Communication Academy classes are taught by college professors, professional authors and poets, and high school speech and debate coaches. Here are the instructor profiles:

Judy Barton

Judy Barton graduated with Honors from the University of Iowa, earning her B.A. in Communications and Theatre Arts. In seven years of competitive speech, Judy participated in events such as Informative Speaking, Rhetorical Criticism, Lincoln-Douglas Debate, and traditional Debate, and won the honor of National Champion in Persuasive Speaking for the American Forensics Association. Her professional experience includes 15 years of education and training, program management, and marketing. She delivered product presentations nationally, and made several appearances on The Learning Channel. She created marketing collateral for the software, music and alternative energy industries (to name a few), and her writing talents won her the Addy Award (Northern California Advertising). Drawn in particular to the nexus of communication, technology and education, Judy delights in the opportunity to share her expertise and passion with the Public Speaking and Debate students at Communication Academy.

Kathryn DeMerit earned her B.A. in Speech from Indiana’s DePauw University, and also holds both a Certificate in Secondary Education from State of Indiana, and a Speech and Drama Credential. After working for more than twenty years in the world of corporate Sales and Marketing for such organization as Sony Electronics Ltd, Inc. and Sun Microsystems, Inc., Kathryn decided she wanted to bring her professional communication skills to her real passion: children’s education. She already had an impressive history in youth education: she’d worked for over eight years as a volunteer Literacy Tutor in both the New York City school system and in the Santa Clara reading program, and spent nine years as a teacher/coordinator of youth educational programs for grades K-12. She now teaches Pre-Public Speaking and Public Speaking for Communication Academy, where she always creates an encouraging learning experience for her students.

Larissa Favela

Larissa Favela received her Bachelor of Arts degree from San Jose State University and completed her Masters at San Jose State University in Intercultural Communication. She teaches Pre-Public Speaking, Public Speaking and Debate for Communication Academy. She has been teaching public speaking courses for over five years, beginning her teaching career at San Jose State University as a Graduate Teaching Associate. She joined Communication Academy four years ago this summer. Larissa also helped in the development of the courses offered, the course curriculum, and the enhancement of course materials. Larissa also teaches Public Speaking courses at San Jose State University and Persuasion/Critical Thinking courses at Ohlone Community College in Fremont and Public Speaking at De Anza College. She loves watching the “light bulb go on” in her students when they realize/enact or embody a particular course concept that she has been teaching them.

Robert Gutierrez

Robert Gutierrez possesses a B.A. in Communication Studies with a minor in Critical Pedagogy from San Jose State University, in addition to holding an Associate Degree in General Education. Robert will begin his Master's degree in Communication Studies at San Jose State University in the fall of 2009. Public Speaking is a life-long passion and career for Robert, and he brings over 17 yrs of hands-on, public speaking experience from various environments to Communication Academy. His background includes Theatre, having performed in numerous plays and musicals, and training and development for an international restaurant group for nearly eight years. As an intern with the California Faculty Association, Robert led the student body of San Jose State University in support of possible CSU-wide faculty actions for lower student fees and fair faculty wages by advocating for the California Faculty Association through presentations in over 45 classrooms, hosting a public forum and organizing a student-faculty on-campus demonstration. Robert is thrilled to offer the students and parents of Communication Academy a chance to find their voices and gain confidence using public speaking as a tool for self-expression. Robert is pursuing advanced degrees in Communication at San Jose State University, moving him closer to his dream of becoming an accomplished university professor.

Kevin Hammond has over eight years of youth education in theatre, dance and recital in both public and private settings throughout the Bay Area. At Musical Theatre Works in San Francisco, Kevin instructs K-12 students in theatre arts, and has choreographed such productions as Footloose, Godspell, Grease, and the upcoming Aida. He has also been a Dance and Recital Instructor, as well as a Youth Services Corps Counselor and Director, for the City of Fremont Recreation Services for the past several years. Currently a Dance and Theatre Instructor for Starting Arts, a non-profit after-school program in Santa Clara, Kevin instructs K-8 students, coordinates activities and directs musical productions. When Kevin graduated from San Jose State University in 2000, he had earned his B.A. in Radio/Television/Film, a Minor in Drama Writing, and was an Honors Student in Theatre Arts. For two years he was a Dean’s Scholar for the Department of Humanities and the Arts, San Jose State University. At Communication Academy, he enjoys sharing the public performance aspects of theatre and dance with his students in Pre-Public Speaking and Public Speaking.

Steve Lam holds a B.A. in Liberal Studies with a Minor in Theater Arts from San Jose State University. He also holds a CA Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. Steve was a member of San Jose State University’s multiethnic theatre company S.T.E.P (Student Touring Ensemble Program), acting in numerous productions at SJSU. Steve’s classroom experience includes grades 1-5. He teaches public speaking to young children and a whole array of our Language Arts Enrichment courses, including Creative Writing and Vocabulary Building.

Linda Lappin

Linda Lappin has a BA in English and an MA in Poetry & Non-fiction from San Jose State. Linda has taught many classes including Creative Writing, Composition, Technical Communication, and Public Speaking. In addition, she has experience in the corporate world in communication & technology. Currently she is teaching Effective Grammar & Composition at Communication Academy.

Grace-Sonia Melanio holds a B.A. and M.A. in Communication Studies from San Jose State University. She has over ten years of related professional experience in the fields of public relations, marketing and organizational training. Most recently, she has worked as Community Education and Event Coordinator for EHC LifeBuilders, the largest provider of shelter, housing opportunities and supportive services in Santa Clara County. In this capacity she managed a service-learning program for local high school students, delivered presentations on poverty and homelessness to schools, community groups, and corporations, and coordinated fundraising events and marketing campaigns. In addition, Grace has worked in community outreach and relations for a number of organizations, including the Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations, the College of Engineering at San Jose State University, and CATS (Contemporary Asian Theatre Scene). Her awards include the Communications Studies Forum Award from San Jose State University, and the Student Research Opportunity Program Fellowship from the University of Utah. Grace likes to quote Audre Lorde: “When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less important whether or not I am afraid.” It is this philosophy that she brings to her Pre-Public Speaking and Public Speaking students at Communication Academy.

Jennifer Morrison

Dr. Jennifer Huynh Thi Anh Morrison has taught a variety of communication courses, ranging from public speaking to intercultural communication and popular culture. In addition to teaching courses at Communication Academy, she teaches courses in the department of Communication Studies at San José State University. Jennifer received her Ph.D. from the department of Human Communication Studies with an emphasis in Culture and Communication at the University of Denver in 2010. Her dissertation is titled Authenticating Nguoi My Goc Viet: Vietnamese Americans And The Struggle For Identity. In 2003, she received her Master’s of Arts in Intercultural Communication from the department of Communication Studies at San José State University. Her master's thesis centers around multiraciality and identity. Before her graduate work, she received her Bachelor’s of Arts in Speech Communication from San José State University.

Peter Park has a BA in Communication with an emphasis on Speech & Debate, as well as a secondary teaching credential in Speech and English. Peter is currently the Debate coach for the #1 nationally ranked Leland High School debate team. He teaches English there as well. Previously, he was the Speech & Debate Coach at San Jose State. As a student there, he was voted the Most Valuable Debater. He has taught all levels of speech and debate classes at Communication Academy and is a favorite among students and parents alike. He loves to see students blossom into great communicators and debaters, gaining confidence along the way.

Julie Saxton holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing from San Jose State University, where she formerly tutored and taught Composition and Rhetoric classes for the English Department. She now teaches courses in Creative Writing and Grammar & Composition at the Communication Academy, and finds the eager spirit and creativity of her students there to be both refreshing and inspiring.

Vuong Vu has earned his M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Fresno State University and his B.A. in Psychology from San Jose State University with Creative Writing Minor. His Honors and Awards while at San Jose State University include Dean’s list, Recipient of a Phelan Literary Award and Summa Cum Laude Graduation Honor. At Fresno State University Vuong’s poetry earned him the Recipient of both the Ernesto Trejo Poetry Award and the Benck Fellowship Award. Most recently he won the Atlanta Review’s International Poetry Prize. His writing has been published in Reed Magazine, Pachuco Children Hurl Stones, San Joaquin Review, Highway 99: A Literary Journal Through California’s Central Valley, and Atlanta Review. He has teaching experience with four higher education institutions, including Fresno State University, Fresno City College, San Jose City College, and the Stanford Medical School. He is fluent in both English and Vietnamese, and could get himself around any Spanish-speaking country. English, Composition and Creative Writing are Vuong’s areas of expertise. He teaches Creative Writing courses at Communication Academy, where he loves helping his students discover the joys of writing through the telling of their own stories.

Fred Wiehe

Fred Wiehe graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a BA in Secondary Education and has taught both children and adults for more than thirty years. His specialty is Writing and Grammar, for he’s also a professional, published author and screenwriter. He’s a member of the Horror Writers Association, yet his novels and stories crossover many genres. His newest urban fantasy novel, Aleric: Monster Hunter, was just sold to Gauthier Publications and will be released as a hardcover edition in 2011. His screenplay Fright House (written by Fred, Story by Fred & Dave Reda of Elftwin Films) was recently optioned by Kaki Entertainment in Hollywood. He has a collection of short stories for tweens, teens, and adults entitled Holiday Madness: 13 Dark Tales for Halloween, Christmas, and All Occasions. Besides Aleric: Monster Hunter, his published novels include the supernatural crime thriller Strange Days, the science fiction novel Starkville, the horror/suspense novel Night Songs, and the dark fantasy novel The Burning. His short story Trick or Treat; It’s the Puppet People was published in the 2007 Halloween edition of Sinister Tales Magazine, and his short story Trick or Troll was published in the 2008 Halloween edition of ShadeWorks. Fred’s biography has been included in the 2005 edition of Who’s Who in America and the 2006 edition of Who’s Who in the World. Visit him online at www.fredwiehe.com or at www.facebook.com/fred.wiehe.

When Karen Williams decided she wanted to become an educator, she brought over twenty years of public relations experience from her career in the non-profit world. While at SYDA Foundation in New York, Karen held numerous positions, including Company Spokesperson, Media Relations Director, Communications Manager, and Event Planning and Programs Director. Responsible for both Internal Relations and Community Relations, Karen created training workshops for effective communication of the organization’s mission. Her skills include management of crisis strategy, speech writing, public speaking and training, community affairs, and developing and overseeing volunteer programs. She earned her B.A. in Marketing from Santa Clara University, and has additional training in public speaking, effective communication, conflict resolution, facilitation skills, as well as extensive theatre training. She currently lectures in the Speech Communications department at San Jose State University, at De Anza College, and teaches Public Speaking and Debate for Communication Academy.