Dr. Robert Stroud (Founder and Organizer of Culture Club) has spent nearly two decades in Japan as a professor, empowering classrooms with a real purpose for learning. With a PhD in English Language and Applied Linguistics, his work champions innovation that preserves deep thinking and authentic learning. A sought-after speaker and prolific writer, he inspires educators worldwide to reimagine technology not as a replacement for thought, but as a catalyst for equity and critical inquiry. Robert's vision is one where students grow as self-directed, socially conscious thinkers in an AI-shaped future. He is also the editor of The University Grapevine newsletter and co-author of the highly successful SMART Communication textbook series. Robert is also a highly rated TEDx Speaker addressing global education and technology issues. Find out more on his website.
Dr. Linh Phung (Board Member) is a language educator, researcher, and creator with 20 years of experience in language education. She is the Founder of the Eduling Speak app (which helps power Culture Club learning. As an author, she has published four language learning books and three children's books. As a researcher, she has her research published in high impact journals. Her professional experience also involves working as the Director of the English Language Program at Chatham University for 12 years, serving as an English Language Specialist with the U.S. Department of State, working at Shorelight as a senior research analyst, and being Chief Learning Officer of Pangea Chat.
Brandy Bippes (Board Member) is Associate Professor (Lecturer) in Writing & Rhetoric Studies at the University of Utah Asia Campus and Director of the UAC English Language Lab. Her diverse background includes a focus in international instruction, rhetoric, and applied linguistics (TESL), corporate training & business education, computer science, computer applications, and technical communication. Bippes completed her PhD coursework in Technical Communication & Rhetoric. In addition to her love for education and excellence as an educator, her experience includes co-development of an international bridge pilot for colleges in Washington, directing a multi-site tutoring center, and editing several copy-left publications in writing across the curriculum. She has been an advocate for the UAC Graduate Teaching Assistant program assuring UAC graduate students have opportunities equivalent to the University of Utah’s home campus in Salt Lake City.
Dr. Miguel Carlo C. Marasigan (Board Member) is an experienced educator with over 14 years of teaching English and literature across elementary, high school, and university levels in the Philippines, China, and Japan. He holds a Ph.D. in English Language and Literature and specializes in English, Language Arts, and Literary Studies. Currently based in Japan, Dr. Marasigan is passionate about fostering creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, and communication skills in all his learners. He also is proficient in educational technology, game-based-learning, and pedagogical gamification and is committed to cross-cultural education and professional growth.
Džalila Muharemagić (Board Member) is a PhD candidate at University of Banja Luka in the field of Applied Linguistics and English for Specific Purposes. She is Senior Assistant in the Department of English Language and Literature, in the Pedagogical faculty of University of Bihać, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Her research interests include English Language Teaching and Learning, English for Specific Purposes, Needs Assessment, and Language Policy Development. During her worktime in the Office for Research and International Relations of University of Bihać, she has initiated and worked in team to develop some of the major elements of the university's international relations, including policies for mobility and project management, strategy for internationalization, and promotion of mobility and research projects. As an Expert advisor for research, she has worked on the development of the university's research support capacities by increasing visibility of the university's research, networking, and development of policies for research and open science.
Prakash Chandra Giri (Board Member) is an Instructional Designer at Global Trust Partners and English faculty at Gupteshwor Mahadev Multiple Campus in Pokhara, Nepal. He is also a research scholar at Nepal Open University and the Nepal Representative for the Africa Asia Scholars Global Network (AASGON), a UN Global Compact signatory and UKSSD member. He works freelance with TLS and was awarded by the British Council in 2017 for adding an international dimension to local curricula. A TESOL-certified teacher and life member of NELTA, he taught in the English Access Micro-Scholarship Program for four years. His training includes programs by Arizona State University and Literacy International. Prakash has presented at conferences globally and has led trainings in countries including South Korea, India, South Africa, and Turkey, with particular interest in open-source tools for education.
Dr. Victor Talastas Reyes, LPT, (Board Member) is a dedicated educator and cultural advocate, he bridges English language education with intercultural understanding through program development, faculty training, and inclusive leadership. He holds a Ph.D. in English Language and Literature (with Academic Distinction) and is pursuing a second doctorate in Educational Leadership and Management. As a Program Committee Member of the Southeast Asia Research Academy (SEARA), he promotes regional collaboration and academic exchange. A published scholar and international speaker, Dr. Reyes’s work spans literature, education, tourism, and marginalized communities—advancing a culturally rooted, globally responsive vision of education.
Diane Rozells (Board Member) has 13 years of experience teaching at the university level in Korea and has spent the last 12 years teaching in the MA TESOL program at Sookmyung Women’s University where she also teaches undergraduate and PhD courses related to using multimedia and technology for teaching English. She frequently gives special lectures on using technology in English language teaching to Korean public-school teachers enrolled in the Intensive In-Service English Teacher Training Program at Sookmyung TESOL. She is the recipient of a research grant from the National Research Foundation of Korea to develop a mobile adventure game application for learning English. Dr. Rozells is a member of the editorial board of the International Journal of TESOL Studies and a reviewer for the International TESOL Journal. She obtained her PhD from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. Her dissertation focused on teachers’ conceptions of wisdom in education and how they practice wisdom in their teaching. Her research interests include CALL, reflective practice, and teachers’ beliefs.
Zareena Younis (Board Member) is the Head of Student Development and an Academic Lecturer in the International Foundation Programme and Undergraduate Law at the British International University, Erbil. She leads extracurricular and student development initiatives that enhance academic and life skills. Her expertise spans Law, ESL, Academic English, and Business Management. She holds an LLM in International Law from the University of Liverpool and an LLB (Hons) from London Metropolitan University, and is a certified TESOL trainer. With broad experience across teaching, curriculum design, staff development, human rights advocacy, and policy guidance, Zareena has worked in the UK, the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, and the UAE. She has contributed to human rights research, analyzed high-profile legal cases, written for TEFL CourseNet, and actively mentors students. Her passions include charity work, cross-cultural exploration, and travel.
Zarrina Salieva (Board Member) is an Associate Professor at the Samarkand State Institute of Foreign Languages in Uzbekistan, where she has dedicated over two decades to advancing teaching, research, and academic supervision. With 20 years of experience in higher education, she has played a pivotal role in mentoring students and guiding scholarly inquiry across multiple disciplines. Dr. Salieva serves as a reviewer for several peer-reviewed journals, contributing her expertise to uphold rigorous academic standards. She is the author and co-author of four widely used training manuals, and her scholarly output includes more than 60 publications in both national and international journals, reflecting her deep engagement with global research communities. A regular presenter at leading international conferences, Dr. Salieva specializes in language education, translation studies, and applied linguistics. Her work consistently bridges theory and practice, offering innovative insights into multilingual pedagogy and cross-cultural communication.