Administration
- Dan Kramer, Director
Dan Kramer is the Director of the International Studies Office (ISO). Prior to joining UVA, he was the Director of the Fulbright U.S. Student Program at the Institute of International Education (IIE) and worked closely with other key stakeholders on recruitment, selection, the pre-departure preparation, and in-country support of ca. 2,000 participants in over 130 countries. Dan is delighted to be back in the university setting again, after having worked in academia for over a decade as a faculty member – teaching, conducting research, and directing study abroad programs. He was the beneficiary of the Fulbright, DAAD, and other international scholarship programs after doing his undergraduate work at St. John’s University in Minnesota and before earning his PhD from Harvard.
- Elizabeth Wittner, Academic Director & Coordinator of the International Teaching Assistant Training Program
Elizabeth Wittner (M.A. TESOL, Reading/Writing/Literacy in Educational Linguistics) oversees instruction, assessment, and professional development for international graduate students preparing to teach at UVA. She is the founder and director of several university-wide programs that promote language learning and cultural exchange: VISAS, Volunteers with International Students, Staff, and Scholars (1999), MOVE Multilingual Outreach Volunteer Effort (2020), and the English Program for Cville Tulips (2022). These initiatives connect UVA students, staff, and faculty with international and refugee communities through language support and engagement. Before joining UVA, she taught in Salvador, Brazil, and worked as an ESOL teacher and Reading Specialist, as well as a Migrant Advocate in public schools in Philadelphia, New Jersey, and Virginia. She holds a B.A. from Tufts University and graduate degrees in TESOL and Reading/Writing/Literacy in Educational Linguistics from the University of Pennsylvania. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, yoga, biking, reading, running, dancing, bee-watching, and is a long-time beginner of both guitar and Farsi.
- Janay Crabtree, Lead Instructor
Janay Crabtree (Ph.D. Linguistics) is an associate professor at the University of Virginia where she directs the TESOL Certificate, the English for Academic Purposes Program, and is the lead instructor for The Center for American English Language and Culture since 2012. Prior to earning her Ph.d. in linguistics with an emphasis in second language acquisition at the University of Georgia, she studied abroad in Cambridge, England, Dublin and Galway, Ireland and lived in Hokkaido while working in the Japanese Educational Exchange program. Janay can often be found in the gym, training under the mantra of her dojo—heart, mind, body, and spirit.
Faculty
- Caroline Melton, Instructor
Caroline Melton (M.Ed., Second Language Education) is an ESL Lecturer with UVA’s Center for American English Language and Culture (CAELC). She holds a Master's of Education in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus on Second Language Education and previously taught in an Intensive English Program at Rice University before returning to teach at her alma mater, UVA, in 2016. At CAELC, Caroline teaches graduate-level ESL communication and writing courses and supports multilingual students through the UVA Writing Center. She is passionate about helping international students navigate academic life and strives to create an inclusive, encouraging environment where they can develop confidence in their language skills. Caroline is a lifelong language learner herself and has studied Spanish for many years.
- Davy Tran, Instructor
Davy Tran (M.A. TESOL, Ph.D. Culture, Language, and Literacy) is a lecturer and writing specialist at CAELC, where she teaches academic writing to international undergraduate and graduate students at UVA. She earned her Ph.D. in Culture, Language, and Literacy from the University of Texas at San Antonio and her M.A. in TESOL from Missouri State University. Since 2016, she has taught ESL at four U.S. universities, and prior to that, she taught EFL at Vietnam National University for 4 years. She joined CAELC in 2023. Outside of teaching, she enjoys traveling and has visited 10 countries around the world. She's also a pickleball fanatic.
- Esra Oz Cetindere, Instructor
Esra Oz Cetindere (M.A. Second Language Acquisition, Policy, and Culture) is a lecturer at UVA’s Center for American English Language and Culture (CAELC). She is a Ph.D. candidate in Second Language Studies at the University of Cincinnati. Her research explores how social media shapes international students’ social-emotional and intercultural adjustment. She has taught English in K–12 schools, intensive English programs, and universities across Türkiye, China, and the United States. Outside of teaching, she enjoys CrossFit, hiking, and traveling.
Coordinators
- Beth Rogers-Witte, CAELC Program Coordinator
Beth (M.A., M.P.H.) supports the academic and operational needs of CAELC’s staff, faculty, and international students. She holds dual graduate degrees (MA in International Development Studies and MPH in Global Health) from George Washington University and has spent many years working in international development and international education. Her personal passions include global travel, contemplative practices including meditation and yoga, and being a creative and caring mother.
- Elsa Thompson, VISAS Coordinator and Program Assistant
Elsa is CAELC's Program Assistant for ESL Volunteer Programs and Assessment. She holds a B.A. in Intercultural Studies & English Teaching from University of Northwestern — St. Paul, MN, and has over a decade of experience teaching English to adults and children. She has lived in England and spent time in Japan and Thailand, and she is passionate about fostering mutual learning and understanding across cultures. She also serves as Program Coordinator for Cville Tulips, supporting administrative operations and teaching within the English program.
2026-2027 VISAS and MOVE Interns
- Alex Denbo, VISAS (ESLA Assistant Intern)
Year: 4th
Major: Foreign Affairs
VISAS Experience: ESL Assistant
Favorite VISAS Memory: “My favorite VISAS memory definitely has to be when I was helping students prepare for their upcoming presentation and to be able to see their progress in not only their English-speaking skills but also their presentation skills as well! I honestly just felt so proud of them because I know how much work they put in.”
- Annika Vanlandingham, VISAS (Workplace English Intern)
Year: 4th
Major: Statistics and Global Public Health
VISAS Experience: Workplace English Partner, Workplace English Intern
Favorite VISAS Memory: “Meeting our new volunteers and participants at the VISAS International Mixer!”
- Anniston Lee, VISAS (Media, Outreach, and Recruitment Intern)
Year: 2nd
Major: History & Media Studies
VISAS Experience: Classroom Consultant, ESL Assistant
Favorite VISAS Memory: “My favorite VISAS memory is seeing one of the international TAs-in-training apply all the suggestions we shared to his final presentation and seeing his improvement in such a short amount of time!”
- Ashna Charania, VISAS (Language Consultant Intern)
Year: 4thMajor: Cognitive Science and Neuroscience
VISAS Experience: Language Consultant, Language Consultant Intern
- Camila Janada, MOVE Intern
I am a third-year economics major at the University of Virginia pursuing an international concentration along with a data science minor. My academic and professional interests lie at the intersection of economics and global development. I studied abroad at UVA Valencia and completed an economic research internship at the Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM) in Buenos Aires, Argentina, which strengthened my international perspective and research skills. I first joined MOVE as a volunteer during my first year and have been serving as an intern for over a year, continuing to deepen my engagement with service and community work. A fun fact about me is that I know all the national flags in the world.
- Christen Duval, VISAS (Workplace English Intern)
Year: 2nd
Major: Public Policy & Leadership
VISAS Experience: Classroom Consultant
Favorite VISAS Memory: “My favorite VISAS memory was having a potluck with members of the VISAS community!”
- David Minoza, VISAS (Classroom Consultant Intern)
Year: 4th
Major: Biology
VISAS Experience: Classroom Consultant
Favorite VISAS Memory: “I enjoyed witnessing the participants’ significant growth throughout the teaching demonstrations.”
- Keiry Lazo, VISAS (VISAS Cafe Intern)
Year: 4th
Major: Public Policy & Leadership and Global Development Studies
VISAS Experience: Language Consultant, Workplace English Instructional Assistant, Media Consultant
Favorite VISAS Memory: “Being able to connect with my language partner and seeing his English improve throughout the semester!”
- Liah Chung, VISAS (Workplace English Intern)
Year: 2nd
Major: Sociology
VISAS Experience: Workplace English Partner
Favorite VISAS Memory: “Seeing my partner present at the end of each semester!”
- Mai Hukuoka, VISAS (Workplace English Intern)
Year: 4th
Major: Foreign Affairs Major; Minor in Public Policy and Leadership at Batten
VISAS Experience: Workplace English Partner, Teaching Consultant, Workplace English Intern
Favorite VISAS Memory: “I love seeing everyone’s hard work come to life at the Workplace presentations, and all the great food and memories we share together during that last day!”
- Matt Wilson, VISAS (Workplace English Intern)
Year: 4thMajor: Global Studies and Batten
VISAS Experience: Workplace English Partner, Teaching Consultant, Workplace English Intern
Favorite VISAS Memory: “Eating pupusas with everyone at our end of semester celebration!”
- Marilys Jn-Baptiste, MOVE Intern
- Victoria Machado, VISAS (Workplace English Intern)
Year: 2nd
Major: Economics & Foreign Affairs
VISAS Experience: Workplace English Partner
Favorite VISAS Memory: “My favorite memory with VISAS was getting to present my Workplace Partner’s and my end-of-year presentation to our class!”