Assistant Professor; Program Head, English for Academic and Professional Purposes
Professor Marie Butcher is the Program Head and lead professor in the program English for Academic and Professional Purposes. She specializes in designing customized curricula for the student body (both non-native and native speakers of English) to assist them with their professional speaking, research, and writing skills at the graduate level. She guides students in all phases of the writing and presentation process—from developing keen critical thinking on topics, narrowing the scope of research, to preparing policy memos, research papers, and speaking notes for negotiation and conference simulations.
Professor Butcher has been the lead organizer for multiple symposia with language cohorts at MIIS, notably the Monterey Model, a multilingual conference setting on important current policy, environmental, and human rights topics, with interpretation into multiple languages from the MIIS practicum team. Professor Butcher & Oliva co-authored an article on “Enhancing University Students’ Learning in CLIL through the Monterey Model (MM)” DEDiCA. Revista De Educação E Humanidades(2025).
Professor Butcher has been offering customized language instruction through the Executive Programs at MIIS to business professionals, diplomats from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from multiple delegations for over two decades. She has also taught specialized programs within the CNS Visiting Fellows program, and the Critical Issues Forum at the Center for Non-Proliferation Studies. Prior to becoming Assistant Professor at MIIS, she taught at Monterey Peninsula College for 20 years in the ESL, English, and French Departments, and before that, at the American Language Center in Marrakesh, Morocco
Professor Butcher has extensive experience leading Study Abroad programs, in France & Italy, Kenya & Tanzania, and Costa Rica. She co-designed and co-led the experiential learning course, “Peace & the Sustainable Development Goals in Costa Rica in January2023 and 2025, bringing MIIS students to the University for Peace in Costa Rica and in the field to learn about sustainable efforts in Costa Rica. Professor Butcher earned the Global Leadership Diploma from the University for Peace in 2023 and facilitated a workshop at the Global Happiness Summit at the University for Peace in Costa Rica during the spring of 2023. Professor Butcher has dedicated herself to independent research in Peace Studies, and has recently published, Doves Born of Flames (2026), a multilingual poetry anthology dedicated to peace.
In addition to her role as Program Head of EAPP, Professor Butcher (aka Marie Boucher) was named the Poet Laureate of Monterey County (Jan, 2026-Dec, 2027). She co-leads the monthly International Poetry Gathering and annual Poetry Week in April. She leads workshops in poetry and teaches courses in Creative Writing. She has published poetry in multiple anthologies, literary journals, and online publications, including: the anthology for Circulo de Poetas (2026), Monterey Poetry Review (2025), Porter Gulch Review (2024). Marie is the Editor in Chief for Doves Born of Flames: Poems of Peace from Many Lands, a multilingual anthology (2026) that engages domestic and international writers in 18 different languages. Her next collection Becoming River: from the mountains to the sea (2026) will be published later this year.
Professor Butcher co-leads the annual recognition of International Peace Day at MIIS and has been the recipient of multiple grants through the KWD Collaborative in Conflict-Transformation.. She serves on the committee for the Jan Knippers Black Fund for the Protection of Human Rights Speakers Series, and has brought notable speakers to the MIIS campus, engaging with the community at large.
EAPP 8330
Debate and Critical ReadingCourse Description
This course provides students with strategies for improving their reading skills as well as understanding academic and professional rhetoric. Students will critique various texts and speeches, as well as create their own persuasive speeches and debates.
Terms Taught
EAPP 8380
Business CorrespondenceCourse Description
The aim of this course is to help you become a more seasoned writer, thinker, and communicator in the business world. In this course, you will analyze the rhetorical conventions of business discourse, learn strategies for tailoring your message to your audience, and revise your work in order to produce finely-tuned business documents such as letters, reports, and e-mail correspondence.
Terms Taught
EAPP 8386
The Art of StorytellingCourse Description
This course is designed for students to deepen their storytelling competencies and develop engaging presentation skills. This course is open to all students—and is of special interest to those seeking EAPP credits, those pursuing the Creative Media Specialization in TRLM and students in the TIAG track. Students will consider and develop multiple storytelling strategies to tell effective stories for a specific purpose. Students will discover which techniques and styles are most conducive to their specific audience and purpose. An introduction to the ArcGIS Story mapping tool will be included as an option for digital storytelling. This course is offered for 2 units/ credits, so students’ full participation and consistent attendance is critical to success in the course.
Terms Taught
EAPP 8387
ICC & EAPP CommunicationSkillsCourse Description
"Description is a course designed for international students to deepen their
intercultural communication competencies, while honing their writing and
presentation skills in English. Students will study intercultural competence theories
and explore the intersectional issues of race, religion, gender, language, as they
apply to cultural identity and social justice.
In addition to Intercultural theory, students will be introduced to “multiple
intelligences” (as defined by Howard Gardner), and consider multiple ways in which
we communicate and receive information. The course will allow students to
consider the complexities related to cultural identity and how to further hone their
intercultural communication skills in various contexts."
Terms Taught
EAPP 8388
Professional CommunicationsCourse Description
Terms Taught
EAPP 8430
Debate and Critical ReadingCourse Description
This course is designed to equip you with the skills and confidence to deliver professional and articulate speeches in English. You will deliver informative, persuasive, panel, training, and commemorative presentations to prepare you for the wide range of speech styles you may encounter in your professions. Consistent practice, analysis of award-winning speeches, and detailed feedback on your performance will provide you with ample opportunity to improve your public speaking skills.
Terms Taught
EAPP 8456
Adv Rhetoric & GenreCourse Description
EAPP 8456 Advanced Rhetoric and Genre is a course designed to hone your research and writing skills in order to create fluid and interesting prose appropriate for the graduate level. The course is open to qualified international students. The content of the course will include a series of short essays, a genre presentation, and a final research paper that may be prepared in conjunction with another course.
The primary goals of this course are as follows:
• Developing critical reading skills,
• Learning how to correctly write and research an academic paper,
• Understanding how to blend sources without losing your own voice
• Introducing ways to document sources correctly using APA/Chicago format to avoid plagiarism,
• Understanding and implementing the characteristics of good writing into our own writing,
• Working on pre-writing skills such as brainstorming and outlining,
• Learning how to narrow and choose appropriate topics,
Terms Taught
EAPP 8494 Upcoming
Advanced Editing WritingCourse Description
Navigating the Process: Advanced Strategies in Rewriting is a course in rewriting, editing and proofreading available to all qualified international students. The course concentrates on giving non-native speakers of English the necessary tools to edit their own writing. We will use short in- class writing and papers from other classes to sharpen our editing skills.
Students can expect to ...
- learn the strengths and weaknesses in their own writing;
- increase knowledge and understanding of academic English usage;
- enrich style and expression; punctuate correctly;
- write more cohesively (and coherently);
- use transitions more effectively;
- reduce redundancy;
- research and teach a grammar point;
- work in small groups;
- and give and receive written feedback.
Terms Taught
EAPP 9376
Peace & SDGs Costa RicaCourse Description
Costa Rica: The UN Sustainable Development Goals in Action
This course provides an immersive experience to explore Costa Rica’s Sustainable Development Goals, highlighting both their successes and challenges. Participants will engage with readings on Costa Rica’s development issues, other relevant materials, and embark on an exciting itinerary designed in partnership with the University for Peace in San José, Costa Rica, and MIIS. This journey will offer a deep understanding of the policies that have shaped Costa Rica’s development.
For those pursuing IPD credits, a 1,500-word policy brief on a topic of your choice, inspired by the program, will be required, along with reflections on the readings. Your professional presentation will be based on your policy brief. Students will also be exposed to the principles of Conflict Transformation and Intercultural Communication skills in the field.
For students pursuing 2 EAPP credits, a fewer number of readings and reflections will be required and the final presentation for the “showcase” will be optional. For those pursuing 4 EAPP credits, all readings, reflections, and the final presentation will be required. Students will be exposed to the principles of Conflict Transformation and Intercultural Communication skills in the field.
Students pursuing Spanish credits at the 200, 300, or 400 level, will draft a reflection in Spanish that covers the required readings and presentations by guest speakers during the onsite portion or the course in Costa Rica. Students will also present their experience when they return to the US. Students will also be asked to apply ICC and Conflict Transformation concepts and ideas in their reflection.
Terms Taught
EAPP 9476
Peace & SDGs Costa RicaCourse Description
Costa Rica: The UN Sustainable Development Goals in Action
This course provides an immersive experience to explore Costa Rica’s Sustainable Development Goals, highlighting both their successes and challenges. Participants will engage with readings on Costa Rica’s development issues, other relevant materials, and embark on an exciting itinerary designed in partnership with the University for Peace in San José, Costa Rica, and MIIS. This journey will offer a deep understanding of the policies that have shaped Costa Rica’s development.
For those pursuing IPD credits, a 1,500-word policy brief on a topic of your choice, inspired by the program, will be required, along with reflections on the readings. Your professional presentation will be based on your policy brief. Students will also be exposed to the principles of Conflict Transformation and Intercultural Communication skills in the field.
For students pursuing 2 EAPP credits, a fewer number of readings and reflections will be required and the final presentation for the “showcase” will be optional. For those pursuing 4 EAPP credits, all readings, reflections, and the final presentation will be required. Students will be exposed to the principles of Conflict Transformation and Intercultural Communication skills in the field.
Students pursuing Spanish credits at the 200, 300, or 400 level, will draft a reflection in Spanish that covers the required readings and presentations by guest speakers during the onsite portion or the course in Costa Rica. Students will also present their experience when they return to the US. Students will also be asked to apply ICC and Conflict Transformation concepts and ideas in their reflection.
Terms Taught
GIPD 8635
Peace & SDGs Costa RicaCourse Description
Costa Rica: The UN Sustainable Development Goals in Action
This course provides an immersive experience to explore Costa Rica’s Sustainable Development Goals, highlighting both their successes and challenges. Participants will engage with readings on Costa Rica’s development issues, other relevant materials, and embark on an exciting itinerary designed in partnership with the University for Peace in San José, Costa Rica, and MIIS. This journey will offer a deep understanding of the policies that have shaped Costa Rica’s development.
For those pursuing IPD credits, a 1,500-word policy brief on a topic of your choice, inspired by the program, will be required, along with reflections on the readings. Your professional presentation will be based on your policy brief. Students will also be exposed to the principles of Conflict Transformation and Intercultural Communication skills in the field.
For students pursuing 2 EAPP credits, a fewer number of readings and reflections will be required and the final presentation for the “showcase” will be optional. For those pursuing 4 EAPP credits, all readings, reflections, and the final presentation will be required. Students will be exposed to the principles of Conflict Transformation and Intercultural Communication skills in the field.
Students pursuing Spanish credits at the 200, 300, or 400 level, will draft a reflection in Spanish that covers the required readings and presentations by guest speakers during the onsite portion or the course in Costa Rica. Students will also present their experience when they return to the US. Students will also be asked to apply ICC and Conflict Transformation concepts and ideas in their reflection.
Terms Taught
ICCO 8576
can be reusedCourse Description
The curriculum for the Peace & the UN Sustainable Development Goals in Action course will be focused on MIIS’ 3 pillars of peace & security, sustainability, language skills and intercultural communication as well as specific UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Participants will observe first-hand how different organizations are attending to challenges related to specified SDGs during on-site visits in Costa Rica. Students will collect in-situ data, conduct interviews, and compile their notes, journal entries for their final deliverable during the spring showcase. Students will research, discuss, and present on sustainable development through the framework of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and SDG Knowledge Platform: (https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgs). Attention will be given to specific actions and initiatives that are working on specific SDGs. See the itinerary for SDGs to be covered during our immersive learning experience in Costa Rica. Students will benefit from direct contact with experts in the field of peace studies and sustainable development.
Visit http://sites.miis.edu/partnershipsforpeace for course application and travel information.
Terms Taught
TRLM 8659
Creative WritingCourse Description
This course is of special interest to TLM students pursuing a specialization in Creative Media Localization or T & I students, who are interested in learning about the nuances of metaphors, idioms, colloquial language, and the art of creative writing. In this 2-unit course we will embark on creative writing projects customized to students’ specific interests in writing for shows, generating multimedia content, or creating stories to engage diverse audiences. While the course has been designed specifically for TLM and TI students, the course is open to all students seeking EAPP credits and is cross listed with TIAG.
Terms Taught
Professor Butcher has been teaching at the Institute since 2002.
| by Sierra Abukins
At the midpoint of its multiyear conflict transformation collaborative initiative, Middlebury is looking back and looking forward to the next phase of the effort.
| by Caitlin Fillmore
During a period of escalating global conflicts, nearly 70 international poets contributed writing around the themes of peace, poetry, and policy.
| by Jason Warburg
The annual “Monterey Model” symposium featured policy and management students presenting in multiple languages on current issues related to peace and conflict transformation while student colleagues interpreted their remarks in five languages.
