Andrea “Dre” Secrist served as ELLS Assistant from fall semester 2009 to through fall semester 2010. Dre earned a bachelor’s degree (2008) and a master’s degree (2011) at JMU with the goal of being a Spanish and ESL teacher. Dre’s efforts with ELLS shaped the direction of the area and her invaluable contributions paved the way for programs and student employees in ELLS. Dre founded a Grammar Hour program that met twice a week for the three semesters she worked at ELLS.

Dre spent her first professional year after graduate school teaching English in Madrid, Spain, for the Ministry of Culture and Education. Since fall 2012 she has taught high school ESL in Manassas Park, Virginia. When not traveling during the summer, she also teaches intensive English for Northern Virginia Community College.