Star Williams

Program: CIEE Teach in the DR—PUCMM Program

Last Seen in America: January 3, 2012

Where in the DR? Santo Domingo

Tessa's Bio: From the home state of President Bill Clinton, Star still proudly wears her "UALR" college hooded sweater in the hot and beautiful city of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

With a strong background in media production along with modeling, she is a multi-talented girl taking time to travel and teach English. After graduating from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock with a BA in Spanish and a BA in Mass Communications, she also completed her TEFL certification in 2011 and began teaching Academic Writing and Advanced Conversation at Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra in January 2012. Before diving back into the entertainment world, Star plans to teach English in Thailand enabling her to be reunited with her family that lives in Bangkok. Show full bio.

Tessa Shaltz

Program: CIEE Teach Immersion Program

Last Seen in America: January 3, 2012

Where in the DR? Los Hatillos, Hato Mayor, Dominican Republic

Tessa's Bio: I graduated in May of 2011 with a double major in International Studies and Spanish and a minor in Sociology. I studied abroad in Santiago, Dominican Republic in the spring of 2010.

I fell in love with the country and its culture, so I decided to return and teach English in the smaller cities throughout the country. I love playing sports, traveling, going to the beach, running, dancing, and learning about different cultures than my own. I also love Spanish and am so excited to perfect my language skills while I am here for the year. I am very excited for my year in the Dominican Republic and to share with everyone all my experiences whether fun and exciting or difficult and frustrating. Show full bio.

Madeline Brink

Blog Name: Mezcla de Cultura

Program: CIEE Teach Abroad at PUCMM

Last Seen in America: Saint Louis, MO

Where in the DR?: Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic

Quick Bio I am a 28 year old budding professional who came to teach at the Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra to: 1) start my teaching career in higher education, and 2) improve and polish my Spanish. I came here after completing a Master's degree in U.S. American Cultural Studies in Saint Louis, Missouri. I loved Saint Louis, but needed to take this step for professional and personal growth! I have grown a lot. Here, I've found many great friends and colleagues, and I am enjoying the life of a professional in the sunny D.R. (By the way, Santiago is the intellectual capital of the DR!)