Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration Our Guest Speakers (Dr. Aníbal Muñoz Claudio and Efrain Soto Santiago)

What

Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration Our Guest Speakers (Dr. Aníbal Muñoz Claudio and Efrain Soto Santiago)

When

10/12/2018

Dr. Aníbal Muñoz Claudio is an Associate Professor in the English Department of the University of Puerto Rico at Humacao. He’s also adjunct faculty in the TESL Graduate Studies Program (College of Education, UPR-Río Piedras). Throughout his 28 years of ESL teaching experience in Puerto Rico, he has moved forward the topic of culturally-relevant literature for the public school system of Puerto Rico. Thus, he has published 3 novels, 3 anthologies, peer-reviewed articles, and newspaper columns related to ESL teaching practices and education in general. He is the founder and President of the Puerto Rican English Writers Association (PREWA).He has presented internationally and has contributed to PRTESOL as keynote speaker, presenter, 2016 PRTESOL-GRAM editor, and 2017 Vice President. He’s a former associate dean for academic affairs, teacher trainer and supervisor, retired officer from the US armed forces, certified translator, scoutmaster, university senator, newspaper columnist, and a proud husband and father for 25 years. At present, he is the 2018 PRTESOL President.



Efrain Soto Santiago holds a B.A. in English as a Second Language (ESL) Education at the secondary level and a M.A. in Administration of Post-Secondary Educational Institutions from the Inter-American University of Puerto Rico (IAU-PR). He has completed a variety of post-graduate courses in English Education at the University of Puerto Rico’s Mayaguez Campus; Educational Leadership/Administration at Caribbean University’s Ponce Campus; and several doctoral-level courses in Educational Administration at IAU-PR .Efrain’s professional experience includes service as ESL teacher and materials writer with the Puerto Rico Department of Education from 1980 until 1990. He is currently certified/licensed by the Puerto Rico Department of Education to serve as both School Director (K-12) and English Facilitator. He is also a retired service member of the US Armed Forces having served in the US Marine Corps and the US Army National Guard retiring with the rank of Colonel. His combined active and reserve military service totals over 40 years. Throughout his military career, he served as ESL Instructor, Academic Supervisor, Operations Officer, Assistant Commandant, and ultimately as Commander of the US Army National Guard’s English Language Center located in Fort Allen, Puerto Rico. The English Language Center is an intensive English immersion program that allows Puerto Rican recruits with limited English proficiency the opportunity to improve their skills in English language and pursue a military career. Efrain culminated his military career in a dual role as Commander of the Puerto Rico National Guard’s 201st Regiment - Regional Training Institute (or Military Academy) and as Federal Program Manager of the PRNG’s Youth Programs which included the STARBASE, ChalleNGe, and CREANDO youth programs. CREANDO is a unique program aimed to help troubled, adjudicated youth within the Island’s juvenile justice system. Efrain is also proud, active member of the TESOL International Association and currently the Vice-President of the 2018 PRTESOL Board of Director