Fabiola Ehlers-Zavala, academic director of the INTO Colorado State University Center, has been named INTO CSU Center Director. She began her new position with the program that helps integrate international students into university life on Nov. 17.
Ehlers-Zavala has been with INTO since March 2013, when she moved over from the English faculty in the College of Liberal Arts, where she directed and taught in the Teaching English as a Second/Foreign Language concentration in the M.A. in English program.
“We are delighted to have Dr. Ehlers-Zavala head up our INTO CSU team as the new Center Director,” said CSU Provost and Executive Vice President Rick Miranda, in announcing the appointment. “Her experience with second-language learners will be invaluable to the program. Her passion and energies for the success of our students will help our INTO CSU effort, and in general our programs for all international students, continue on its great trajectory.”
Teaching English as a Second Language
Ehlers-Zavala, a native of Chile, joined the Colorado State faculty in 2006. She came to Fort Collins from Illinois State University where she was an associate professor of bilingual/bicultural education. She received both her M.A. in English and Ph.D. in English Studies with a concentration in Teaching English as a Second Language and Applied Linguistics from ISU.
Among her many awards and honors, in 2011 Ehlers-Zavala was nominated by the CSU Department of English for the College of Liberal Arts Curricular Innovation Award. She has published extensively on the topic of teaching English learners with focus on second language/bilingual reading, second language assessment, and ESL/bilingual teacher preparation. Ehlers-Zavala was also just invited by the President Elect of TESOL International to serve on the Diversity and Inclusion Committee of this leading professional organization for teachers of English as a second language.
“I am simply overjoyed to have been entrusted with this opportunity to serve CSU and, in particular, INTO CSU,” Ehlers-Zavala said. “It is certainly a highlight of an educational and professional journey that started with my own experience as an English learner in Chile. I look forward to working in collaboration with faculty and staff across campus and those who are part of the joint venture to provide quality programs to international students and contribute to the internationalization of our campus for the benefit of our communities both local and global.”
About INTO CSU
INTO CSU, a joint venture between Colorado State University and the INTO Corp., was established in 2012 with 350 students from 33 different countries and a teaching staff of more than 30. The Center’s student population now stands at 584.
In addition to its on-site General English and Academic English programs, the INTO CSU Center offers both undergraduate and graduate academic Pathway programs through which international students earn a year’s credits in CSU courses. Successful completion of an undergraduate Pathway assures students a place in the second year of a CSU undergraduate degree program, while completing a graduate Pathway progresses students toward their relevant graduate degree. INTO CSU offers five undergraduate Pathways and 10 graduate Pathways.
The INTO CSU Center, located in historic Spruce Hall on the CSU campus, also offers well-structured English-language programs that help non-native speakers improve their written and verbal skills through small classes and a Learning Resource Center that is fully equipped with the latest technology. Other services assist international students in quickly adjusting to life in the United States and become part of the CSU Ram family, with access to all university resources, services, and facilities.
