About Us
We are curious lifelong learners with experience teaching Spanish in both the K-8 system and in higher education. We are convinced that bilingualism and multilingualism go beyond cognitive benefits to include immersion in another culture, another way of thinking and even greater opportunities in a challenging job market.
Besides language acquisition, we are also interested in career development as a life-span process. We are examples of how a long academic path can take interesting turns outside of faculty positions in higher education.
Founder and Executive Director
Mariana Herring
Mariana is passionate about education as a multidimensional experience that allows us to make sense of the world. She holds a PhD in Spanish and Portuguese and is a current master’s student in Educational Psychology at the University of New Mexico.
Mariana was born and raised in Colombia to parents that always encouraged curiosity and the love of learning. That curiosity and flexibility guided her through the academic and the world-of-work in unexpected ways. Besides teaching Spanish literature at the high school and university levels in Colombia, and Brazil, Mariana worked in clinical research in the areas of Epidemiology and Cancer and held administrative roles in international intergovernmental organizations and in the non-profit sector. She also has experience in the higher education space as a Spanish and Portuguese instructor for second language learners.
Member of the Board of Directors and Director of Operations
Mark Cisneros
Mark Cisneros received his PhD in Hispanic Linguistics from the University of New Mexico in 2022. He has worked as a research assistant and Spanish instructor in the Spanish and Portuguese Department at UNM and in the Department of Writing and Language Studies at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. He has experience working at the post-secondary level teaching beginning, intermediate and advanced-level Spanish language courses, including courses in Hispanic linguistics and Spanish in the U.S.
Member of the Board of Directors and Program Director
Joely Teasdale
Joely is enthusiastic about education and committed to improve the students’ experience in order to be successful with their academics. As a former Spanish Teacher in New Mexico, she is still involved with the educational system as a Substitute for Richmond County in Georgia.
Joely was born and raised in Tamaulipas, Mexico; then moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, during High School. She went to the University of New Mexico, where she earned a B.A. Degree with a double major in Psychology and Spanish, and eventually two M.A. Degrees in Spanish Literature and Latin American Studies, with components of linguistics and teaching. After completing her studies, she worked for two years as a 4th grade Spanish/Bilingual teacher at New Mexico International School. She also worked as Long-Term Spanish Teacher Substitute for 4 months at Amy Biehl Charter High School in New Mexico before moving to Augusta, Georgia. Currently, she is working as a Substitute Teacher for Richmond County (Georgia), where she has had the opportunity to interact with students of different schools and grade levels in the area. These interactions with different school systems motivated Joely to commit to the philosophy that all students should have an educational experience that fits their needs and helps them be successful in their academic paths or their future work goals.