Lara Wasner

Degrees

• M.A. in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), Madonna University
• M.A. with major in Education Administration, University of Detroit Mercy
• B.A. in English, University of Detroit Mercy

Biography

Since 2001, Lara Wasner has served as the director of Language and Cultural Training within Detroit Mercy's College of Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences. She manages language and cultural training programs both on and off campus and works with the department's language coordinator to create dynamic partnerships that build linguistic and cultural competencies with community organizations and employer groups.

As a co-lead of the University's current strategic plan in international engagement, her initiatives have helped create several internationally-based experiences to Brazil, Cuba and China for students, faculty and alumni. She has served as a member and/or chairperson of the University's Outcomes Assessment Team for more than 10 years. She is also a member of several professional organizations dedicated to language learning, acculturation and international student advocacy.

Wasner is Fulbright Scholar Liaison at Detroit Mercy. She has received four U.S. Department of Education Fulbright Hays international awards in which she has served as an educational delegate (China in 2010), and as a delegation leader/project director (Brazil in 2016, 2018, 2022 and 2024). She also serves as a grant reviewer for Fulbright international programs.

In addition to teaching English as a Second Language to cohort groups from China who are matriculating at Detroit Mercy's McNichols Campus, Wasner teaches multiculturalism and diversity in the University's Master of Community Development program.

Lara Wasner’s background is in second language teaching, learning and assessment. She holds a Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) from Madonna University. She also holds a Master of Arts with a major in Educational Administration from University of Detroit Mercy, with coursework in K-12 curriculum and instruction. She received a Bachelor of Arts with a major in English from University of Detroit Mercy.