Professor, English as a Second Language; Associate Division Chair, English/World Languages

Jean Svacina
Professor, 
Associate Division Chair
 Jean Svacina

Office: DH - 233
Phone: 443-518-4410
email: jsvacina@howardcc.edu

Courses Taught: 

Dr. Jean Svacina, Associate Chair of the Division of English and World Languages and Professor of ESL, is committed to excellence in teaching and service in leadership.  As an instructor, Jean is passionate about her teaching and values the insights and determination of her ESL students; she believes she learns as much from them as she hopes they do from her.  In recognition of her efforts, Jean has been cited as an “Outstanding Faculty Member” for her division and was also selected as the college’s “Outstanding Faculty of the Year.”  In addition to her teaching, Jean has dedicated herself to many initiatives including establishing an ESL Bridge Program with the county’s high schools; participating in international projects and committee work; and presenting at numerous national conferences.  Jean is a co-founder of the English Language Institute, an intensive language program that was created in collaboration with the non-credit ESL program at HCC.  Jean and her colleague, Rebecca Price, were recognized for their efforts with this Institute and were announced winners of a TYCA (Two-Year College Association) award given in the category of “Reaching Across Borders.”  In her role as Associate Chair, Jean presents frequently on leadership topics both locally and nationally.  She completed the Global Leadership Academy, a year long international program that explores the many facets of both national and international transformational leadership and more recently, the Advanced Leadership Program.  With the Chair Academy, Jean also serves as a leadership development facilitator.  Dr. Svacina’s other interests  include “Globalizing the Curriculum”, a college-wide effort which focuses on developing the global competency skills of students so that they are better prepared for the global environment and workplace of today.

Education and Certifications:

  • Ph.D. – University of Illinois (Second Language Acquisition)
  • M.A. – University of Illinois (ESL)
  • B.A. – University of Wisconsin (Language)

Awards

  • Outstanding Educator of the Year.  Honored by the Howard County Chamber of Commerce as an outstanding educator in the county.  June, 2003.
  • Outstanding Faculty Member for Howard Community College for 2002-2003. 
  • Outstanding Faculty of the Division of English and World Languages for 2000-2001,  2001-2002,  2002-2003.
  • Winner of the Two Year College Association (TYCA) award in the category “Reaching Across Borders” with the design and implementation of the English Language Institute at Howard Community College.  Awards were presented at a ceremony at the College Composition and Communication Conference. New York. March, 2003.
  • Voted by students to the "Honor Roll for Teaching Excellence" at Michigan Technological University.  1993.
  • Ranked as "Excellent Instructor at the University of Illinois", 1982, 1983, 1984.
  • Dagny Midlefort Language Award, 1979.

Publications

  • Vistas:  An Interactive Course in English.  Contributing writer in a series of six textbooks and accompanying workbooks for beginning to advanced ESL students. Included teachers' manuals.  Prentice-Hall., 1992.

Presentations

  • Chair Academy International Conference. Tucson, AZ.  April, 2006.
  • Community College International Development Conference. San Diego, CA.  Feb., 2005.
  • Community College International Development Conference. Orlando, FL.  Feb., 2004.
  • TYCA.  New York City, NY.  March, 2003.
  • League of Innovation. Boston, MA. March , 2002.