Ph.D. Students
Tania Abella Fernández
Tania Abella Fernandez is a fourth-year Ph.D. candidate in Hispanic Linguistics in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese Studies at the University of Florida. She holds a B.A. in Hispanic Philology (mention in Classical Languages and Literature) from the University of Havana, and a M.A in Teaching of Spanish as a Foreign Language from the University of Cantabria. She has also served as a member of the pan-hispanic PRESEEA Project (Project for the Sociolinguistic Study of Spanish from Spain and America). Her research interests include linguistic change, sociolinguistic variation, corpus linguistics, historical linguistics and discourse analysis.
Laura M. Callahan
Laura is a fifth-year PhD candidate in the literature and culture track. She holds a dual BA in Spanish and International Studies from Baldwin Wallace University, a JD from Thomas M. Cooley Law School at Western Michigan University, and an MA in Spanish from Cleveland State University. Her current research interests focus on psychoanalysis, memory, post-memory and trauma as related to the formation of personal identity and human rights. Her secondary research interests include popular cinema, literature and music from the Caribbean and Southern Cone, and the intersection between law and literature.
Sergio Casado Ariza
Sergio is a second year Ph.D. student in Hispanic Linguistics at the University of Florida. He holds a dual bachelor’s degree in Hispanic and French Studies and two Minors, in German and in Translation & Interpreting, from the Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona (Spain). He also holds an MA in Education in Spanish and Catalan Languages and Literatures from the same university (Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona). His current research interests include syntax, bilingualism, phonetics and phonology in second language acquisition, dialectology, and Romance languages.
Sabrina Cohen
Sabrina is a first-year PhD student in Hispanic Linguistics at the University of Florida. She received her BA in Spanish, Linguistics, and Economics from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Her present research interests include phonetics and phonology, bilingualism, second language acquisition, diachronic linguistics, and sociolinguistics.
Marina Cuartero Marco
Marina is a third year PhD student of Hispanic Linguistics. She has a B.A. in Translation Studies from the University of Alcala de Henares, and a M.A. in Spanish from Auburn University. Her main research interests include heritage language acquisition and pedagogy, language contact, variation and indigenous languages (Kichwa). Her hobbies are playing viola, doing yoga, and cycling.
Leire Echevarría Canal
Leire is a fourth year PhD student of Hispanic Linguistics at the University of Florida. She holds a B.A. in Modern Languages from Universidad de Deusto in Spain and a M.A. in Hispanic Linguistics, from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Her research interests include Second and Heritage Language Acquisition, bilingualism, sociolinguistics and technology in language teaching.
Analiz Faife Casas
Analiz Faife Casas is a second year Ph.D. candidate of Spanish Literature and Cultural Studies at the Department of Language and Portuguese Studies at the University of Florida. She holds a bachelor’s degree in French and Francophone Studies and a Minor in Spanish from Florida International University. She also holds a MA in Comparative Literature from Florida Atlantic University. Her research interests encompass Latin America and the Caribbean, cultural syncretism, postcolonial theory, literary theory, psychoanalysis, feminism, and film studies.
Nazita Fazlkhah
Nazita is a first year Ph.D. student of Hispanic Linguistics at the Department of Language and Portuguese Studies at the University of Florida. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Spanish Language from University of Allameh Tabatabai (Iran) and She also holds a MA in Spanish Language and Linguistics from University of Oviedo (Spain). Her research interests are Heritage Language bilingualism, Code-Switching and second language acquisition. In her spare time, Nazita enjoys doing Yoga and Meditation.
Ivana M. Frisa
Ivana M. Frisa is a first year Ph.D. student of Spanish Literature and Cultural Studies at the Department of Language and Portuguese Studies at the University of Florida. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Spanish from The College of Mount Saint Vincent. She also earned her MA in Spanish from Florida Atlantic University. Her research interests encompass 19th-Century rioplatense Spanish American literature and culture with an emphasis on gender studies and its role pertaining to immigration. The role and contribution of Italian immigration in Argentina and in the Río de la Plata is a major topic of interest. In her spare time, Ivana enjoys the company of good friends and her dog Chui, relaxing at the beach, outdoor activities, cycling, exploring good cuisine, and watching films/shows.
Marc Gandarillas
Marc Gandarillas is a Ph.D. Candidate in Hispanic Linguistics in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese Studies at the University of Florida. He earned his B.A. in Classics and his B.A. in Linguistics from the University of Barcelona. He also holds a M.A. in Cultures and Languages of Antiquity (University of Barcelona), which he concluded with a thesis on the Sardinian language. His current research interests include sociolinguistics, language contact, dialectology, language policy, endangered languages, and historical linguistics.
Greity Gonzalez Rivera
Greity Gonzalez Rivera is a fifth-year Ph.D candidate in the Literature and Culture track at the University of Florida. She holds a BA in Art History from the University of Havana and MA in Spanish from the Florida International University. Her current research interests include, but are not limited to, contemporary Latin American novels, neoliberalism, editorial industry and reader reception theory. She has edited numerous books by Hispanic American writers, and is representative of the Southern region in the MLA’s Assembly of Delegates (2021-2024)
María Hernández González
María is a fifth-year PhD student of Spanish in the literature track. She holds a BA in Language Teaching from Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla (Mexico) and MA in Spanish from University of Arkansas. Her current research interests include indigenous representation through contemporary Latin American literature and visual arts.
Juan Manuel Martínez
Juan Manuel Martínez is a first-year PhD student in the literature track at The University of Florida. He holds a BA in English (Creative Writing track) and a BA in Modern Languages from The University of Central Florida. Additionally, he earned an MA in Creative Writing from Universidad Nacional de Colombia and an MA in Spanish and Latin American Literature from Universidad Internacional de la Rioja. His interests include, but are not limited to, Boom and Post-Boom literature, Bilingualism in literature, and the use of literature for language teaching purposes.
María Laura Mecías
Maria Laura is a first-year PhD student in the Hispanic Linguistics track at University of Florida. She holds a B.A in Literature from Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina, after that she earned her M.A. in Hispanic Applied Linguistics in Universidad Europea del Atlántico, Spain. Her research interests include, but are not limited to, the heritage language acquisition and pedagogy, Spanish language education through technology, Spanish for specific purposes, and language teachers training. Her hobbies include running and gardening.
Enrique Muñoz-Mantas
Enrique Muñoz-Mantas is a second-year Ph.D. student in Hispanic Literatures and Cultures Studies in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese Studies at the University of Florida. He earned his B.A. in Catalan Studies from the University of Barcelona and his M.A. in Education from the Valencian International University. His research interests include, but are not limited to, the Francoist exile, Peninsular and Catalan postwar literature, and Peninsular and Latin American science and crime fiction.
María Victoria Muñoz
Victoria is a first-year PhD student in the Literature and Culture track at the University of Florida. She holds a BA in English Language and Culture and an MA in Contemporary Literatures in English from the National University of Cuyo (Mendoza, Argentina), and she was recently awarded an MA in Spanish Literature at the University of Florida. She published a book on E. E. Cummings’s poetry in 2019 (Edifyl, Argentina). Her current research interests include contemporary Latin American literature, especially written by women. When not reading, she likes singing in choir and traveling.
Daniela Nuñez de Alvarez Stransky
Daniela is a second year PhD student of Hispanic Linguistics. She holds a B.A. in Hispanic Language and Literatures from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) and a M.A. in Applied Linguistics from the same university. Her main research interests include heritage language acquisition and pedagogy, acquisition, loss and reactivation of syntax with special focus on migrants who are returning to Mexico. Her hobbies include the practice of psychoanalysis, doing yoga, listening to tango and dancing.
Nancy Pinzón-Acevedo
Nancy is a Ph.D. candidate in the Latin American Literature and Culture track at the University of Florida. She holds a B.A. in Civil Engineering from Escuela Colombiana de Ingenieria (Bogotá), an M.S. in Information Systems from Pace University (New York), and an M.A. in Modern Languages and Literatures (Spanish) from the University of Montana (Missoula). Her research focuses on humor as a means to narrate or refer to violent events. Mainly, she concentrates on the variety of aesthetic humor modalities that have been historically undervalued. She is also interested in human rights in Latin America and their representation in literature and film.
Gabriela D. Rivera Marín
Gabriela D. Rivera Marín is a second-year doctoral student of Hispanic Linguistics at the University of Florida. She holds a B.A in Comparative Literature, and a second B.A. in Linguistics & Communication from the University of Puerto Rico-Río Piedras (UPRRP). Her current research interests include bilingualism, heritage language acquisition, psycholinguistics, and sociolinguistics.
Hernán Rosario
Hernán Rosario is a 4th year PhD candidate in Hispanic Linguistics. During the past years his work has focused on the contact of Spanish and English in Puerto Rico, loan words and phonetic perception. His doctoral dissertation focuses on phonetic manipulation and bilingual language processing using eye-tracking.
Grisell Santiago
Grisell Santiago is an Associate Professor of Spanish for P.K. Yonge (K-12) school for the UF Department of Education. She teaches full time and is working part- time in her PhD in Literature. She is from Puerto Rico and her main researches include Latin American Literature and Culture. She earned her M.A from the University of Central Florida. She has received awards and accolades including: 2019-2020 ACTFL Teaching and Learning Culture SIG Award, 2016-2017 P.K. Yonge Teacher of the Year, 2014-2015 High School Excellence in Education Award, State of Florida, 2011-2012 Teacher of the Year and Florida American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (FAATSP).
Gustavo Velázquez Lazcano
Gustavo is a second year PhD candidate of the Literature and Culture track at the University of Florida. He holds a B.A. in Literary Studies with a concentration in Creative Writing from Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro (Mexico) and an M.A. in Spanish from Ohio University. His current research interests include Contemporary Mexican Children’s and YA Literature, Children’s Books Film Adaptations, Translation, and Fantasy Literature.
Diana Velázquez López
Diana is a third year PhD student of Hispanic Linguistics. She has a B.A. in English Studies from The University of Cádiz, and a M.A. in Hispanic Linguistics from The University of Florida. Her main research interests include second and heritage language phonology, and CALL.
Allen Zegarra Acevedo
Allen Zegarra Acevedo is a Ph.D. candidate in the Literature and Culture track at the University of Florida. He holds a B.A. in journalism from Universidad Jaime Bausate y Meza (Lima), a specialization in TEFL from Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, and an M.A. in Spanish from Auburn University. His research focuses on unraveling the socioeconomic factors that lie behind social phenomena in Latin America such as slavery, exploitation, racism, and classism and their connections with propaganda and the mass media. He is also interested in designing Spanish teaching courses based on literary material.
Irene Zurita-Moreno
Irene is a third year PhD student of Hispanic Linguistics. She holds a BA in Hispanic Philology from the University of Alcala and a MA in Hispanic Studies from Auburn University which she concluded with a thesis on the use of Spanish in Southern Arizona. Her research interest focuses on Psycholinguistics, Language Processing, Bilingualism, and heritage Speakers.
M.A. Students
Hadder Ceballos
Hadder is a first year MA student in the Literature and Culture track at the University of Florida. He has a BA in Modern Languages from Universidad de Caldas in Manizales, and an MA in Humanities from Liverpool Hope University. His main interests lie in teaching Spanish as a second language and English as a second language as well. His hobbies are bike-riding, travelling, listening to music, watching movies, playing soccer,sports in general, reading (mostly Sci-fi, thrillers and horror). He also loves dogs and cats.
Iván Díez de la Pava
Iván is a first year MA student in the Literature and Culture track at the University of Florida. He has a BA in Modern Languages with a double specialization in Hispanic and Literary Studies from the University of Deusto in Bilbao. His main research interests include the sociology of literature, especially Caribbean literature and culture, and the Latin-American contemporary novel. His hobbies are hiking, travelling, swimming, playing the piano and the guitar, listening to music, etc.
Fernanda González
Fernanda González is a second year MA student in Spanish Literature and Culture at the University of Florida. She holds a BS in Behavioral Science with a Spanish Minor from the US Air Force Academy. Currently, her research interests include contemporary science fiction, specifically in young adult books.
Sheila Olivé
Sheila is a first-year M.A. student in Hispanic Literature at the University of Florida. She holds a B.A. in Hispanic Philology from the University of Havana. Her research interests include Latin American and Caribbean narrative, literature published in cultural magazines, and the influence of cinema in Cuban literature.
Valeria Pagliai
Valeria is a first-year M.A. student in Hispanic Linguistics at the University of Florida. She holds a B.A. in Hispanic Literature and Linguistics with a Minor in Asian Studies from the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile. Her research interests include Computational Linguistics, Psycholinguistics, Bilingualism and Translation. Her hobbies are photography, playing the guitar, playing video games and listening to Taylor Swift.
Zane M. Price
Zane is a first-year master’s student in Hispanic Linguistics at the University of Florida. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Spanish with a minor in pipe organ performance from the University of Florida. His interests include second language acquisition and psycholinguistics. His hobbies include backpacking and playing pipe organ.
Alba Santamaría-Gallego
Alba is a first-year M.A. student in Hispanic Linguistics at the University of Florida. She holds a double B.A. in Basque Language and Culture + Modern Languages from the University of Deusto (Bilbao). Her research interests include Syntax, Language Acquisition, Second Language Acquisition, Heritage Language Speakers and Psycholinguistics.
Jade Sierra
Jade is a first year M.A. student in Hispanic Linguistics at the University of Florida, where she also earned a B.A. in Linguistics. Her interests include heritage language speakers, second language acquisition, language contact, and bilingualism.
Danielle Spivey
Danielle Spivey is a first year M.A. student in Spanish Literature and Culture at the University of Florida. She holds a B.A. in Spanish with a minor in Mass Media from Valdosta State University. Her research interests include colonial and contemporary Latin American literature with a focus on women’s literature and their portrayals. Her hobbies include boxing, being outdoors, and watching Marvel movies/shows.
Hannah Treadway
Hannah Treadway is a first-year M.A. student in Hispanic Linguistics in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese Studies at the University of Florida. She holds a double B.A. with honors in Spanish and music from Ohio Wesleyan University. Her current research interests include bilingualism, psycholinguistics, bilingual sentence processing, and Spanish-English code-switching, especially the code-switching intuitions of second-language learners of Spanish. Her hobbies include playing clarinet, teaching music, and hiking with her dog Copland.
Georgina Wilson
Georgina Wilson is a first-year M.A. student in Hispanic Literature at the University of Florida. She holds a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Women’s Studies and a B.A. in Spanish from the University of North Florida. Her research interests include early colonial Latin America, female monastic writing, Spanish folk verse and the digital humanities. Her hobbies include flamenco dance, sewing and painting.
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