USJ Welcomes New ESL Program Director and Instructor
The University of Saint Joseph announces the appointment of
Jonathan Gourlay, M.A., M.F.A., who joins the Languages Department in a newly established position as ESL (English as a Second Language) Program Director and Instructor. In this position, Mr. Gourlay will provide support, create courses, and implement programs for all English language learners at USJ with the goal of offering a welcoming, respectful place for students of all cultures and backgrounds to go whenever they have a question or concern regarding English language or American culture.
USJ Provost Michelle M. Kalis, Ph.D. said, “As the University of Saint Joseph welcomes more international students in the coming semesters, it will be crucial to provide language and cultural support for them. This support will come in the form of courses, tutoring, and social and cultural activities. As the University’s new ESL Director, Jonathan Gourlay will facilitate and coordinate these new USJ services. Detailed planning in meeting the unique needs of this constituency will be guided by active outreach especially to our international students who will favorably benefit along with suggestions from members of the USJ community.”
Mr. Gourlay said, “Services offered for international students may vary from academic-related topics such as understanding course expectations outlined in a syllabus and navigating throughout the University campus to more routine issues such as learning how to ride a city bus or a quick lesson in using a bank ATM. ESL services at the University of Saint Joseph will also encompass tutoring and support for domestic students for whom English is not their first language - a personalized plan of study will be developed addressing their particular needs. All USJ students, both undergraduate and graduate, will have the opportunity to take advantage of ESL services.”
Most recently, before joining the University of Saint Joseph in July, Jonathan Gourlay was ESL Director at Georgetown College in Kentucky. Prior to that, he spent 11 years on the island of Pohnpei in Micronesia where he was chair of the English Department at the College of Micronesia - FSM. He earned his B.A. in English from Lewis and Clark College (Portland, Ore.), an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from the University of Iowa, and an M.A. in Applied Linguistics (TESOL) from the University of Illinois.
CONTACT: Jonathan Gourlay can be reached at 860.231.5296 or jgourlay@usj.edu; his office is located in Lynch Hall, room 210.
