MLC Staff
Meet the staff of the Modern Language Center!
Manager
Manny: I am the Manager of the Modern Language Center. I am a John Jay Graduate with a BS in Forensic Science/Criminalistics. I also have an MSEd in Higher Education Administration from Baruch College. My different positions and time at JJAY have provided me with the opportunity to discover and learn so many things, but the most important lesson I learned is that learning is constructive, and it starts with changing your mindset. I’ve also learned success is achieved through holistic learning, which focuses on how we absorb information, building our emotional intelligence, and our process for making our learning engagement all work. Success hinges on reflection, which is at the core of being a mastery-oriented learner.
Tutors
Carmelita: I am a first generation Mexican American. I’m an alumnus of John Jay College, and one of the Spanish tutors for the Modern Language Center, supporting all levels. I graduated from John Jay with a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and a Minor in Spanish. My hope is it continue my studies and obtain a language certification to add to my skillset, which will provide a greater opportunity for me in the interpretation and investigative career fields. My learning strategies are utilizing the open-ended method of questioning as well as emphasizing the importance of the question “why?"
Ghada: Hello, everyone. I’m the Arabic and French tutor at the MLC. I have been tutoring for the past 5 years and I definitely enjoy doing it. I enjoy every aspect of it from meeting new students, seeing them improve and progress throughout the semester, and observing their skills grow as they become more confident learning a foreign language.
Jiamin: I am from mainland China, but I grew up in NYC. I speak both Chinese and Japanese. I learned Chinese through watching Asian drama shows. Utilizing the subtitles is how I learned simplified and traditional Chinese characters. I started to study Japanese in high school and continued learning the language in college. Currently, I work at Modern Language Center as the Chinese and Japanese tutor. Each tutoring session is conducted with a personalized approach. Starting with understanding the student’s unique needs. This helps create a learning process focused on retaining information and developing critical thinking skills. I always encourage students to practice their language skills using repetition to support memorizing concepts.
Maria: Holds a Ph.D. in German literature. She teaches literature and composition/rhetoric courses in the English Department and tutors German at all levels at the Modern Language Center at John Jay College of Criminal Justice-CUNY. Her research interests include contemporary German-language minority literature; intersections of politics and aesthetics in the work of radical women of color, Black feminism, and the modern Black German movement; and pedagogy in literature and composition/rhetoric classrooms. As an adjunct professor, Maria works toward dismantling white, colonial and ethnonationalist power structures, and fiercely advocates BIPoC students and faculty of color in contingent positions in higher education.
Erika: Hola, ¿Qué tal? I am a John Jay alumnus with a Criminology major, Psychology minor and Spanish Translation and Interpretation Certificate. I am one of the Spanish tutors at The Modern Language Center. I really like to tutor students in Spanish because when people learn my native language they are also learning the culture. This is exciting to me because it allows me to share more of who I am and where I come from. I always encourage my tutees to come and speak to me in Spanish to practice their pronunciation and to increase their communication with other Spanish speakers. I strongly believe in the use of open-ended questions because it allows the student to process what they are learning and reflect on information already learned.
Isadora: Born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, I bring a vibrant blend of cultural richness and linguistic diversity to my role as a tutor at the Modern Language Center. I am an upper junior at John Jay, majoring in Criminal Justice Administration with a minor in Rhetoric Writing, which equips me with a unique perspective on communication and analysis. My approach to tutoring incorporates innovative learning strategies and the Socratic Method, fostering a deep understanding through active engagement and critical thinking. By emphasizing the importance of questioning and exploration, I encourage students to discover answers on their own, facilitating a more meaningful and lasting learning experience.
Liza: I am Middle Eastern (Yemen). I graduated with a bachelor's degree in Computer Science and Information Security and a minor in Homeland Security and Cybercrime. My goal for the future is to work as a Cloud Engineer for Amazon, Google, Apple, or Microsoft. I am currently working as an Arabic Tutor in the Modern Language Center. The tutoring strategy I use in my sessions is questioning techniques to help students make connections between what they know and what they don't know.
Valeria: Ciao a tutti! I am originally from Padova, near Venice, in Italy. I tutor all levels of Italian at the Modern Language Center. I enjoy helping students practice Italian and make connections between Italian and other languages. Did you know that about 60% of English words have Latin roots, and are, therefore, similar to Italian words? It’s that easy!
Receptionists
Amina: Hey There! I am one of the MLC receptionists. I am a senior at John Jay majoring in Human Services & Community Justice. My ethnicity background is Arabic and African. My favorite strategy when helping students is kindness because I believe positivity is contagious! We all go through challenges in life, but at the Modern Language Center we put our best effort to support students during those times.
Lexi: I am a first-semester graduate student, and I am studying Human Rights. One of the most important parts of customer service is ensuring you care for the customer because it keeps them returning. Remembering specific things about them makes them feel important and supported which is the biggest part of customer service.
Sherley: I am a junior at John Jay College, majoring in Forensic Science with a focus on criminalistics and molecular biology. I was born and raised in the South Bronx, but my parents are from Honduras and the Dominican Republic. I work as a receptionist at the Modern Language Center. My customer service strategy is centered around creating a comfortable and safe environment where students feel welcomed to ask questions.
Victor: Hey! Soy de la República Dominicana. I'm currently in my second year at John Jay, diving into the world of Spanish literature and doing a certificate for translation and interpretation. You can find me working as a receptionist at The Modern Language Center. ¡Me encanta charlar! If you ever have a question, ¡aquí estoy para ayudar! Patience is the key to everything.
Hanen: Hi! I am a senior at John Jay, majoring in Law and Society. I was born in Egypt and lived there till I was 10. I later moved to Queens, NY. I’m a receptionist at the MLC. I always try my best to help everyone with their questions and concerns. One strategy that I always like to use is asking my manager and colleagues for help if I’m uncertain about an issue a certain student has.
Lyndsay: I am a receptionist for the Modern Language Center at John Jay. I am in my last semester in the BA/MA Program for Forensic Psychology. I am mainly Italian and Irish, but my DNA test is broken down into many different ethnicities! A customer service strategy I use when helping students is clarifying situations and solutions. Every student has a unique situation when coming into our office, so understanding all the details helps us develop the best solution in assisting them. Happy studying!
Naylea: I am a senior at John Jay, majoring in Forensic Psychology with a minor in History. I am a first-generation Salvadoran-American born and raised in Queens, NY. As a receptionist at the MLC, I aim to be kind, understanding, and helpful to all students who come to us for help. A key customer service strategy I use is knowing when to ask for help from my colleagues and manager for situations I’m unsure of what to do or the information to provide. This ensures students get the right information they need to succeed!
Ying: I am from China. I moved to America when I was in high school, and I am currently studying Criminal Justice at John Jay College. I really enjoy working as a receptionist at the Modern Language Center because helping others is also self-learning. My customer service strategy is to take students' questions seriously.