Professor of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages and English as a Second Language Liz England, Ph.D., retired effective Aug. 15, after a decade at Shenandoah, which she joined in July 2006 from the Hong Kong Institute for Education. “In ten years, I have seen extraordinary growth in academic program offerings at Shenandoah University. Of particular note is the exceptional quality of many faculty hired during that time,” Dr. England said. As she reflected on her time at the university, she recalled three very fond memories – “Two Global Citizenship Project trips: one to Egypt in 2010 and the other to Botswana this year, 2016. Both trips included exceptional and positive experiences for me as the leader of those trips and for all who participated. I was delighted to have been a part of this signature Shenandoah University program and grateful to have been able to help participants learn more, first-hand, about two beautiful and welcoming countries and the people who live there. Third, the ‘Together with Egypt’ event held in solidarity with those who had witnessed extraordinary change in Egypt at the time of the revolution.”
While England said she’ll miss the people of the university – students, colleagues and friends – she will remain a vital part of education, both globally and locally. “I will continue my ongoing work in language teacher education worldwide. I look forward to continuing with projects already underway with WInchester Public Schools, ongoing relationship with the English Language Specialists (EL Specialist Program) and Fellows Program (EL Fellows Program) with the United States Department of State in collaboration with Georgetown University, publishing a book already in progress ‘Handbook for Arabic Language Teaching Professionals in the 21st Century, 2nd Edition,’ as well as a new book on career path development – both with Routledge Taylor Francis International, and service to my profession with the International Association of Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and to the community (locally in Winchester through my church, the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Shenandoah Valley). On a personal note, I look forward to increasing and strengthening my physical training program, attending and leading a variety of workshops and courses with my church, attending many events with the wonderful Shenandoah University Conservatory performance programs and meditation practice and entertaining students, colleagues and friends at home (come by anytime!)”