Alea M. Cot is Assistant Vice Chancellor for International Education and has been working at the University of New Orleans for 21 years.  In 1995, she was the founding Program Director of the IELP and has enjoyed watching it grow and prosper over the years.  Getting to know so many wonderful students from around the world has been an incredibly rewarding experience, both professionally and personally. 

Dana Criswell is the Program Director for the IELP. She has a B.A. and M.A. in English literature from the University of New Orleans, and has completed work toward a PhD in African literature at Louisiana State University. She spent one summer at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria studying theater. In the past she has taught English as an instructor at the University of New Orleans, worked as a technical writer and editor for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and served as director of the Council for International Visitors of Greater New Orleans. She has been working with international students for more than 10 years and loves working with people from around the globe. In her leisure time, she likes to read, travel, spend time with friends, and take long urban hikes with her husband Joe.

Eric is a former teacher in the Intensive English Language Program here at UNO, and currently runs the admissions. As a teacher, he primarily worked with the Level 1 and 2 students who needed help with the basics of Reading, Listening and Speaking. He is a certified English teacher and his Masters work was in Deaf Education. He's also taught locally at Delgado community college and tutored privately for ESL and ACT/SAT test prep. Eric is the former Executive Director of this region's Sylvan Learning Centers. In his free time, he enjoys the local music of New Orleans, as well as occasionally performing as an actor or singer.