English language and culture center gets new director

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Western Michigan University's Center for English Language and Culture for International Students has a new director.

During its July 23 meeting, the WMU Board of Trustees approved the appointment of Thomas Marks as head of the center. Marks had been serving as interim director of CELCIS since July 2013 while a national search was conducted.

The center falls under the auspices of the Haenicke Institute for Global Education. It offers an intensive, fully accredited program for anyone seeking to learn English as a second language.

Dr. Wolfgang Schlör, associate provost of the Haenicke Institute, says Marks' service as interim director already has moved the program in a number of positive directions, particularly in faculty development and outreach across campus.

Thomas Marks

Marks, a CELCIS employee since 1996, has served on the center's faculty as well as in various administrative positions. He has traveled extensively overseas and recently has been teaching an academic writing class at the University of Tokyo every March.

His teaching interests are in the areas of speaking and listening, grammar, reading and writing, academic writing and business English, while his research interests are in narrative theory, modern literature and British literature from 1790 to 1820.

Before coming to WMU, Marks taught English as a Second Language in the United States and Japan. He is pursuing a doctoral program in English literature at WMU.

Marks earned a bachelor's degree in English and economics from the College of William and Mary and a master's degree in Teaching English as a Second Language from the University of Arizona.

For more information, contact the Haenicke Institute at wmu-international@wmich.edu or (269) 387-3993.