Rick Barrera

Aleksandra (Sasha) Barulina

Sasha moved to America in January 2023 from Belarus with her daughter and husband, a Fulbright student at Brown University. She began to take English lessons at IH and visited almost every event. After several months as a student, Sasha became a Russian language tutor following her interest in learning Russian from other students. Now she lives in Buffalo NY and continues teaching lessons via Zoom.

Radiante de Beaulieu

Joyce Boober

Joyce was an Administrative Assistant at Verizon for 30 years and is now happily retired. She enjoys being active outdoors and in her community, and loves to walk, garden, watch Netflix, and volunteer extensively at the Unitarian Church.

Paola Brito

Wendy Brunelle

Wendy is a retired public school speech-language pathologist. She also taught at the university level. Wendy has loved words and language for as long as she can remember. She is an avid reader and belongs to two book clubs (one which she leads). She loves meeting new people and learning about their cultures. Since joining the volunteer program at IH in 2023, Wendy has been tutoring one-on-one, helping her student to improve her English conversation skills and understand American culture.

Hsin-Fang Chung

Hsin-Fang is a native Taiwanese Mandarin speaker who moved to Rhode Island with her husband in late 2023. With a decade of experience in the design field, she is currently working as a front desk assistant at the International House. She has discovered a deep interest in tutoring Mandarin, particularly in Traditional Chinese, and is actively honing her teaching skills. Passionate about sharing Taiwanese culture, Hsin-Fang enjoys connecting with students from around the world through language instruction.

Rob Crowley

Rob Crowley is a native English speaker from Narragansett Rhode Island and he's passionate about volunteering as an English language tutor at the RI International House. He has studied Spanish and enjoys being able to help Spanish speakers improve their English skills, build confidence in communication, and foster cultural exchange. With a friendly and patient approach, he strives to create a supportive and inclusive learning environment for all. He believes in the power of language to connect people from diverse backgrounds and is committed to making a positive impact through volunteering. He looks forward to contributing to the wonderful community at RI International House!

Bonita Daly

In 2016 Bonita discovered International House of Rhode Island, where she connects with people from around the world. She volunteers as an English language teacher. She also serves on the IH finance committee. After living and teaching in Turkey and South Korea, she wanted to continue interacting with those from other countries, and IH provides numerous opportunities for this. She is a retired professor of accounting with over twenty years of experience teaching at US universities and six years teaching abroad. Before becoming a professor, she worked as a staff accountant with a regional CPA firm.

Mary Foote

Nancy Fritz

Nancy has been in involved in Literacy and ESL programs in R.I. for over 30 years, both as a teacher and an administrator. She got involved with the International House as a student in one of the Spanish classes and is now a tutor and teacher in the English program. In her free time, Nancy likes to travel, spend time with her family and dog, and read.

Manny Gominho

Manny joined IHRI as a member in early 2019 after retiring following a 38 year career as an Electrical Engineer. Manny has volunteered at IHRI teaching ESL, tutoring in Portuguese and supporting different IHRI committees. He became a board member in October 2019.  Manny has also volunteered with the Providence School Department, via Hope Circle, and with the Cape Verdean American Development Center in Pawtucket. Manny is a Brown University Graduate (BS). Born in Cape Verde, he grew up in Portugal and Mozambique prior to coming to the US in 1974. 

Lisa Hawthorne

Lisa is a nutritionist and enthusiastic cook. She enjoys the outdoors, reading, keeping fit, knitting and being with friends. Always wanting to maintain a healthy lifestyle, she returned to school for nutrition later in life and worked at WIC (Women, Infants, Children) agencies around the state for many years. She loves tutoring at IH and meeting all the interesting people who come through its doors.

Joan Kenower

Joan has been tutoring and teaching English at International House for over 10 years. She is a longtime Providence resident who loves meeting and working with international students and visitors. In addition to learning about different cultures, Joan’s favorite hobbies include gardening, landscape painting (watercolors and pastels) and reading

Cal Krichmer

Cal started at International House in August, 1994, after retiring from a long career as an accountant. He originally tutored and then moved into teaching classes focused on grammar. He continues to teach with the same enthusiasm and appreciation for International House as when he began 27 years ago. He is still hooked on this association with the bright and motivated people that make his own life so interesting and plans to continue teaching until he can't.

Susan McQuillian

Susan is a nutrition, health, and lifestyle writer who has contributed hundreds of articles to magazines and websites and authored several books and cookbooks, including such publications as Psychology Today. But her all-time favorite things to do are reading poetry and working with students at International House.

Mary Meli

Mary has worked for over four decades in the educational field - 39 years as an elementary teacher in the Seekonk, Massachusetts School System, followed by five years as an ESL English teacher at the Community College of Rhode Island. Mary only speaks one language, but has a great admiration for those individuals who can speak two or more!

Natalie Mingnault

Natalie began her career as an elementary school teacher. She taught evening ESL classes in her community based adult education program for twenty-five years, along with a few day semesters as an ESL instructor at Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) and Rhode Island College (RIC). She returned to public school and recently retired after twenty-six years as an ESL kindergarten teacher. She is very happy to be volunteering at International House.

Michael Pennacchia

Native Rhode Islander, Michael Pennacchia has had an eclectic, entrepreneurial career based in NYC for more than four decades.  A freelance writer and photographer, whose work has been published in national magazines and newspapers, he has taught Strategic Communications at Columbia University and Writing at Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI).  He also was a Public Relations executive, and has founded both Media Relations and Garden Design businesses.  He enjoys teaching and learning from the diverse student body at International House.

Sami Salloum

Hello, My name is Sami! I’m originally from Syria where I lived almost all of my life before moving to live in the U.S. about 11 years ago due to the horrific civil war! I studied French literature in Syria for three years at Aleppo University, and now I’m a student at Rhode Island College pursuing my studies: majoring in French and minoring in Education with the objective to graduate in the very near future and start my career as a French teacher. I’ve been a substitute teacher for around four years. My favorite hobbies are: learning foreign languages as well as keeping improving the ones I already know, teaching French, playing percussion instruments, biking, hiking, and making new friends.

Joe Scott

Betsy Shea-Taylor

Betsy just re-joined International House after prior years as a tutor and as a home host to students. Until the pandemic she was affiliated with literacy centers, teaching men born in this country, many of whom had dropped out of school. Her career was in journalism — reporter and editor and columnist— and she has volunteered with crisis phone lines, hospice, the ACI and libraries, where she offered philosophy discussions. Betsy opened her home for several years to strangers who gathered for Buddhist meditations. She has many interests including lichenology, raptors and random conversations on park benches.

David Steinberg

David worked 30 years for the Social Security Administration as a bilingual (Spanish-English) caseworker and over the years has volunteered as an ESL tutor in a number of places. He also taught English at universities in China and Saudi Arabia. It’s always a pleasure for David to meet students at International House!

Nini Stoddard

Nini is a proud Providence resident. After living abroad as the child of a US diplomat, she returned to the United States to attend college. She lived in Connecticut and enjoyed working as a librarian, as a director of a regional non-profit, and as a prospect researcher. Nini moved to Providence in 2006 to work at Brown University as a senior prospect researcher. Now retired, she loves local history and volunteering!

Beatrice Swift

Beatrice has been a teacher for several decades, working with middle school, high school, and college students. Most recently, she was Chair of the English Department at Lincoln School in Providence. Beatrice began tutoring and teaching at International House in 2021. She loves literature, travel, mountains and the ocean, spending time with her grandchildren, and working with the students in her Intermediate English class!

Manny Terezakis

Manny had a rewarding 42-year career teaching chemistry and managing environmental safety at the Community College of Rhode Island. After he retired, he tutored chemistry at CCRI, then English at Dorcas International House. Since 2019, he’s been tutoring International House students and even a few staff members enrolled in ESL classes. He especially enjoys discussing the intricacies of the English language with his students and helping them understand and experience our American culture. Manny is fluent in spoken Greek and is available to assist Greek visitors and immigrants should the need arise.

Gylean Trabucchi

Gylean moved to America in her twenties after serving in the British Foreign Service in London and Paris. She spent time in California and New York, married, and had a family before returning to college to get a Master’s degree in Language Arts. Currently retired, she has served on the IHRI Board of Directors since October 2018 and continues to mentor and work with students from many diverse nationalities and backgrounds, and at all levels of higher education.

Karen Usas

Karen Usas and her husband moved here from California twenty-one years ago and love the history, the college neighborhoods and the artsy ambiance of Providence. Having been partnered with International House grad students from over seven countries, they appreciate the mission of IH and its diverse programming efforts. Karen has worked in marketing and taught art through the years; she especially enjoys watercolor and portraiture. Being a touring docent at the RISD Museum has been a way she continues her art interests here. Personal international exchanges enrich not only the visitor from afar, but those of us who are fortunate to interact with them in new spaces. But you all know that already!

Bob Vachon

Bob joined International House in 2015 as a tutor. Currently he is an Advanced English teacher and chair of the Board. Previously, he began his career as an ESL, Reading and English teacher at Woonsocket High School. He became a vice-principal and principal retiring in 2005. Subsequently, Bob assumed duties as the Director of Teacher Certification at Providence College. He has served as Chairman of the Woonsocket Harris Library Board of Trustees and received the Fulbright Scholarship studying the Educational System in Japan.

Giulia Vitali

Originally from Italy and now calling Providence, RI home, Giulia is passionate about traveling, exploring diverse cultures, and learning new languages. With a love for adventure and discovery, she is always eager to connect with people from different backgrounds. In addition to personal pursuits, Giulia is deeply committed to volunteer work, finding joy and fulfillment in helping others and making a positive impact in the community.

Eli Yannekis

Born in Boston, Eli has worked for City Corps in Seattle and currently works in Providence schools. He enjoys learning about the interests of his students and using their interests to make classes interesting and challenging. He has been a volunteer ESL teacher at International House for over two years. He enjoys participating in language exchanges, especially on the app Hellotalk. A native English speaker, he is an intermediate Spanish speaker and is currently trying to learn Arabic.

Stephen Young

Tracey Zeckhausen

Tracey Zeckhausen is a retired public relations/communications professional who spent much of her career in higher education and whose most recent full-time position was as Chief of Information and Public Relations for the RI Department of Corrections. In all of her jobs, she was responsible for writing and editing newsletters and brochures, writing press releases, and interfacing with the media and serving as spokesperson. She has a B.A. in Creative Writing and French from Brown and a M.A. in psychology and religion from Andover Newton Theological Schoo, where she was Director of Communications. Tracey is very active in retirement. She is an avid pickleball player who created a league in Pawtucket which has grown to over 200 members. She is active in Newman Congregational Church, where she is a trustee. She coordinates a Scrabble group for the Lifelong Learning Collaborative, where she has also taken courses. In addition to three grown children, her pride and joy is her 2-1/2 year old granddaughter.

Walter Zekanoski

Walter retired from a long career as a graphic designer in 2023. In January 2024 he received his certification in Teaching English as a Foreign Language. Since then he has been an English tutor at the International House. Previously, for eight years with the Inspiring Minds program in Providence, he was a classroom tutor at Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School. Walter enjoys meeting new people at the International House and is always curious to learn about their culture. His interests include art, film and reading. Walter holds a BFA and an MFA in Fine Art. He spends his free time painting in his studio in Providence.