Faculty
Transforming students' lives.
Foundation Year's faculty members are dedicated to the students—working with them individually to identify areas of strength and growth, and bringing together the right resources to address specific needs. Accessible in person and by phone, email, or text message, Foundation Year's advisors and tutors are available to students whenever they have questions or concerns.
Foundation Year employs full-time faculty—experienced practitioners who are devoted to promoting dynamic, active learning.
Molly Dugan
As Director of Foundation Year, Dr. Dugan oversees all aspects of the program—from admissions and curriculum development to faculty hiring and marketing. She has extensive experience teaching English and literacy courses to high school and college students and previously worked as Associate Director of Teacher Education at Rutgers University. She earned her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Boston College's Lynch School of Education. Her research interests include higher education access, persistence, and attainment of first-generation and non-traditional students.
John Wolfe
Dr. Wolfe teaches Humanities courses in the Foundation Year program. For the past eight years, he has been a part of Northeastern University faculty at the College of Professional Studies. Prior to joining Northeastern's faculty, Dr. Wolfe held teaching, professional development, and administrative roles at Bank Street College. He holds his Ed.D. and a Master's in Special Education from Teachers College and Bank Street, respectively.
Nike Balogun
As a student advisor, Professor Balogun works with closely with students to address specific challenges, provide academic support, and foster good learning habits. She brings to her role extensive experience teaching courses on diversity and counseling for nontraditional students at Bay Path College. Professor Balogun also provides clinical therapy services to local organizations that serve adolescents and college-aged youth. Previously, she served as admissions coordinator and in-student support at a residential facility for adolescent girls. Nike earned her M.S. in Psychology from Springfield College.
Amy Lantinga
Dr. Latinga teaches English at Foundation Year. Before joining the program, she held various positions at the secondary and postsecondary levels including as Assistant Headmaster of Teaching and Learning at Boston Community Leadership Academy, writing coach for Write Boston, and instructor at Harvard, UMass Boston, and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She earned an Ed.D. in Secondary English Education and a M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Sean O'Connell
An English teacher at Foundation Year, Professor O'Connell brings extensive experience teaching English in middle schools, high schools, and colleges—most recently at Westfield State College. Sean's interests focus on the students' transition from high school to college and their language use. He holds an M.A. in English Composition from UMass Boston.
Raj Jesudason
Professor Jesudason teaches mathematics in the Foundation Year program. Previously an assistant coordinator of the Mathematical Thinking course at Northeastern University's Dept. of Mathematics, she also served as Program Director in Mathematics for the Boston Public Schools. Professor Jesudason's extensive experience in higher education includes serving as a Dean of Physical Sciences, Mathematics, and Engineering at Foothill Community College and teaching courses in mathematics and quantitative reasoning at Harvard University and Wellesley College. Her research focuses on how improved mathematics education can advance underserved communities. She holds an Ed. M. in Learning and Teaching (mathematics) from Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Peter Plourde
As a mathematics professor at Foundation Year, Professor Plourde brings a wealth of experience to his role. He helped launch the Alternative Program at Lowell High School and has taught courses in mathematics, music, and entertainment at several Boston-area colleges. When he is not teaching, Professor Plourde can be found writing and performing music--a passion since his teenage years. He is currently researching the connection between mathematics and music with a Harvard professor. Professor Plourde earned his M.S. in Mathematics from UMass-Lowell and took courses toward his degree at Harvard University's Department of Continuing Education.
Martha Loftus
Professor Loftus is a student advisor for Foundation Year, where she remains focused on helping young people achieve their dream of attaining a college degree. She has worked with a variety of organizations ranging from the COACH program at Harvard University to The Education Resources Institute (TERI) to the high school superintendent's office in the Boston Public Schools. Professor Loftus holds two Masters degrees; one in Administration, Planning, and Social Policy from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and another in Secondary School Counseling from UMass Boston.