David Godwin
Executive Director Literacy Initiative for today Program
Susana Cuellar Assistant to the Director 
Sergio Yamaguchi Level 1 
Judy Spong advanced converstation 
Maria Yupe Volunteer 
Dr. John Sánchez Level 3 |
Michael Brown Level 7.8 
Carmen Faria Volunteer substitute 
Wilfredo Rodriguez Volunteer 
Hunter Flores level 5-6 
Sidney Phillips level 2 |
Liz Bennett Beginner conversation 
Marilyn Lewis Substitute Instructors 
Eduardo Sanchez IT Support and Susbstitute Instructor 
Malcolm Williams Pronunciation 
Sarah Mitchell intermediate conversation 
Maris Castillo Level 5 |
The University of St. Thomas
Literacy Initiative for Today Program
Advisory Council
2021-22
David Godwin – Director
Susana Cuellar – Assistant to the Director
Patty Amaya – University of St. Thomas Representative
Dr. Lucy Sandoval- Chair
Elizabeth Bennett –Instructor Representative
Johana Herrera – Instructor Representative
Malcolm Williams- Instructor Representative
Maria Yupe – Volunteer
Wilfredo Rodriguez – Volunteer
Literacy Initiative for Today Program
Advisory Council
2021-22
David Godwin – Director
Susana Cuellar – Assistant to the Director
Patty Amaya – University of St. Thomas Representative
Dr. Lucy Sandoval- Chair
Elizabeth Bennett –Instructor Representative
Johana Herrera – Instructor Representative
Malcolm Williams- Instructor Representative
Maria Yupe – Volunteer
Wilfredo Rodriguez – Volunteer
Remembering our volunteers
Al Lazzeri - 1926 to 2019
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For the last 22 years of his life, Al Lazzeri devoted every Saturday morning during spring and fall semesters at the University of St. Thomas to his pronunciation classes with LIFT.
A native of Dedham, Mass., Al was a lifelong artist, scholar and educator with a Master of Education degree from Harvard University. He spent the majority of his career as the head of the art department of the Walpole Public School in Walpole, Mass. and as an adjunct professor at Northwestern University. After retiring and the death of his wife of 48 years, Al moved to Houston to be close to his daughter, Teresa Maines, and her family. But Al missed teaching. It was a vocation fueled by his own never-ending desire to learn and increasing natural curiosity about the world. When he heard about LIFT and the opportunity to continue teaching, even without pay, he signed up. Teaching pronunciation is difficult and requires a lot of hard work, and Al spent hours preparing for his three-hour classes. But he loved what he was doing, became close friends with several fellow volunteers, and continued his volunteer classes well into his nineties. He died on Nov. 26, 2019, from heart failure. He was 93 years old |