Our Team

MEET OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR


ZOÉ HESS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR


 Zoé arrived in the United States in March 2010.  She first lived in Kansas City, MO and moved to Denver in May 2017.  In September 2017, she was hired as a Beginner/Intermediate teacher at the Alliance Française de Denver, and was promoted to the Learning Programs Coordinator one year later.  In September 2019 she succeeded Martin Lafitte as the new Executive Director of the Alliance Française de Denver. 

I have always been passionate about the French language and culture.  After I moved to the US, I was a Beginner/Intermediate Instructor at the Alliance Française in Kansas City, MO, a French & Piano Instructor at the Global Montessori Academy and an official English to French translator for several businesses in the area.  While in Kansas City, I founded the French & Music House, LLC.  When I moved to Denver, it was natural for me to join the Alliance Française again, and I am so glad I did!  Colorado is a beautiful state and a great place to raise my son Jack.  I am so excited to see there are so many francophiles here in Denver!
--Zoé





BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Alliance Française de Denver is grateful to our dedicated supporters and advisors from the local business, academic and cultural community. Our Board of Trustees consists of both French and American members who are actively involved in AFD's growth. We thank you for your vision and your support!
Don't hesitate to contactthe AFD's Board of Directors for questions regarding our organization: afd-board@afdenver.org


Christophe Poulet, President
Linette Hayat , Vice President
Danielle Badler,Vice President
Reynald Bodeux, Treasurer
Fritz Bart, Secretary

Emma Glass, Marketing Committee Chair
Christian Roche, Cultural Outreach Committee Chair, L'Alliance & Co
Jean-François Duclos, Board Member
Susan Fedel, Board Member

Catherine Bedard, Board Member
Liz Ward, Board Member
Catherine Potter, Board Member
Jeff Richards, Honorary Board Member


Our Staff


MAGALI ECHENNE  Bookkeeper
France
Magali was born in the South of France. After completing an Associate Degree in secretarial work and a Bachelor Degree in English Studies, she studied two years in Nice and one year in Oslo Norway. After having met her American husband she moved to Denver in 2018.






ANGELIQUE MELCOM Education Coordinator and Teacher 
France

A French native, Angélique earned her Bachelor's and Master's degree in Paris before moving to New York in 2010. In 2013 she moves to Chicago and runs the marketing department for the 
French Business School INSEEC for 2 years. She also started teaching in a more serious way through the class "Cultural Diferrences between French and Americans" and giving her first private classes.



Our Teachers


ANNE TIMMERMAN Teacher
France
Anne loves the arts. She studied Art History at the School of the Louvre and worked in the movie and TV industry for Canal Plus before moving to Canada and the United States.
ELISE LEVINE DAVIS Teacher
France

Elise was born in Paris. After working as a Graphics Specialist for American consulting firms, she went to "Le Cordon Bleu Paris" to be trained as a Pastry Chef. In 2017, Elise moved to Colorado, and opened her own baking school called "Les Gateaux d'Elise", in Evergreen. She loves teaching baking as well as French language.

ANTOINE ALAWOE Teacher
Togo
He has taught French at the AFD for 6 years and enjoys helping those achieve literacy. Before the AFD, he lived in Paris teaching high school science and mathematics.
JEAN-CLAUDE HOUNOU Teacher
Togo
Jean-Claude likes going to the movies, traveling and watching soccer. He has been teaching French for 27 years (12 years at the AFD) and truly enjoys sharing Francophonie with others.
DANICA GUERRERO Teacher
USA
Danica Guerrero attended Seattle Pacific University where she earned her BA in European Studies/French with a minor in English literature. She earned her MA in French in 2020 through the University of North Texas, and thanks to her husband's military service, she has taught French in high schools in Washington, Colorado, North Dakota, and Texas.
BLANDINE MACLEAN Teacher
France
Blandine graduated in sciences in London (UK) where she also trained to become a French teacher. She says: “More than anything else, what I am trying to convey in my classes is the love of learning.
CÉLINE GOSSELIN Teacher

Céline’s passion is teaching French, which she has been doing for 15 years. She values a good rapport with her students and listening to their needs.

CHRISTIAN DALLET Teacher
France
Christian has taught science and French to junior high school students. He enjoys teaching French at the Alliance Française de Denver.

CLAUDIA LEWIS Teacher
Colombia
Claudia’s professional focus has been in the field of environmental education. She has taught French and Spanish for many years. She teaches adult classes in Centennial.
FRANÇOISE BRES-GUDE Teacher
France
Françoise has taught French in Paris to business students and foreigners from all over the world. She also leads group tours in France for American artists every summer.
LUIGINA CERRI Teacher (Boulder)

Italy
Luigina holds a Master’s degree and has been teaching both French & Italian in various schools & universities across the Front Range including CSU, UNC, and the University of Denver. She has also studied in Bordeaux, Avignon, and Carcassonne, France.


LISE ROUSSIN Private Teacher (Boulder)
Canada
Lise has taught French at the Alliance Française de Denver since 1998. She now only teaches private classes in the Boulder area and loves what she does.
OLIVIA MCCRACKING Teacher
USA    
Olivia is a Colorado native. She received her B.A. in French and Francophone studies and International Studies with Political Science from the University of Denver. She studied also in Aix en Provence, France before teaching French. 

WHAT OUR MEMBERS ARE SAYING

Lir M.

I'd like to start this off by thanking you for teaching me so much French. You were a great teacher and you helped me learn so many new things. I'd also like to apologize for missing a lot of lessons, although I'm sure that I would've rather gone to them. Again, you are the best teacher I've ever had, and it's sad to say goodbye to you.


Lir M.

Stephen G.

Alliance Française de Denver created a wonderful virtual environment where I spent my Summer vacation; visiting the winemaking area of Bouzy; celebrating Bastille Day; learning how to cook with flowers; touring historic châteaux and beautiful villages; all in the safety and comfort of my home.

A real treat for any Francophone person; especially having a daily place for French chat to try out and maintain colloquial skills.


Stephen G.

Sue T.

Anne is fantastic! The material is fast paced for this "old dog" to learn new tricks, but we could not go slower. It has been very helpful to prepare me for my trip to France.


Sue T.

Cristina G.

A great place to learn and practice French while getting acquainted with French culture and interesting people. I definitely recommend AFD and their events. Je parle français! Et vous?


Cristina G.

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