Conversation group leaders are community volunteers – mostly SU employees, students, and former teachers – who spend 45 minutes each week with international students at the ELI. They meet with groups of up to six students and follow no specific agenda – their goal is simply to discuss items of interest to students and help them improve their conversational English. Leaders often accompany students to campus events or introduce them to American holiday rituals like pumpkin carving.

Cathy Aiken
Since joining the ELI volunteers in 2003, I continue to be impressed by the camaraderie and enthusiasm among students, staff and faculty. I have worked at SU since 1987. I do research for major gifts as a member of the Advancement sector. It is wonderful to have this opportunity to help ELI students and to experience a whole new perspective on the University. I am a California native and have lived, studied, and traveled across the U.S., as well as in Mexico, the British Isles, and Europe. In recent years, I have been inspired by associations with the increasing number of international students in my SU professor-husband's Museum Studies graduate program (School of Art & Design).

Greg Deyoe
I was born and raised in the Plattsburgh, NY, area, the oldest of 7 sons. After getting a degree from Buffalo State I had several small jobs before moving to the Philadelphia area for 2 l/2 years where I was a bench technician for Ampro - Scully. In Dec ’79 my wife and I made a “temporary” move to Syracuse, NY. I started here at SU on Sept 6, 1988 in the old Audio Services department of Audio Visual Support Services. I have been an Engineer at Technical Support Services since its conception in ’94. I enjoy all aspects of my job, especially working in the technology classrooms and working with the students in the TV studios. I enjoy volunteering at SU’s English Language Institute as a conversation group leader where I help our international students with their American English conversation, talking about everyday life experiences.

Kevin Dombroske
Recently retired after a 34-year career in public school education, Kevin began his career as a 7th grade social studies teacher in the Syracuse City School District and then taught the next 30 years at Gillette Rd. Middle School in the North Syracuse School District. Kevin has close ties to SU with the completion of a master's degree in Education in 1971 and as a Graduate Assistant at SU in 1984 in Project Legal, a teacher training program. He also studied adult education at SU during his graduate assistantship. Kevin now divides his time supervising social studies student teachers in the School of Education; watching his granddaughter grow and develop, and volunteering with students at the English Language Institute. He considers this opportunity to meet and talk with students from all over the world as a fantastic educational experience!

Sally Hallahan
I have lived in the Syracuse area off and on for nearly thirty years. Outside of work, I like to spend time with my family, do volunteer work, watch sporting events, and garden. Currently, I am an Administrative Assistant in the Department of Biology. I've been employed at SU for six years and this is my second semester with ELI. It's a perfect way to enjoy my interest in language and other cultures, and be helpful to others at the same time. The students are friendly, interesting, and very willing learners, and I end up learning more from them than they do from me. I am very happy to have this opportunity.

Margaret Richards
I am a retired teacher of history, law, and government in Connecticut. I have lived in Rhode Island for the past 20 years, and there I worked as a tutor of English as a Second Language with the Literacy Volunteers of Washington County. When I moved to Syracuse to be near my daughter and her family, I was very pleased to find an opportunity to be a Conversation Group Leader and tutor at the English Language Institute. I enjoy talking with people from other cultures and countries. This is a great way to learn how people live and learn in many different parts of the world, as well as to tell them about the United States and help them to speak, read, and write better English.

Barbara Settel
I've worked at SU for many years, heading Student Services in the School of Information Studies and now directing alumni relations. I have a background in South Asian history and have traveled to India. I've made two trips to Africa recently. I enjoy cooking and eating international food. I am an active outdoors enthusiast, and I ski, run, roller blade, hike, sail, and swim.

Joan Yackel
Joan has been a conversation leader for three years. She enjoys learning about other cultures and sharing experiences and insights with other individuals. Joan has degrees in anthropology and business from Syracuse University, and retired after 30 years of working in the corporate world in accounting and human resources. Joan has studied Spanish, Hebrew, and French and has traveled to Europe and Asia. She is an avid crew enthusiast and is a member of the Syracuse Masters Rowing Club. She also enjoys skiing, bicycling, reading, and traveling. Joan chairs the International Committee for the American Red Cross and serves as a disaster assessment team manager.