Charlie Goff
Charlie Goff is a tour leader, educator, storyteller, simultaneous translator, and interpreter of Mexican life and culture. He leads most of the cultural excursions, teaches classes on current events and Mesoamerican history, and orients students about what to expect in Mexico and how to get the most out of their visit. He is an expert on Mesoamerican history and archeology as well as a deep fount of knowledge about all things Mexican.
Charlie was born in Barranquilla, Colombia where his parents were administrators of a Presbyterian school. He received a B.A. in Anthropology from California State University, Northridge, and has studied at the Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City, the National Autonomous University of Mexico, the State University of New York, and California State University, Sacramento. He has lived in Cuernavaca, Mexico since 1972, and is one of the founders of Cemanahuac.
In addition to his role at the school, Charlie is member of the board of VAMOS, Asociación Civil, which offers educational services to the poor of the state of Morelos. Charlie is a also a member of the Frente Civico, a group that participates in many environmental issues in the state of Morelos. Charlie had a weekly column, called Charlie’s Digs, in The News, Mexico’s English language newspaper. In Charlie’s Digs he writes about the interesting customs, places, and people he has encountered in Mexico. They are accessible online at charliesdigs.blogspot.com.
Charlie was born in Barranquilla, Colombia where his parents were administrators of a Presbyterian school. He received a B.A. in Anthropology from California State University, Northridge, and has studied at the Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City, the National Autonomous University of Mexico, the State University of New York, and California State University, Sacramento. He has lived in Cuernavaca, Mexico since 1972, and is one of the founders of Cemanahuac.
In addition to his role at the school, Charlie is member of the board of VAMOS, Asociación Civil, which offers educational services to the poor of the state of Morelos. Charlie is a also a member of the Frente Civico, a group that participates in many environmental issues in the state of Morelos. Charlie had a weekly column, called Charlie’s Digs, in The News, Mexico’s English language newspaper. In Charlie’s Digs he writes about the interesting customs, places, and people he has encountered in Mexico. They are accessible online at charliesdigs.blogspot.com.
Dalel Cortés
Dalel Cortés is director of the Spanish language program. She supervises instruction, coordinates the curriculum and manages student academic issues. She has over 25 years of teaching experience, holds a certificate for Teaching of Spanish as a Second Language and has extensive professional development and participation in short courses and workshops. Dalel is active in professional organizations, such as ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages), AIPEC (Asociación de Institutos para la Enseñanza del Español en Cuernavaca) and México Sí (Asociación Mexicana de Institutos de Español). She holds a certificate in ‘Educación y Habilidades Docentes’ from the Instituto Tecnológico de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey. Ms. Cortés is an adjunct professor at Kent State University. She is a co-author of Action Spanish for Law Enforcement, published in 2001 by Prentice Hall.
Harriet Guerrero-emeritus
Harriet Goff Guerrero is one of the founders of Cemanahuac and for many years coordinated the host family stays among her many other contributions. Harriet was born in Riverside, California and is a 4th generation Californian. She moved to Colombia when she was three and lived in Medellin and Barranquilla. She attended high school at Northfield Mt. Hermon in Massachusetts and received a B.A. in Anthropology from UCLA, which included studies at the University of the Andes in Bogotá, Colombia. Harriet has lived in Cuernavaca, Mexico since 1970.
Harriet has served on the local and national board of Alpha Delta Kappa, an international honorary organization for women educators. She is a founding member and past president of the Asociación de Institutos para la Enseñanza del Español en Cuernavaca (AIPEC) and the Asociación Mexicana de Institutos de Español, México Sí.
Harriet has served on the local and national board of Alpha Delta Kappa, an international honorary organization for women educators. She is a founding member and past president of the Asociación de Institutos para la Enseñanza del Español en Cuernavaca (AIPEC) and the Asociación Mexicana de Institutos de Español, México Sí.
Francisco Guerrero-emeritus
Francisco Guerrero is a founder of Cemanahuac and taught culture and history. Paco grew up in Mexico City in a family of artists and intellectuals. His father was a famous painter, his mother was first a ballet dancer, then became an expert in oriental philosophy. His uncle, Octavio Paz, was awarded the Nobel Literature Prize. His aunt Elena Garro is considered one of the best Latin American novelists of the 20th century. Another aunt - Amalia Hernández - founded the world reknown Ballet Folklórico de México. He is an expert in the study of traditional medicine and indigenous cultures in the state of Oaxaca, where he led a research program for the U.N. He was a founding member of the Commission of Human Rights in the state of Morelos, Mexico and also a founding member of the La Jornada newspaper in Mexico City.