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 Jennifer Uhler, and I graduated with a Master of Arts in TESOL with a specialization in Language Program Administration (LPA) from the Middlebury Institute in 2005. My language focus was Spanish. Prior to coming to Monterey, I earned my undergraduate degree at Augustana University in Sioux Falls, SD.
I am now based in based in Riga, Latvia, where I work as a Regional English Language Officer (RELO) with the U.S. Department of State.
In my role, I bring together English language teaching professionals with educators, scholars, and students from around the world through exchanges and professional learning programs. My current focus is on fostering people-to-people ties. I love seeing U.S. educators discover new perspectives and enrich their classrooms through international experiences. Equally exciting is the opportunity to introduce the diversity of American educators and our education systems to language learning environments abroad, where the U.S. perspective is not always well understood. This work feels empowering, as it builds bridges for global dialogue, one classroom at a time.
Learning a language is a way to bring people together. At its best, learning a language and entering an international community can pull people from the periphery to the center of conversations about policy, education, science, and business.
My journey to this role included invaluable experiences with the Peace Corps, Fulbright, and the English Language Fellow Program. These formative experiences helped me realize the importance of global education and language learning in shaping international relationships.
Coming to the Middlebury Institute allowed me to reflect on these experiences alongside peers with a similar global mindset. The international community on campus provided a space where I felt understood and could contemplate my career path in meaningful ways.
During my time at the Institute, the TESOL coursework gave me a strong foundation for working with language specialists, while program administration classes prepared me to bridge the gaps between administrators, policymakers, and educators. I encourage students to take advantage of the vibrant campus community—engage in dialogue with peers and faculty, dig deep into topics you care about, and use this opportunity to foster your passion for international education. The Middlebury Institute environment is a space for growth, learning, and connecting, and these skills translate directly into life and the workforce.
My best advice for current students is to embrace the community at the Middlebury Institute. Take time to reflect, ask big questions, and engage with peers and faculty members. This environment fosters lifelong learning and valuable connections that will guide you in your career.
| 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.
| by Sierra Abukins
The 30-credit degree can be completed in 20 months and allows students to continue working from anywhere in the world while they complete their degree.
