Southeast Missouri State University’s (SEMO) Dr. Sarah Dietrich, associate professor in the Department of English, has been selected for a second time to participate in the U.S. Department of State’s prestigious English Language Specialist Program. The upcoming 10-week virtual assignment will support professionals in the Kurdistan region of Iraq working in areas such as women’s rights, gender-based violence advocacy and ecological sustainability.
“The participants I worked with last year asked for another course and asked for me to teach it,” said Dietrich. “It’s incredibly rewarding to be invited back and to continue building these global connections.”

The selection process for the English Language Specialist Program is extensive. Candidates complete a detailed online application outlining teaching experience, experience living and working outside of the U.S and areas of expertise. U.S. embassies and consulates match project needs with qualified applicants. In 2024, Dietrich taught language for civil society and media literacy in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. In addition to her previous and current work in Iraq, Dietrich has been a finalist for projects in Chile and Uzbekistan.
Dietrich was co-director of a Fulbright program that brought eight Iraqi scholars, including three from Kurdistan, to the U.S. for a 10-week experience.
“My wish is the same for these students as it is for my students at SEMO. I want them to have confidence in their abilities and have the desire and skills to continue learning,” said Dietrich. “Learning a new language gives us access to new people, new ideas and new perspectives. It creates opportunities to learn about new ways of thinking and to reflect on our own experiences.”
English Language Specialists support projects in more than 80 countries, empowering Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) professionals to collaborate with educational leaders and establish international partnerships that benefit communities at home and abroad.
For more information about English Language Specialists or the U.S. Department of State, visit elprograms.org/specialist or e-mail ECAPress@state.gov.