President: Edmund Tiryakian
Edmund Tiryakian, US citizen married to a French, is a former lawyer and investment banker who spent his career in Hong Kong, ran marathons around the world, has tracked mountain gorillas in Rwanda and bonobos in Congo. He has now retired to his native North Carolina, living in the unexplored wilds of Hillsborough, where he tends to chickens, bees, cats and dogs in modest attempts to be a gentleman farmer.
Vice-President: Hélène Crié-Wiesner
A French-American citizen, writer, and journalist, Hélène Crié has worked for many years at Libération, a national French news daily, and for the national public radio France Inter. Based in the USA, she now writes for French media as a freelancer.
Secretary: Anne Clayton
Anne grew up as a "third culture kid" in the US, with her French mother and Dutch father. She has lived in North Carolina for the last 20 years and works as a realtor in the Triangle. In her personal life, she loves travel, kayaking, knitting, learning any kind of craft, and spending time with her family and dog Milo (a cute little Biewer Terrier!)
Treasurer: Samuel Hotchkiss
Sam is an American citizen originally from Washington DC., and has lived in Durham since 2020. He received his BS in French and Mathematics from Davidson College with a focus in the post-colonial Maghrebin experience, and studied Mathematics at l’université François-Rabelais in Tours during his junior year abroad. Prior to his current career in Healthcare Finance and IT, Sam worked as an English language teaching assistant in the Vendée.
Michèle Darrah
A French-American citizen, retired teacher from NCSU and musician, Michèle Darrah has chaired the Alliance française for more than twenty years.
Michelle Normand
A Maine native and French-American citizen, Michelle studied art history at La Sorbonne, trained in art restoration in New York, Paris, and Florence, taught English as a foreign language for several years and wrote investment research on Wall Street. She has lived in North Carolina since 2005, with her French husband and their two sons. Her favorite pet is, of course, a French bulldog.
Charles Neely
Chuck Neely was born in Raleigh, NC. A graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill and Duke Law School, he served in the Navy during the Vietnam war, practiced law in Raleigh for 50 years and was elected to three terms in the General Assembly. He bicycles, sails and is studying French through the Alliance.
I was born in the South of France and raised in Paris. I obtained a Master's in Literature from University Paris X and a Business degree from INALCO (Institute of Eastern Studies) in Paris. I went on working as an International Sales Manager in the Medical Device Industry for 15 years, home based in Italy, Germany, Israel, the Ivory Coast and the Netherlands. I moved to the US in 2000 to marry my husband Michael. We relocated from California to Raleigh in 2017.
I was born and raised in Paris. Thanks to my Spanish parents, I also speak Spanish. I obtained a Master's degree in Finance from University Paris IX and a degree in Business Law from University Paris X. I began working in a French company as an international controller, then joined the Merger and Acquisition Department as an expatriate in Argentina and Mexico. I discovered the joy of teaching my native languages when I moved to the US, after marrying my American husband. I have been teaching French in various settings ever since.
I was born and raised in South Carolina, where I earned a BA in French from Clemson University. During my university studies, I spent a semester at l'Université de Rennes II, Haute-Bretagne. After completing an assistantship in Normandy, I earned an MA in French from Middlebury College in Vermont and Paris. In the U.S., I have taught high school and elementary School in Vermont, Massachusetts and North Carolina.
I was born and raised in Paris where I studied International Business. After several months in the UK and Ireland, I moved to Atlanta to study Visual Communications. I then followed my husband to Chicago and decided to relocate to North Carolina during the pandemic. I went back to school to become a French teacher. Teaching French to anglophones is a lot of fun; I learn a lot from students from all walks of life.
Catherine Delorme - French Instructor
I was born and raised in Burgundy, France. I taught French as a second language in France, worked as a wine seller in Italy, and as a social worker in Lebanon. I moved to California in 2008 and have been teaching French ever since. My husband and I relocated to North Carolina in December 2022. I go to France every year to maintain my connection with my French roots and brink back useful materials for my classes.
Originally from Paris, I have lived in Cary since 2011. I graduated from ESGI International Business and Marketing School in Paris. I followed my husband to North Carolina after he completed his Master's degree at NCSU and found a job in the Triangle.
I became a full time teacher when I moved to the US and have enjoyed teaching French to non-French speakers ever since.
Originally from Bordeaux, I moved to New York City 27 years ago with my husband. I worked at Air France while studying for my Master's degree in Education at Lesley University in Cambridge, MA. I went on to teach at the Alliance Française of Boston, where I was named Teacher of the Year in 2003. I was also awarded a grant to design and implement an after-school curriculum to teach French in 5 Boston public schools. After we relocated to Chapel Hill in 2007, I took a teaching position at East and Carrboro High School.
I was born and raised in Lille, in the North of France, where I obtained my Nursing Degree. I moved to Chapel Hill in 1999 with my husband and stayed home to raise our four children. In 2003, I started teaching French to school students and received my accreditation as a DELF / DALF examiner In 2014.
I have been working as a French instructor ever since.
I was born and raised in Normandy. I obtained my teaching degree from "Ecole Normale de Caen." I moved to the USA in 1987 to complete a Master's degree in French Studies at Auburn University, Alabama. I went on to teach at the University of Wyoming, and then followed my husband to North Carolina. I taught French at Wake Forest Elementary School, East Millbrook Middle school and Raleigh Charter High School. I currently teach at East Chapel Hill High School.
Originally from Morocco, I grew up in Bordeaux, where I obtained a Bachelor's degree in French Literature. I then moved back to Meknes, Morocco, obtained my teaching diploma and started my teaching career as a teacher of French and French literature. With over 30 years of experience, I have had exposure to students at all levels both in public schools and at the Institut Français in Casablanca. In love with the French literature, I have also authored two collections of poetry, "Les rêves rebelles" and "Ephémère Accalmie", both published in Paris.
I was born in Versailles, in the outskirts of Paris. I started studying law at Paris-Dauphine University and earned a Master's degree in law (LL.M) from Duke University in North Carolina. I also hold a Master's degree in teaching French as a Foreign Language (FLE) from the University of Artois (France.) I am currently furthering my education by studying computer sciences. My passion for learning goes hand in hand with my joy in teaching. I always look forward to teaching as much as learning from my students.
I was born and raised in Lyon, France's gastronomic capital city. I originally trained as a social worker and psychotherapist. I became a French teacher in 2019, when I relocated to Greensboro with my husband and 2 kids. In addition to working with Alliance Française, I teach French in Middle School. I am passionate about literature and I also enjoy writing.