staff Spanish & Soccer
manager Mike Mravca
For Mike, playing soccer has always been an international exchange. Growing up on the Southside of Chicago, he learned "colorful Spanish" from his Mexican teammates and, at age 15, he participated in an overseas exchange with a soccer team from The Netherlands. These experiences transformed his life and inspired the Spanish and Soccer program. After graduating college, Mike globetrotted, later becoming an international adviser and recruiter for CMRS-Oxford and St. Mary's College of Maryland, where he encouraged students to turn off the TV as much as possible and see the world for themselves. Last year he lived in Buenos Aires, Argentina and now lives in Baltimore, Maryland with his lovely wife, Gwen, a middle school teacher and opera singer.
Born: Chicago, USA
Education: Bachelor's in English, St. Xavier University, Chicago; Associate's, Moraine Valley Community College, IL
Study Abroad: Centre for Medieval & Renaissance Studies, Oxford, England
Languages: English (native), Spanish (intermediate and still "colorful"), French (basic)
Interests: His adorable nieces and nephews, philosophy, poetry, and pick-up futbol
Quote: "Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire, the power to unite people that little else has." --Nelson Mandela
Education: Bachelor's in English, St. Xavier University, Chicago; Associate's, Moraine Valley Community College, IL
Study Abroad: Centre for Medieval & Renaissance Studies, Oxford, England
Languages: English (native), Spanish (intermediate and still "colorful"), French (basic)
Interests: His adorable nieces and nephews, philosophy, poetry, and pick-up futbol
Quote: "Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire, the power to unite people that little else has." --Nelson Mandela
apartments coordinator Maria Elena Salazar Sierra
Maria
Elena is an anthropologist by training and a humanist at heart. Before
working for Sony in customer service, she advanced for two and a half
years at the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
in an administrative capacity. While based in this position in
Medellin, Colombia's second largest city "of everlasting spring," known
during the 1980's and 90's as one of the most dangerous places in the
world for headquartering Pablo Escobar's drug cartel, she learned the
practice of objective diplomacy supporting UN relationships with local
NGOs, churches, government agencies, and military forces. Currently,
Maria arranges homestays at ECELA, assists with the Spanish and Soccer Course, and studies at the University of Buenos Aires for her
Master's degree in International Relations.
Born: Medellin, Colombia
Education: Bachelor's degree in Anthropology, University of Antioquia, Medellin
Languages: Spanish (native), English (advanced)
Interests: Reading, dancing, cinema, travel (when she has money)
Quote: "Este mundo, que ofrece el banquete a todos y cierra la puerta en las narices de tantos es, al mismo tiempo, igualador y desigual: igualador en las ideas y en las costumbres que impone, y desigual en las oportunidades que brinda." --Eduardo Galeano
Education: Bachelor's degree in Anthropology, University of Antioquia, Medellin
Languages: Spanish (native), English (advanced)
Interests: Reading, dancing, cinema, travel (when she has money)
Quote: "Este mundo, que ofrece el banquete a todos y cierra la puerta en las narices de tantos es, al mismo tiempo, igualador y desigual: igualador en las ideas y en las costumbres que impone, y desigual en las oportunidades que brinda." --Eduardo Galeano
coordinator Emmanuel Serruya
Emmanuel is so passionate about futbol that when he talks he gestures with his feet. From every angle, he's experienced "the beautiful game" -- as radio announcer on AM 650, freelance journalist at mercafutbol.com, TV commentator for one of Argentina's most important television channels, Todo Noticias, and, more than just talking a good game, as a semi-professional player with Club Atletico Lugano. Emmanual works for ECELA in customer service and organizes futbol matches each Wednesday between students, coaching them to use their feet more than their mouths. Listen to his weekly sports radio show Friday night's on ARINFO or download a copy of his program below, Fubolisticamente Incorrectos.
Born: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Education: Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Sport, Deportea, Buenos Aires
Languages: Spanish (native), English (fluent)
Interests: River Plate, futbol, cinema, hip hop and reggeaton music, traveling, technology
Quote: "Ganar queremos todos, pero solo los mediocres no aspiran a la belleza..." --Jorge Valdano
Education: Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Sport, Deportea, Buenos Aires
Languages: Spanish (native), English (fluent)
Interests: River Plate, futbol, cinema, hip hop and reggeaton music, traveling, technology
Quote: "Ganar queremos todos, pero solo los mediocres no aspiran a la belleza..." --Jorge Valdano
| fubolisticamente_incorrectos.wma |
staff ECELA Buenos Aires
Romina Miro
Gabriel Aragona
Pilar Vazquez
Jimena Couto
Hanah Peters
Constanza Casajus
Natasha Moreno
Arturo Bustos
Marcela Cruz
Maria Elena Salazar
Maru Salvatierra
Mica Iglesias
Eduardo Gimenez
Martina Olmedo
Gabriel Aragona
Pilar Vazquez
Jimena Couto
Hanah Peters
Constanza Casajus
Natasha Moreno
Arturo Bustos
Marcela Cruz
Maria Elena Salazar
Maru Salvatierra
Mica Iglesias
Eduardo Gimenez
Martina Olmedo
Director
Academic Director and Professor
Activities, Volunteer, and Medical Shadowing Coordinator
Receptionist and Study Advisor
Receptionist
Receptionist
International Representative
Logistics Coordinator
Homestay and Apartments Coordinator
Homestay and Apartments Coordinator
Finance Administrator
Spanish and Medicine Coordinator
Maintenance Manager
Maintenance
Academic Director and Professor
Activities, Volunteer, and Medical Shadowing Coordinator
Receptionist and Study Advisor
Receptionist
Receptionist
International Representative
Logistics Coordinator
Homestay and Apartments Coordinator
Homestay and Apartments Coordinator
Finance Administrator
Spanish and Medicine Coordinator
Maintenance Manager
Maintenance
professors ECELA Buenos Aires
Gabriel Aragona
Leila Ingerto
Florencia Rampoldi
Pablo Vagnoni
Marcelo Rearte
Gilda Kessler
Susana Jantus
Juliana Canabal
Cecilia Cassanello
Melina DiMiro
Victoria Prat
Monica King
Guillermo Travieso
Alejandro Henchoz
Nadia Garcia
Nadia Alvarez
Elizabeth Antonacachi
Juan Manuel Dirassar
Leila Ingerto
Florencia Rampoldi
Pablo Vagnoni
Marcelo Rearte
Gilda Kessler
Susana Jantus
Juliana Canabal
Cecilia Cassanello
Melina DiMiro
Victoria Prat
Monica King
Guillermo Travieso
Alejandro Henchoz
Nadia Garcia
Nadia Alvarez
Elizabeth Antonacachi
Juan Manuel Dirassar
Degree in Castellano, Literature, Journalism
Degree in Social Communication
Degree in Social Communication
Degree in Philosophy
Degree in Philosophy
Degree in Castellano, Literature, Journalism
Degree in Castellano, Literature, Journalism
Degree in Letters
Degree in Letters
Degree in Letters
Public Translator of English, M.A. Candidate
Degree in Art History
Degree in Economics
Degree in Spanish Literature
Student of Letters
Law Student
Student of Letters
Cinema Student
Degree in Social Communication
Degree in Social Communication
Degree in Philosophy
Degree in Philosophy
Degree in Castellano, Literature, Journalism
Degree in Castellano, Literature, Journalism
Degree in Letters
Degree in Letters
Degree in Letters
Public Translator of English, M.A. Candidate
Degree in Art History
Degree in Economics
Degree in Spanish Literature
Student of Letters
Law Student
Student of Letters
Cinema Student
