Alyona Speelman
Adjunct Professor

• M.A. in Science of Linguistics, Russian Language and Literature, Kiev Slavonic University (2006)
• B.A. in Science of Linguistics, Russian Language and Literature, Kiev Slavonic University (2006)

Email: alyona.speelman@mso.umt.edu
Phone: (406) 243-3600

Alyona is very passionate about teaching languages, and has a native fluency in Russian, Ukrainian, and English. She has worked for 12 + years with the U.S. government’s most challenging language schools, including USAJFKSWCS(A), MISOC, Civil Affairs, and National Guard personnel. This has given her a profound understanding of the missions and linguistic requirements for Army Special Operation Forces training and operations. In addition to her years of experience instructing Special Operations soldiers in Russian and Ukrainian, she integrates the customs and nuances of Slavic culture as a means of gaining proficiency in these languages. 

Alyona teaches students of all levels (Novice - Superior). She is also certified by ACTFL as a full OPI tester. Her research/language interests include Communicative Language Teaching, Second Language Acquisition, Foreign Language Pedagogy and Intensive Methods of Foreign Language Teaching. Alyona loves outdoors and teaching is her passion.

Olga Fitch
Adjunct Professor

• M.A. in Sociology which includes Teaching Educational Psychology and Pedagogy, Bishkek Humanitarian University (2005)
• B.A. in Sociology which includes Teaching Educational Psychology and Pedagogy, Bishkek Humanitarian University (2005)

Email: olga.fitch@mso.umt.edu
Phone: (406) 243-3600

Olga is very confident in her passion for the Russian language and has more than 10 years of experience in intensive language instruction in a military and DOD setting teaching a broad range of courses like Special Operation Language Training (SOLT), Initial Acquisition Training (IAT), Sustainment and Enhancement Training (SET), and Pre-Deployment Training. She taught the End of Training Enhancement course and provided face-to-face instruction in both English and Russian for military DOD linguist at DLI, the Presidio of Monterey, California. Now she is enjoying being a part of the DCLCP team. She is a military spouse and has one son. She likes traveling and outdoors.

Natalia Schoenegger
Adjunct Professor

• M.A. in Education with specialization in Elementary Education.(2004)
• B.A. in Science in Education.(2004)

Email: natalia.schoenegger@mso.umt.edu
Phone: (406) 243-3600

Originally from the Far East of Russia, Natalia received her B.A. and M.A. degrees from the Pedagogical University of Khabarovski Kray, Russia.  She has been teaching Russian language and culture to military personnel since 2014, and she enjoys being able to teach students from very different backgrounds and to see their progress through time, since she has taught practically all levels. Natalia loves teaching, and she continues to seek a better way to enhance student learning, and upon a nation-wide school closure in 2020, Zoom became a regular feature of her courses taught remotely.

She has taught a variety of Russian language and culture courses at the USAJFKSWCS(A), MISOC, Civil Affairs, including sustainment and basic language (BLC) courses. And currently she teaches Psychological Operations group courses at Ft. Bragg, NC.

Svetlana Badrankova
Adjunct Professor

• B.S. University of Texas at El Paso

Email: svetlana.badrankova@mso.umt.edu
Phone: (406) 243-3600

Svetlana is very passionate about teaching languages and has a native fluency in Russian and English. She has worked for 10 + years with the U.S. government’s most challenging language schools, including USAJFKSWCS(A), MISOC, Civil Affairs, and National Guard personnel. This has given her a profound understanding of the missions and linguistic requirements for Army Special Operation Forces training and operations. Svetlana teaches students of all levels (Novice - Superior). She has Bachelor of Science from University of Texas at El Paso. She was born and raised in Kazakhstan, city Almaty. In her free time, she likes to spend time with her family, walk her dog and do climbing in the gym.  

Name Witheld
Adjunct Professor