We help professionals gain the effective communication skills, strategies, and confidence necessary to be successful in professional settings and beyond. We have more than 25 years of combined experience teaching, facilitating workshops, managing programs, and designing tailored curricula for higher education, corporations, and nonprofits around the area of effective and strategic communication. Having experience in both academia as faculty members and in the corporate setting, in addition to working extensively in the public, community centered setting, we have first hand knowledge and experience of the linguistic and cultural demands one must meet in order to be reach the highest levels of success communicating in a diverse setting. We coach learners to reflect, practice, and set goals in order to meet these linguistic and cultural challenges head on, ultimately fostering behavioral outcomes that lead to more effective, strategic, and engaging communication.
Mallory Fix-Lopez
Founder/Applied Linguist
Mallory has been coaching international scholars, fellows, and postdocs in the area of science communication and strategic communications at research institutions and non-profits across the globe since 2013. She is an adjunct faculty of education (teacher training) at Temple University College of Education and the Graduate School of Education (GSE) at the University of Pennsylvania. Mallory regularly facilitates workshops on effective communication skills and strategies, networking techniques, and public speaking. Locally, Mallory has also facilitated program development and management for the Free Library of Philadelphia, The Welcoming Center, and Garces Foundation. Appointed by Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney in 2018, she served as a member of the Board of Education for the School District of Philadelphia until 2024, holding the position of Vice President from 2022 2024. Mallory’s work has been featured in The Washington Post, NPR, and Reuters, among others. She previously lived and taught in Guadalajara, Mexico and has an MS in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and a BS in History Education, both from Temple University.
Katie Ryan
Director of Curriculum Development
Katie Ryan is an international educator, instructional designer, and program administrator with more than fifteen years' experience helping adult learners reach their academic and professional goals. With a special focus on designing and implementing custom learning experiences for academic and corporate clients, Katie has taught courses and overseen programs in English for business, law, dentistry, liberal studies, teacher training, academic preparation, and more. In addition to her work with Language connectED, Katie currently lectures in the English Language Programs at the University of Pennsylvania. She has also worked as a freelance graphic designer and as a materials writer/editor for the U.S. Department of State’s Office of English Language Programs, where she developed English teaching and learning resources for use worldwide. Katie holds a BA in Communication from Loyola University Maryland and an MA in TESOL from American University.
Michael Sullivan
Language Development Coach
Michael Sullivan is an international language educator and curriculum designer. For the past fifteen years, he has taught English and designed courses for international students and scholars at the University of Pennsylvania. Michael focuses especially on helping PhD candidates to communicate their knowledge and expertise clearly and professionally, both in speaking and in writing. Michael has taught abroad in Japan, has worked as an English Language Fellow through the U.S. State Department in Kazakhstan, and has served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ukraine. Michael holds a Master’s in Education (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Bachelor’s in Fine Art from Carnegie Mellon University.