Ryan M. Damerow

How did I get here? - A question many of us ask ourselves from time to time. For me, the answer to the question lies in a trip I took to visit a friend in Mérida, Mexico in 2003; a trip I consider to be my first "real" trip abroad.

To recount briefly, I'd like to share a story. Growing up as a kid, I never thought that I would embark on a life that would take me far away from home. Before reaching college, I had traveled to Canada and Mexico once each, but neither trip was the type where your curiosity takes you on a life-changing adventure (the type any traveler knows about). Little did I know that my life would change during my trip to Mérida. While my friend was in class, I decided to take a bus ride to the nearby beach, Progreso.

With extremely limited Spanish, I navigated the sleepy, beach-side town of Progreso. I quickly made friends with some of the locals. We did our best to have a substantive conversation about relations between the US and Mexico, which led to many laughs. My afternoon was filled with children from the area teaching me how to kick a soccer ball around, and me teaching them how to perform a butterfly kick when playing hackey sack. Later that evening, I took the bus back to the city reflecting on the day that would shape the next decade of my life and career.

A native of Traverse City, Michigan, I have been involved with language education for nearly ten years. I am a proud alumnus of Michigan State University, where I earned my bachelor's degree. I earned my MA-TESOL degree from the Monterey Institute of International Studies, where I was simultaneously enrolled in the Peace Corps Masters International program and a Certificate program in Language Program Administration. As a Peace Corps Volunteer, I taught English to university-level students at Sichuan International Studies University. I am also currently completing an MBA with Western Governors University.

My international experience and education background serve me well in my current post as Executive Assistant to the Board of Trustees of TIRF - The International Research Foundation for English Language Education. We are a grassroots-level nonprofit organization that seeks to research, support, inform, and influence English language education.

I have experience presenting at international conferences in Brazil, China, Guatemala, and the United States. My professional interests include nonprofit management and development, raising funds for nonprofits with hard-to-pitch missions, language program administration, the role of English in the global marketplace, and creating and taking advantage of learning opportunities.