WELCOME! BIENVENIDOS!

Hi, and thanks for visiting! I'm a first-generation Puerto Rican and applied linguist researcher based in New York. My personal experiences as a bilingual and second language learner deeply shape the way I think about language, learning, and identity.

I'm a sociolinguist and qualitative researcher with over 10 years of experience exploring how people use language to express who they are, connect with others, and navigate the world around them. My work sits at the intersection of sociolinguistics, linguistic anthropology, and applied research, with a focus on bilingualism, language ideologies, and learner identities—particularly within U.S. Latinx and Puerto Rican communities.

In 2021, I received a National Endowment for the Humanities Faculty Award to support my ongoing research, and I’m currently working on a monograph under contract. I’m especially interested in how cultural identity and language learning unfold in multilingual contexts, and how digital platforms shape the way people perform and negotiate their identities online. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to teach English sociolinguistics in the U.S., Europe, and Puerto Rico. Most recently, I’ve held faculty positions at Sarah Lawrence College and Teachers College, Columbia University, and the University of Puerto Rico -- where I've taught courses on:

• Language and identity, with a focus on race and multilingualism

• Language learning from a sociocultural perspective

• Language use and its socially constructed meanings

My approach is grounded in ethnographic insight and sociocultural theory, and I'm passionate about turning abstract ideas into accessible, meaningful conversations—whether in the classroom, in research, or in broader public discourse.

Outside of academia, I bring experience in educational content creation and project-based research. I love working across disciplines to uncover the deeper cultural stories behind how we speak, learn, and live.

This site is a space where I share updates on my work, teaching, and journey as a researcher, educator, and mother. I’m glad you’re here.

Research areas / Areas de investigación

Sociolinguistics, bilingualism and identity, language beliefs, language use, World Englishes.

Sociolingüística, bilingüismo e identidad, ideologías lingüísticas, uso del lenguaje, Inglés alrededor del mundo.