome Back Center that helps internationally educated professionals return to their chosen careers.

I am constantly humbled by the tenacity of our students to learn complex systems. I hold a BA degree in Education from Pacific Lutheran University and an MA in Theology from Luther Northwestern Seminary in Minnesota. I love to travel, garden, read, hike and cook with lots of spices.

Jae Song

Program Assistant

I was born in the Korean countryside where my grandparents did rice farming. I grew up and went to schools in Seoul, the South Korean capital. I worked in the fields of marketing and advertising after finishing my Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from my home country. My first job at Highline was a Business Manager for The Thunderword newspaper while I studied for the AAS degree in International Business.

I prepare and present quarterly billing documents to the DSHS office, which contain the list of the candidates who are eligible for DSHS support. I work closely with the ELCAP’s faculty, of which the cooperation and support is essential for me to list up the billable data and secure the backup documents. I like walking, hiking, traveling, and wandering. I have two children, and I live with my wife in Tacoma, Washington.