As an Assistant Professor of ESL/Bilingual Multicultural Education at USU my current research interests and publishing agenda is focused on the performance of Latino, and other culturally and linguistically diverse student populations, in US and Utah secondary schools. My research interest and work also includes indigenous knowledge, ethnic identity, and intercultural bilingual education among indigenous populations in Latin America.

Using anthropological approaches to the study of cultures and languages in contact within educational settings, I draw my conceptual frameworks from critical pedagogy, postcolonial and poststructural theoretical approaches and critical ethnography.

A native from Santiago, Chile, trilingual in Spanish, English and French, I came to the field of higher education with an extensive previous experience as a secondary ESL/Bilingual public school teacher in the US and previous work experience in the fields of international development (Elections and Human Rights) and journalism. During these years I lived and worked in six Latin American countries.

Recently published book:

Areas and Work of Special Interest
Culture, language and community in ESL/Bilingual Education
Anthropological and ethnographic approaches to the study of multilingual schooling
Educational linguistics and diverse student populations
Migration and education
Ethnic identity, agency, and social movements
Indigenous knowledge and tribal education
Education and development in Latin America