The English for Heritage Language Speakers (EHLS) Program is a partnership among the National Security Education Program, the Center for Applied Linguistics, Georgetown University’s Center for Language Education and Development, and the Institute of International Education.
Institutional Partners
The National Security Education Program (NSEP), part of the US Department of Defense, provides funding for the program. NSEP has worked since 1994 to help English-speaking US citizens develop high-level proficiency in less commonly taught languages and cultures, and since 2006 to help naturalized citizens with fluency in critical languages to develop professional proficiency in English.
The Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL) administers the EHLS program, directs the application and admission process, and conducts the formal language testing. CAL is a private nonprofit organization with over 50 years of experience in research, assessment, professional development, and technical assistance related to the instruction of learners from diverse language and cultural backgrounds.
Georgetown University’s Center for Language Education and Development (CLED) provides all instruction for the program, which takes place on the Georgetown University campus. CLED is a unit in Georgetown College, the University’s liberal arts school, and is dedicated to delivering well-designed English language and teacher training programs to participants from the US and around the world.
The Institute of International Education (IIE) manages the EHLS application and admissions process and disburses stipends to scholars. IIE is an international education and training organization that fosters mutual understanding, develops global leaders, and protects academic freedom worldwide through educational exchange and training programs.
Program Staff and Faculty
Program Staff at CAL
Director, EHLS Program: Deborah Kennedy
Program Staff at IIE
Program Manager: Craig Fredrickson
Program Staff and Faculty at Georgetown
Director, GU-EHLS Program: Christa Hansen
Program Manager and Recruitment Director: Maria Mariani
Administrative Manager: Ai-Hui Tan
Administrative Officer: Nickie Davis
Academic Coordinator: Suzanne Matula
Faculty: Martin Barclay, Tracy Chase, Tim Teigen, Tasha Troy, Patricia Wood
Point of contact for federal agencies: Patricia Wood