World Languages and Cultures
Valeria Ochoa
Valeria Ochoa (she/her/ella) is an Assistant Professor of Spanish Linguistics and Heritage Education in the School of Language, Culture, and Society. Her research focuses on Spanish as a heritage language (SHL) in the United States. Within this field, Valeria investigates issues relevant to local bi/multilingual communities through the incorporation of critical and decolonial perspectives. Her research has been published in peer-reviewed journals such as the Journal of Pragmatics and Languages.
Chris Kneifl
Chris Kneifl has a BA in Philosophy and an MA in Spanish Literature, both from the University of Oklahoma. He has been working for Oregon State since 2016 and teaches first and second year language classes for both the main campus and E-campus. His primary interest is second language acquisition, and he also enjoys exploring the ideas of human migration, borders, and citizenship through music and literature. In his spare time, he likes to travel and enjoy the numerous recreational opportunities in the Pacific Northwest.