Lael Easton

Office Location
Library 206

Biography

Lael Easton came to WPU after many years of teaching English to English Language Learners. She was born in Texas, lived and attended college in Michigan, and has lived in Portland since 1995. At age 34, she went back to school at PSU to earn a master’s degree in Applied Linguistics and became an instructor. After many years of thinking she only ever wanted to teach and would never, ever be an administrator, she became the Director of Learning Communities here at Warner Pacific University. In 2023, she became the project director on a $3 million federal grant which allowed the establishment of the Center for Academic Success and Achievement (CASA).

Lael is very honored to welcome new students to WPU and help them make connections that will enable them to thrive. She values working with the Peer Mentors and Peer Navigators and seeing them grow as leaders while they help other students. Although she teaches only a few classes, she is still a teacher first and foremost, and that informs her actions as she strives to determine what is best for the students and their learning. While her job often takes her behind the scenes to lead people, balance budgets, and plan events, interacting with students is her favorite part of the job. Lael wants to continue to learn how to best serve WPU students and help them move in the direction of their values. When not working, she enjoys camping, skiing, traveling, gardening, and spending time with her family and pets.

Education 
M.A. in Applied Linguistics/TESOL, Portland State University, 2009

B.A. in Arts and Ideas in the Humanities, University of Michigan, 1995

Areas of Teaching
English
Public Speaking
Humanities
Leadership

Areas of Expertise / Research Interests
Second language acquisition, name adoption by learners of English, corpus Linguistics in language pedagogy, intercultural communication, English verb system

Publications, Presentations, & Academic Accomplishments
Don’t Wear It Out: Name Adoption by Learners of English-ORTESOL Spring 2009

Grow Your Own Verb Garden: The English Verb System-ELS In-service 2014

Testing 1, 2, 3 ELS In-service 2015

Teaching English to Japanese Learners-ELS In-service, 2016

Warp Speed: Teaching in a Fast-Paced Intensive English Program TESOL International, 2016

Reinforcing Vocabulary ELS In-service, 2017

Professional Affiliations
ORTESOL

TESOL

Community Engagement / Service
Lael has done many mom-style volunteer jobs over the years: literacy coach, basketball coach, team parent, room parent, volunteer art history teacher, and more. She now volunteers as a mountain host with Mount Hood Ski Patrol (MHSP #60355).

Favorite quote
She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. -Proverbs 31:25