Joan Nielsen, associate professor of education and project manager of Project Proficient at Morningside College, recently gave a presentation at the National Professional Development Project Directors Meeting in Arlington, Va.

Joan Nielsen, associate professor of education and project manager of Project Proficient at Morningside College, recently gave a presentation at the National Professional Development Project Directors Meeting in Arlington, Va.

Nielsen’s presentation, “Project Proficient at Morningside College: Meeting the Needs of English Language Learners in Iowa,” shared strategies and outcomes from Project Proficient at Morningside.

Project Proficient is a federally-funded program at Morningside College where Iowa teachers receive scholarships for courses to become certified to work with English language learners.

The annual National Professional Development Project Directors Meeting is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education Office of English Language Acquisition.

Nielsen has been with Morningside College since 2001. Prior to that time, she worked at the Battle Creek and BCIG schools as an instructor, curriculum director and elementary principal. She received her master’s degree and education specialist certificate from Drake University.