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Costa Rica: Language, Society, & the Environment

San José, Costa Rica

Program faculty & staff

 
 

Christopher Vaughan   

Program Director

Supervises all administrative and educational program matters and coordinates the work of professors and staff. Serves as contact in case of emergencies and for general information about the program.

 

Eduardo Estevanovich 

Spanish Language and Academic Coordinator

Coordinates the Spanish language program and trains the language teachers, teaching classes Monday through Friday.

 

Manuel Monestel   

Instructor

Teaches the fall class on Music, Society, and Identity in the Americas.

 

Paul Hanson   

Instructor

Teaches the fall class on Neotropical Biodiversity and Conservation.

 

Judith Magnan

Coordinator of Academic Services

Manages student placement and support in rural host families, as well as coordinating the Tico scholarship program, and supervising the library and computer services.  Judy is a graduate of Grinnell College and an alumna of the spring ACM Costa Rica Field Research program. 

Alejandra Loaiza Ch.

Financial Assistant

Coordinates all financial matters for the ACM Costa Rica program, including payroll, family payments, service providers, and building maintenance.

Kennia Umaña

Administrative Assistant

Handles administrative work and student services, including the management of student placement and support in San José host families.

Iveth Duarte

Building Attendant

Is responsible for taking care of and maintaining the building, and she prepares food for all ACM events.

Hermes Sandoval

Security Guard

Don Hermes has been with ACM for many years- he opens the building in the morning, helps students exit the building at the end of the day and on weekends, and is also a good resource on a variety of topics from the weather and the daily news to soccer.

 

Costa Rica: Language, Society, & the Environment

Karen Skadow After my study abroad experience, Costa Rica is no longer a small foreign country on the world map. Instead it is a place that I experienced firsthand. I had the privilege of being a part of Costa Rican culture and society and learned from it every step of the way. Every day I learned new words through experiences (as opposed to vocabulary lists), observed natural and cultural beauty, and had a chance to apply what I was learning in Spanish class through natural conversations with native speakers. Studying abroad for me was more than just traveling or living in a foreign country. It was a highly valuable learning experience acquired from day-by-day adventures of experiencing Costa Rica, that encouraged me to test my limits and connect to the world that surrounds me.

—Karen Skadow, Costa Rica, Fall 2007

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News
  1. Japan Study Announces New Intensive Language + Spring Semester Option (Posted: Mar 5, 2010)
  2. FaCE Grants Support Research and Workshops Aimed at Improving Curricula, Teaching, and Student Learning (Posted: Feb 23, 2010)
  3. Chicago Area High School Counselors Invited to ACM Admissions Breakfasts (Posted: Feb 19, 2010)

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ACM calendar
  1. Mar 15–16 ACM Advisory Board of Deans Meeting
  2. Mar 15 Application deadline: Summer 2010 & Fall 2010…
  3. Mar 16–17 FaCE Liaison Meeting

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Who we are

The Associated Colleges of the Midwest (ACM) is a consortium of independent, liberal arts colleges in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Colorado.