I am an instructor of Spanish at the University of South Dakota’s Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics. 

I hold a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communications from Creighton University, a master’s in human relations from the University of Oklahoma, and I attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where I completed graduate studies in modern languages and literatures. 

I teach various courses each semester and have recently designed the curriculum for the course sequence in our newly created Undergraduate Certificate in Fundamental Medical Spanish.

I am also the director of the Faculty-Led Program: Spanish Immersion in Bilbao, Spain, which I have designed as a fully immersive experience that will expose students to Spanish beyond the classroom, as they will encounter firsthand the culture, health system, education methodology, and social way of life through full-day excursions to historical cities, evening activities, visits to museums and healthcare environments, and interactions with their Spanish instructor and host families. 

• Spanish Language Acquisition

• Spanish Writing for Communication

• Spanish Reading for Cultural Comprehension

• Spanish Grammar and Stylistics

• Spanish for Oral Communication

• Spanish for the Professions (Health, Law, Interpreting, and Translation)

• Spanish and Spanish-American Literary Studies

• Spanish and Spanish-American Cultural Studies (Civilization and Cinema)

• Madison B. Gallagher. Disparities in Access to Assisted Reproduction Interventions for Hispanic Women in the United States. Spring 2021. 

• Briana M. Harguth. Machismo and Consequential Aphrodisiac Consumption in Oaxaca, Mexico. Fall 2019. 

• Elected Humanities Representative for the University of South Dakota Curriculum & Instruction Committee for 2023-2026.

• Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) Tester of Spanish with Full Certification from the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL). Since April 11, 2023.

• Director of the Faculty-Led Program Spanish Immersion in Bilbao, Spain. Since Fall 2022.

• Faculty advisor to Sigma Delta Pi, the National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society. University of South Dakota. Since Fall 2018.

• Course developer for the sequence in the  Fundamentals of Medical Spanish Certificate. Summer 2022 to Spring 2023.

• Introductory & Intermediate Textbook Reviewer. University of South Dakota. Spring 2023. 

• Faculty Advisor to Latino-Hispanic Student Organization (LaHSO). University of South Dakota. Fall 2018 to Spring 2023.

• Interpreting Services Spanish-English/English-Spanish. Speech & Hearing Clinic, University of South Dakota, Summer 2020.

• SPAN 101 – Introductory Spanish I (4 hrs)

• SPAN 101 – Introductory Spanish I (4 hrs) [ONLINE ASYNCHRONOUS]

• SPAN 102 – Introductory Spanish II (4 hrs)

• SPAN 102 – Introductory Spanish II (4 hrs) [ONLINE ASYNCHRONOUS]

• SPAN 120 – Medical Spanish I (4 hrs)

• SPAN 201 – Intermediate Spanish II (3 hrs)

• SPAN 202 – Intermediate Spanish II (3 hrs)

• SPAN 202 – Intermediate Spanish II (3 hrs) [ONLINE SYNCHRONOUS]

• SPAN 303 – Readings in Latin American Culture (3 hrs)

• SPAN 306 – Spanish for Healthcare Workers (3 hrs) [Cross-listed as HSC 306]

• SPAN 320 – Intense Spanish Grammar Review (3 hrs) [ONLINE SYNCHRONOUS]

• SPAN 330 – Reading and Writing for Communication (3 hrs)

• SPAN 330 – Reading and Writing for Communication (3 hrs) [ONLINE SYNCHRONOUS]

• SPAN 357 – Masterpieces of Spanish (3 hrs) [ONLINE SYNCHRONOUS]

• SPAN 392 – Topics: Spanish for Law Professionals (3 hrs) [ONLINE SYNCHRONOUS]

• SPAN 411 – Advanced Oral Practice I in Spanish (3 hrs)

• SPAN 480 – Survey of Latin American Literature I (3 hrs)

• SPAN 491 – 20th Century Latin American Female Writers (3 hrs) [Independent Study]

• SPAN 494 – Internship: Spanish Peer Learning Program (1 hr)

• Instructor at the University of South Dakota, since fall 2013.

• Visiting Faculty at the University of South Dakota, Fall 2012 to Spring 2013.

• Lecturer at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, Spring 2012.

• Lecturer at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Fall 2011.

• Docente (Lecturer) at the Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha in Toledo, Spain, Summer 2009 & Summer 2008.

• Resident Director to the study abroad program ESTO, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2007-2011.

• Graduate Teaching Assistant, Spanish, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Fall 2004 to Spring 2011.

• Medical Interpreter and Translator, University of Nebraska Medical Center and Clarkson Hospital, 2002 to 2004.

• Legal Translator and Interpreter, Omaha, Nebraska, 1999 to 2004.