Faculty
The success of Northwest Gemological Institute lies in the outstanding faculty assembled. Each NGI instructor is highly respected in the jewelry industry and actively engaged in their field, usually as a business owner, offering keen insights into the industry. It is our philosophy to not only utilize the most qualified instructors, but those who enjoy teaching and take the extra time to make your education enjoyable.
Our past and present instructors include:
Evie Chung teaches Pearls and Pearl Stringing. She is an owner in two importing companies which furnish pearls, jade and manufactured jewelry to the trade.
Ted Irwin, G.G., I.C.G.A., A.S.G, N.A.J.A., is the director of NGI and teaches the gemological courses. He has taught at NGI since 1981 as well as appraised over 100,000 articles through affiliate Northwest Gemological Laboratory.
Bob Jackson has published several rock hounding guides and conducts field trips world-wide through his business Geology Adventures. Under Washington combines NGI’s small group classroom approach with Bob’s own brand of “field education.”
Karen Lorene, I.S.A., N.A.J.A., is the owner of Facèré Jewelry Art and teaches the Antique Jewelry series. She is a national authority on antique and period jewelry appearing regularly in the media and is the author of “Buying Jewelry: Skipping the mistakes.”
Christie Romero is a historian of antique, period, and vintage jewelry, as well as a lecturer, instructor, consultant and collector. She is also the director of the Center for Jewelry Studies. Christie Romero has participated as an appraiser of antique and period jewelry on PBS’ Antiques Roadshow.
Rosie Sayyah is Seattle’s “Rhinestone Rosie” with a shop of the same name. She teaches Costume Jewelry and has provided lectures and in-costume presentations throughout the region.