LAUREL DISPENZA

704 West 180th Street, New York, NY 10033 | 260-440-1766 | lmd2209@tc.columbia.edu

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

ARTS AND ATHLETICS, New York, NY September 2017 - Present

Homework Tutor and Running Program Coach
 Provide personalized academic help to primary school students in all subject areas
 Create and implement activity program that inspires students to love running
 Collaborate with management team to assess and grow the program

SELF-EMPLOYED TUTORING SERVICES, New York, NY September 2017 - Present

College Mathematics Tutor
 Teach new mathematics topics and create practice problems to assure successful
mastery of material
 Create effective study strategies for university freshmen
 Ensure an encouraging, motivating, and fun environment in which to learn math

EDUCATIONAL SERVICE EXCHANGE WITH CHINA, China June 2015 - March 2017
Facilitator and Curriculum Team Member (Total Immersion Program)
 Facilitated English teacher immersion trainings for large (300+) and small groups
 Coordinated with a team to develop curricula for multiple partners
 Created, carried out, and evaluated interactive lessons for primary students
 Encouraged and enabled students to reach their potentials, both in classroom
teaching and in life

MATTHEW 25 MEDICAL CLINIC, Fort Wayne, IN February - June 2015

Volunteer Spanish/English Interpreter
 Provided written and verbal interpretation between Spanish-speaking clients and
English-speaking healthcare professionals
 Partnered with various professionals to provide the best and most comfortable
service to clients

OLIVET NAZARENE UNIVERSITY, Bourbonnais, IL August - December 2014

Teaching Assistant
 Designed lesson plans and graded essays for freshman general education course
 Initiated and ignited critical thinking and deep discussions
 Selected by faculty for graduate student position as an undergraduate student

ABBA'S HOUSE CHILDREN'S CENTER, Santiago, Dominican Republic May - June 2014
English Language/Culture Teacher and Intern
 Devised and implemented English lessons for children 2-16
 Inspired and encouraged learning through individual attention
 Partnered with Bible College students to promote church growth and community
development
EDUCATION

TEACHERS COLLEGE OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, New York, NY Expected May 2019

Masters of Arts (Candidate), Applied Linguistics
 TESOL/AL Roundtable Research Co-chair (2018 - Present)
 Research Assistant for Prof. Hoa Nguyen - conduct research on issues related to
teacher training programs in the developing world (2018 - Present)

OLIVET NAZARENE UNIVERSITY, Bourbonnais, IL May 2015

Bachelor of Arts, Spanish and Intercultural Studies
 Olivet Nazarene University Dean’s List (2011 - 2015)
 Coca Cola Scholarship and E. H. Kilbourne Scholarship Recipient (2011 - 2014)
 Study Abroad: Universidad Latina, Costa Rica (Spring 2014)

OTHER QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Volunteer English Conversation Tutor, Catholic Charities (2018)

Future China Initiative, Peer Support Executive Committee (2017 - 2018)
Princeton in Beijing Mandarin Immersion Program - Completed one year’s worth of
Mandarin study in two months (Summer 2017)
TEFL Certification, State Administration of Foreign Expert Affairs - China (2015)
Professional Interpreter Certificate, Virginia Institute of Interpreting (2015)
Communications Intern, Associated Churches (January - June 2015)