We are pleased to welcome two new members to our team: Gabriela MacPherson, Riverside's new Outcomes Coordinator, and Nursen Turan, a new ESOL instructor.

Gabriela joins Riverside from the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC). At NYIC, she worked on increasing legal access available to immigrants. Gabriela graduated magna cum laude from William and Mary College in Williamsburg, VA, with a BA in Anthropology. As Riverside’s Outcomes Coordinator, Gabriela will collect data on student needs and generate impact data on Riverside's services. She will also oversee Riverside's Alumni Network. Gabriela is excited to work with an organization that prioritizes language access and shares, "I know from my mom and friends who are immigrants, that one of the biggest challenges you face when you first come to the US is the language barrier. [Teaching English is] a really powerful way to help folks who are coming here."

Nursen Turan joins us from The English Language Center at LaGuardia Community College, where she taught for eight years. Nursen immigrated to New York from Turkey in 2003, which she feels gives her a personal understanding of the experiences of her students, “I have been helping people like myself get used to the culture, both by increasing their language skills and by increasing their familiarity with the culture.” Nursen studied Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages in college in Turkey and earned her master’s degree from Columbia University's Teachers College.

Please join us in welcoming these two wonderful women to the Riverside family!