I have been a full time faculty member at Westchester Community College since the 2001-2002 academic year. I coordinate and teach courses in the English as a Second Language Academic Writing sequence, and I also teach Intro to Linguistics. I hold an MA in Linguistics and a BA in English Literature from the University of Florida. Before coming to WCC, I was an administrator and teacher at the University of Florida English Language Institute, where I coordinated admissions, the student visa process, and the program's databases and website.
My major academic interests are in the areas of cultural diversity, instructional technology, and distance learning. I am a member of the college's Academic Technology Committee and Center for Faculty Advisory Board, and I am a distance learning mentor for faculty teaching online courses. In addition, I serve on the Placement Committee and the Gateway Building planning committee. With all of the different "hats" that I wear at WCC, my focus is always on providing the best possible educational environment for our students. I am a firm believer in lifelong learning, as I have learned much from my colleagues and students, as well as formal courses, over the years. This program, too, has been a learning experience for me, and I expect that to continue with each new cohort.
On a personal note, I am married with a three-year-old daughter and a newborn son. I maintain a family blog at nytrickel.blogspot.com as a way for my friends and family, many of whom live across the country, to keep in touch with us. I also have Facebook and Myspace accounts, so feel free to add me to your contacts.