Lisa Terry was born to travel.
Raised in southwest Iowa after spending her early years in California, Terry has also lived in Missouri, Kansas, Tennessee and Nebraska. The UNK employee has called Kearney home for nearly 30 years.
Since joining UNK’s English Language Institute in 1997, she’s taught English in China, Brazil and Colombia, experiences that have helped her understand the challenges international students face in a new country.
“All these teaching/learning experiences have helped me have a better understanding of what it feels like to try to live, learn and work day to day in places where many things are different and new, much like the experience of new international students at UNK,” she said. “The fact that my students have set high standards for themselves by trying to earn higher education degrees using their second language makes me respect and admire them even more.”
That perspective makes Terry a natural fit for the English Language Institute, where she helps international students build English skills and connect with the campus and community.
What drew you to this career?
Prior to starting my career as an English as a second language educator for UNK-ELI, I worked a variety of jobs. I was a middle school art teacher. I was a community integration mental health counselor for developmentally disabled adults. I was a technical writer for an IBM remarketer/distribution software company. I worked for the Department of Health. I worked for the Museum of Nebraska Art.
I enjoyed all these positions because of what they had in common – each position was people centered and had some aspect of teaching, communicating and sharing knowledge with varied populations. I accepted the invitation as a UNK-ELI educator because I thought that being part of the ELI program at its inception meant that the work of creating, developing and delivering would be challenging and fun. I was right. It was and still is.
Talk about your role as an ELI educator:
ELI is an immersive/intensive English program. The primary focus of my role as an ELI educator is to provide quality English language instruction to international students wanting to pursue a degree in the United States, specifically at UNK. Over the years, ELI has also provided English for special purposes to non-degree seeking students, such as English for Business and Aviation English.
The secondary focus of my role as an ELI educator is to provide and facilitate opportunities for UNK international students to learn about American culture and share their cultures through interactions with UNK domestic students and the Kearney community.
What countries do your students come from?
ELI classrooms have had students from many different countries. Students have come from Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Japan, China, Korea, Saudi Arabia and other countries.
Have you traveled to any of these countries?
I enjoy traveling to new places and learning new things both for personal pleasure and for work. My travels include many states in the U.S., Canada and European, South American and Asian countries.
As part of recruitment efforts to showcase what UNK has to offer to international students, my work-related travel experiences have included:
- Teaching English classes during summers at a middle school and university in China.
- Teaching English classes during summers in Brazil at a state university, at a federal university and at community classes in which my youngest student was 12 and my oldest student was 65.
- Teaching English classes to Colombian National Police at academies in Bogota and near Medellin.
Tell us about Campus Conversation Table:
I started UNK Campus Conversation Table in the fall of 1998 because ELI students wanted to have more conversational English practice with native English speakers in addition to classroom learning. The first few meetings were held in a coffee shop across the street from campus. As more people wanted to participate, we very quickly outgrew that space, so we moved to a classroom on campus. As the popularity of UNK Campus Conversation Table increased, we also outgrew that classroom and decided to hold the meetings in the food court at the student union on campus.
Conversation Tables are open to everyone in the community. You can just show up, sign in, start talking and have fun! I usually plan for 50 people, but the student union has plenty of room for overflow. We meet 4-5 p.m. for six consecutive Tuesdays at the beginning of each semester. Conversation Tables start today for the fall 2026 semester.
How does this addition to the ELI program benefit students?
UNK Campus Conversation Table helps international students, domestic students and members of the Kearney community. Meeting new people, making new friends and sharing ideas and cultural similarities and differences in a relaxed, open setting allows us to “travel” without traveling. By being curious, forming and cultivating relationships and sharing experiences, we gain a better understanding of the world we live in.
What’s your greatest accomplishment so far at UNK?
Haha. I’m just an English teacher. I don’t think I have any “great” accomplishments! But, if I can continue to help students each day by trying to remove barriers to learning and/or inspire and motivate them to believe in themselves and work hard to reach their goals, I count that as a small success.
What’s your favorite thing about UNK?
I don’t have only one single favorite thing about UNK. There are many great things. I think that high-quality academic and extracurricular programs, professional instruction, positive attitudes and caring people make UNK an ideal environment in which to learn and grow.
Share something unique about yourself:
I am a voracious reader and an avid sports fan. Go Lopers!
