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Dr. Chu May Paing Executive Director Dr. Chu holds a PhD in Cultural and Linguistic Anthropology from the University of Colorado Boulder. As a first-generation immigrant who won the United States Diversity Visa Lottery (also known as the Green Card Lottery) from Myanmar (Burma) and a former ESL learner, Dr. Chu understands the important role that language and literacy play in immigrant success. Dr. Chu’s scholarly writings have appeared in various academic journals. Her scholarship has been widely read and assigned in many undergraduate and graduate-level courses on cultural anthropology and linguistics at the universities and colleges in the US and Myanmar. She has previously taught and given public lectures at Harvard University, Cornell University, Georgetown University, University of Wisconsin Madison, University of Colorado Boulder, City University of New York, among many others. In addition to her research background, Dr. Chu also brings experience working in educational nonprofits. She is a founding member of Aruna Global South, a non-profit organization promoting emerging scholars from Asian Global South regions. She has also served as the Program Director for the Literacy Practicum in Boulder, CO, a language and culture consultant for EMBARC (Ethnic Minorities from Burma Resource Center) in Des Moines, IA and Refugee Language Project in Amarillo, TX. Prior to joining as the Executive Director, she also served on the WALC Board of Directors and volunteered as a tutor. When she is not busy reading, writing, cooking, thrifting, or playing with her three-year-old shih-poo Poquito, she enjoys donating her time and labor to organizations promoting community equity and diversity such as the Literacy Council. |
Julia Frascona Julia has an MA in education and spent 20 years as a special education teacher licensed in the areas of Learning Disabilities, Behavior and Emotional Disabilities, and Alternative Education. She served 3 years as an adjunct university instructor and student teacher supervisor prior to joining WALC. Julia designs and manages our learner-centered programs and classes. As she has spent her entire career working to break the cycles of poverty and education inequality, finding her way to literacy education has enabled her to continue that work. In her free time, she enjoys reading, painting and quiet reflection. |
Dr. Oxana Martynova-Perzentka Dr. Martynova-Perzentka joined the Literacy Council in 2013. She directs the Road to Work program and acts as a job coach and conducts one-to-one & group sessions to help refugees and immigrants develop effective resumes, apply for jobs, develop interviewing skills, get their credentials evaluated, and connect with local employers. Previously, Oxana worked as an Associate Professor at the Department of Linguistics and Cross-Cultural Communication at Lipetsk State Pedagogical University in Lipetsk, Russia. She holds her PhD degree in Philology from Moscow Pedagogical State University. Oxana dedicated 15 years of her teaching career working with undergraduate and graduate students teaching them English as a Second Language. In her free time, Oxana practices Reiki, studies Numerology & Aromatherapy, and enjoys the outdoors and traveling the World. |
Volunteer Service and Support Coordinator
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Emma Thompson Emma has recently joined the Marketing and Development team at WALC. Raised in Oak Park Illinois, Emma went on to American University in Washington DC obtaining a BS in Business Administration specialized in Finance and Entrepreneurship as well as a MS in Sustainability Management. A passion for education equality and community enrichment paired with diverse experience with operations, events, marketing, and fundraising Emma is looking forward to driving engagement at WALC! In her free time, Emma enjoys reading, listening to music, thrifting, cooking, and spending time outdoors. |
Cara joined the team in 2023 after tutoring as a volunteer in the organization. She so thoroughly enjoyed the tutoring and the staff that she couldn’t stand not to be part of the group. Previously, she was a middle school math teacher and a small family-business owner. She has a BA in Mathematics from Grinnell College and an MS in Educational Leadership from UW-Oshkosh. If given the opportunity, she will gladly regale you with stories of these experiences. She also wonders whether people actually read these bios, so if you’ve gotten this far, give her a call and she’ll meet you for a cup of tea. In her free time, she enjoys leaving the confines of Wisconsin, keeping green things alive, translating printed words into mental images, building flexibility, and continually reminding her family to eat healthy foods. |
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Cathie was born in Minneapolis, and sometimes her “Minnesota” accent is interspersed with “Wisconsin” speak. She enlisted in the Army Signal Corps at age 17, which was the genesis of her adulthood. Flash forward to now, she is blessed to possess a purposeful vocation. The Army inspired her to embrace: “verbing” one’s life, giving selflessly, and being a piece of an ever changing bigger picture known as Planet Earth.” “Signing off now – Cathie’s got a bus to catch!” |
Trent Allaback recently graduated from UW Oshkosh with a BA in English in the pursuit of a lifelong fascination with reading, writing, and language. While in college, Trent worked as an editor for several publications and authored scholarly articles related to literature and language as a means to give voice and invoke change in society. Trent is passionate about the importance of quality education and working to give people access to learning that will enable them to lead independent, meaningful lives as actives members of their community. In his free time, Trent enjoys reading, writing, playing music, and spending time outdoors with friends and family. |
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Emily joined the team in 2023 as the Marketing and Development assistant. Born in Oshkosh, WI, she In her free time, Emily enjoys listening to music, being with her friends, and hanging out with her three cats Zuko, Azula and Callie. |
Cara Landolt
Cathie L Books
Trent Allaback
Emily Boettcher
Winnebago Area Literacy Council also employs certified teachers to teach ELL classes.