Meet the Team

Get to know the dedicated board members and staff who lead AF Raleigh, bringing passion and expertise to foster French language and culture in our community.


Board of Directors

Edmund Tiryakian President
I am a US citizen married to a French.  A former lawyer and investment banker, I spent my career in Hong Kong, ran marathons around the world, tracked mountain gorillas in Rwanda and bonobos in Congo.  I am now retired to my native North Carolina, living in the unexplored wilds of Hillsborough, where I tend to chickens, bees, cats and dogs in modest attempts to be a gentleman farmer. 
Hélène Crié-Wiesner Vice-President
I am a French-American citizen, writer, and journalist. I worked for many years at "Libération," a national French daily newspaper, and for the national public radio station "France Inter." Based in Chapel Hill for part of the year, I now write for French media as a freelancer.
Anne Clayton Secretary
I grew up as a "third culture kid" in the US, with my French mother and Dutch father.  I have lived in North Carolina for the last 20 years working as a realtor in the Triangle.  In my personal life, I love travel, kayaking, knitting, learning any kind of craft, and spending time with my family and dog Milo (a cute little Biewer Terrier!) 
Samuel Hotchkiss Treasurer

I am an American citizen originally from Washington DC., and have lived in Durham since 2020.  I received a 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 my junior year abroad.  Prior to my current career in Healthcare Finance and IT, I worked as an English language teaching assistant in the Vendée region of France. 

Michèle Darrah Member

I am a French-American citizen, retired teacher from NCSU Department of languages, and musician, I have chaired the Alliance française for more than twenty years up until 2017.  

Charles Neely Member

I was born in Raleigh, NC. I graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill and Duke Law School and served in the Navy during the Vietnam war. I practiced law in Raleigh for 50 years and was elected to three terms in the General Assembly. I bicycle, sail and study French through the Alliance.

Employees and French Instructors

Claire Barthélemy Executive Director
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). 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 with our son and 3 dogs.
Marie Lambert Program Manager & French Instructor
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.
Rebecca Rumpf French Instructor
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.  
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 a connection with my roots and bring back useful materials for my classes.

Priya Joawn French Instructor

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 fulltime teacher when I moved to the US and have enjoyed teaching French to non-French speakers ever since.

Claudie Vo Van French Instructor

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.

Eliane Hascal French Instructor

I was born in France and lived in Mexico for 12 years before moving to the US for 30 years. I hold a Diploma in Business Administration from Strasbourg and furthered my studies in Digital Art, Animation, and Web Publishing in Toluca, Mexico.  For over 25 years, I’ve worked in digital marketing, holding roles like Communication Specialist Manager and Web Content Manager.

I love helping students learn French in practical ways and keep them engaged with interactive support. In my free time, I enjoy yoga, hiking, pickleball, reading, and watching movies. I also love nature photography, traveling, baking, and spending time with friends.






Marine Nouhaud French Instructor

I come from the French Alps, near Switzerland. I started teaching French when working as a Campus France Manager in Laos.  I then realized how much I enjoyed being in a classroom and sharing my culture. I went back to college to complete a Master's degree and have been a French instructor ever since.  I taught in France, Bosnia and Poland, mostly to adults, both online and face-to-face. I love hiking, figure skating, cinema and cooking. I also write for a French magazine and work as a marketing consultant.

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