Middlebury Institute graduates discuss where they are working today, how the Institute helped them get there, and what advice they’d give to current and future MIIS students.
My name is Joyce Kling, and I graduated with an MA in TESOL from the Middlebury Institute in 1988 after completing my undergraduate studies at the University of Michigan. My passion for language and education led me to pursue a career in academia. I am currently an associate professor at Lund University in Sweden.
In my role, I supervise and mentor students across various stages of their academic journey—from BA and MA theses to PhD supervision. I’ve also had the privilege of collaborating on international research projects. One of my current projects, Towards a New Model of Communicative Competence in Multilingual Higher Education (MCC), explores communicative competence in academic environments.
Take advantage of opportunities. You never know when a workshop or seminar will shape your skills and knowledge in unexpected ways.
My current position at Lund University came from responding to an open call. Although I graduated from the Institute many years ago, the overall educational experience I received provided a strong foundation for my career. The comprehensive training and exposure to diverse methodologies at the Institute have consistently informed my approach to teaching and research.
My advice to current students is to embrace opportunities, even if they don’t seem directly related to your immediate goals. Attending workshops, seminars, or international projects can develop skills and insights that might become invaluable later in your career. Sometimes the most unexpected experiences lead to the most rewarding professional paths.
Reflecting on my journey, I appreciate how the Institute environment encouraged curiosity and adaptability, qualities that have been crucial throughout my academic career. I encourage students to stay engaged, take risks, and build connections that could shape their future endeavors.
| by Jennifer Uhler MATESOL ’05
Alum Jennifer Uhler shares how her MIIS education and experiences with Peace Corps, Fulbright, and the English Language Fellow program led her to a diplomatic career focused on fostering global ties through language education.
| by Sierra Abukins
The language educators led workshops in the Balkans lifting up how language educators advance peacebuilding in their classrooms with support from a grant from Projects for Peace.
| by Mark C. Anderson
Two TESOL students completed their capstone practicum teaching at an alternative school in Korea that serves defectors from North Korea where their professor is developing the English curriculum.
