Executive Board Members

Bio - May Yeung

May holds undergraduate degrees in psychology and education, a certificate of teaching ESL, and a graduate degree in educational psychology. Now, she has her sights set on the completion of an educational doctorate specializing in language and literacy. Over the past several years, May has had opportunities to expand her roles, but has primarily been employed as an EAP/ESP instructor at MacEwan University. A knowledge seeker, May has a particular fascination with languages and the commonalities that exist among differing cultures and religions. She also is passionate about writing and has been published in the areas of intercultural mentorship, curriculum redesign, and artificial intelligence. May is honoured to be part of the ATESL organization and is committed to do her utmost to serve in this new capacity. Thank you to everyone for their continued dedication and great efforts for English language learners! Together, we can go further than ever before!

Bio - Johnson Kunnel

Johnson has been actively involved in more than a dozen post-secondary and K-12 EAL programs in Canada, Kazakhstan, Oman, and India in roles such as lecturer, consultant, curriculum developer, instructor, team lead and mentor. He has taught children and adults, students and teachers, literacy and advanced, academic and business, settlement and employment, private and public, competitive and professional, and in-class and on-online. He has been an ATESL member since 2009 and co-managed 2023 ATESL Conference. Currently, he teaches workplace focused TBLT courses at SAIT, Calgary. He is at his best when he is with his students. Johnson’s passion for life-long learning and learner-centered adult language education led him through reflective action research and the completion of Doctor of Education (EAL) and Master of Education (TEAL) programs at the University of Calgary. He also holds an M Ed in ESL and an M A in English Literature. However, he believes he has learned the most from his students and colleagues. In his free time, Johnson likes to hike and bike. He also likes trying new sports; currently he is after tennis. You are also likely to see him volunteering at community initiatives and events. He is thrilled to be part of ATESL whose members have made language education their passion, EAL learners their inspiration and ATESL their spark!!!

Bio - Sofia Elgueta

Sofia has 20 years of experience teaching EAL. She has taught children and adults in South America and has been with the English Language School, University of Alberta, since she moved to Canada in 2008. She usually teaches Academic English but has developed and taught a variety of courses for specific purposes, workplace communication, and global citizenship, among others. She strives to make a difference in her students' lives by helping them develop the communication and language skills they need to thrive. She is committed to professional development and incorporating current best practices to facilitate language acquisition through interaction and participation in a setting of student-centred learning. After helping organize the 2021 ATESL Conference, she is excited to continue connecting with the membership in her role as Social Media Coordinator. She can’t wait to share the organization’s initiatives and amazing work with the world!

Bio - JJ Pulleyblank

JJ Pulleyblank has been a language instructor for over 20 years and joined ATESL in 2023. He has primarily taught EAP, EFL, and ESL courses in Asia, Europe, and North America. JJ believes in Kachru's Model and the concept of Global Englishes. He holds a Master’s degree in Education with a focus on Teaching English as a Global Language. With a strong commitment to fostering inclusive and engaging classroom experiences, JJ is skilled in developing curricula and assessment tools that meet students' diverse needs. Outside of teaching and raising his young children, he is actively pursuing further academic advancement in the field of education.

Bio - Doug Vantour

Doug has had a passion for teaching since 2012 and has done so in various capacities. He started his teaching career in Occupational Health and Safety and then expanded into the field of language instruction. He began his language instruction career as a volunteer with the Cultural Connections Institute – The Learning Exchange (CCI-LEX) and now is a full-time and part-time instructor with the Edmonton Catholic Schools LINC program. He is an advocate for continuing education, the rights for cultural identity, and respect for all. He has been affiliated with various committees and executive boards in a number of roles and looks forward to bringing that experience to ATESL. In his free time Doug enjoys, camping, golfing, hiking, and likes to cook. When not sitting is his shared home office, you will find Doug at the dog park or working in the garden.

Bio - Pamela Ndumbi

Pamela Ndumbi is a recent UofA grad who has been passionate about teaching for as long as she can remember. Holding a B.A in English and an M.Ed in TESL, Pam brings both formal education and practical experience to the ATESL Board. She has taught a wide range of CLB levels including CLB 7,8,3, and she’s now serving as a literacy instructor for the Edmonton Catholic School District. Pam is eager to bring her love for being a difference maker to the community!

Bio - Indira Cevallos Novillo

Indira, comes from a family with a strong tradition of teaching and has over a decade of dedicated service in the field of English language education. Her journey spans teaching English to diverse groups—children, teenagers, and adults—in private language schools and at the university level in South America. Indira has spent the last five years contributing to Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC), further growing her educational expertise. This rich collage of international teaching experience has cultivated in Indira a deep understanding of diverse learning needs. Beyond the classroom, she finds joy in spending time with her family, cherishing moments of connection, and shared experiences.

Bio - Jeffrey Robinson

Jeffrey has been a LINC instructor at Calgary Catholic Immigration Society for 9 years. Previously he was an ESL instructor at the University of Calgary Continuing Education Department and lived abroad teaching English to corporate clients in South Korea.

Bio - Jani Krulc

Jani Krulc first began teaching EAL to Quebecois civil servants in Montreal while pursuing her MA in English at Concordia University. She has since taught in LINC and currently teaches in the English Language Foundations program at SAIT. Jani has taught Communications and Creative Writing, and currently runs Flywheel reading series, one of Calgary's oldest literary reading events, and has served on the board of filling Station magazine, Canada's premier experimental literary and arts journal. She has worked as a technical communicator in corporate settings, but always finds her way back to a classroom. In 2023, Jani acted as the ATESL Conference co-chair.

Bio - Sarah Pahl

Sarah first discovered a passion for teaching ESL 2015 on a trip to Hong Kong. Since then, she has completed a B.A in Applied Linguistics: TESOL and a M.A in TESOL to help her develop her knowledge and skills in teaching. Sarah has used these skills to teach at schools in China, Korea, Hong Kong, and Morocco. In 2023, Sarah decided to come back to Canada and put her experience to use in her hometown. She has been teaching LINC for the past year and has welcomed the challenge of teaching low-level literacy students. Sarah is passionate about helping teachers grow and learn. She loves finding new research on teaching methods and trying them out in her classroom. When Sarah is not teaching she is usually spending time with family and friends, playing the piano, or chasing after her puppy.

Bio - Melinda Johnston

Melinda Johnston’s journey into the ESL world began in 2010 as a volunteer tutor at Red Deer College (now Red Deer Polytechnic), where she supported international students with dedication and warmth. While completing her Sociology degree through a collaborative program with the University of Calgary, Melinda facilitated numerous English conversational coffee houses, creating spaces for connection and growth. Her teaching experience spans across cultures and age groups. From teaching international students to swim providing Red Cross First Aid training, Melinda has always been an advocate for inclusive, accessible learning. During the pandemic, she embraced the digital shift, teaching over 500 online classes for children and adults in China, Taiwan, and Japan as an independent contractor with major ESL platforms. Melinda holds a 120-hour Advanced TEFL Certification, a 30-hour Business English specialization, and has been certified to teach the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference) standards. In October 2023, she furthered her expertise by completing a 130-hour TESL certificate with the University of Calgary, along with LINC and PBLA program certifications. She passionately believes that learning is a journey with no fixed finish, a philosophy she brings to each class and every student. Her advocacy extends to championing cultural diversity, creating inclusive learning environments, and addressing the economic barriers newcomers often face in accessing sports and community programs. In Melinda’s spare time, she loves to swim, hike and design gemstone jewelry pieces.

Bio - Hyeyung Park

Hyeyung Park, is a doctoral student in distance education at Athabasca University. She has been an ATESL member since 2009. She decided to be actively involved in ATESL because teaching language is an art and a science. Armed with the rapid evolution of AI and edtech, distance education now plays an integral role in most education systems worldwide. Her research areas are instructional designs integrated with AI and edtech, which significantly contribute to advancing language learning. While advocating for ATESL, she wants to empower educators with AI and learning analytics. Additionally, she would like to foster a community of practice where educators can share insights and strategies to support their professional development and confidence in using these technologies further.

Bio - Mehdi Soleimani

With more than 15 years of experience in English language teaching, Mehdi has had the privilege of working closely with students in both Canadian and international post-secondary educational institutions. His teaching roles have included positions at Columbia College and the University of Calgary. Currently, he serves as the supervisor of the LINC and Continuing Education EAL programs at Columbia College in Calgary. In addition to his teaching and administrative responsibilities, Mehdi's professional journey has involved engaging in academic research, publishing papers in peer-reviewed scholarly journals, and holding positions on the editorial boards of academic journals. His primary research interests include language assessment, curriculum development, and pragmatics. Mehdi holds a strong belief in the importance of lifelong learning and is dedicated to helping others realize and unleash their full potential for success. Outside of his work, Mehdi finds joy in the great outdoors. He is passionate about hiking and cycling, and he loves spending time in nature, connecting with its beauty and tranquility.

Bio - Zuzana Buchanan

Zuzana has been teaching EAL for over 20 years. She earned her Master’s in Education in Slovakia before moving to Canada, where she initially worked as a LINC and ESL instructor at Metro Continuing Education. Later, she transitioned to teaching English for Academic Purposes at the University of Alberta. Currently, Zuzana divides her time between EAP instruction and Student Engagement, where she is a dedicated advocate for building learning communities and fostering strong communication skills. Her commitment to supporting diverse learners and promoting inclusive education defines her approach to teaching and engagement. Zuzana is committed to her role as Communications Chair for ATESL, to support effective communication and community-building.

Bio - Irene Wood

Irene has been with ATESL since 2007, and took on the role of Business Manager in 2012. Working with ATESL has been one of the most rewarding jobs ever, and when she's not doing Business Manager things, Irene enjoys hiking and camping.