Originally from Spain, María holds a B.A. in Translation and Interpretation from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and an M.A. in Hispanic Linguistics and Cinema from the University of Georgia (UGA). She completed her Ph.D. in Hispanic Linguistics at UGA, where her dissertation research focused on Second Language Acquisition and Language Variation. Her work examined how English-speaking learners acquire Spanish pronoun doubling structures, while also documenting patterns of variation among native speakers from Argentina, Spain, and Mexico.
María’s research explores second language acquisition, linguistic variation, and pedagogy in Spanish. She has examined implicit attitudes toward gender-inclusive language, the historical and contemporary evolution of discourse markers such as pues, and the treatment of prepositions like por and para in Spanish textbooks. She is also engaged in projects on inclusive teaching practices, connecting her linguistic research with innovative and socially conscious pedagogy.
María’s research has been supported by a Wilson Center Travel Grant for fieldwork in Buenos Aires and a Sigma Delta Pi Award for research in Mexico City. In Spring 2025, she was one of only five graduate students to receive UGA’s prestigious Excellence in Teaching Award, which recognized her outstanding contributions to undergraduate education.
She brings extensive teaching experience in Spanish language and linguistics at all levels, including courses such as Introduction to Spanish Linguistics. Her teaching philosophy is rooted in student-centered learning, with a commitment to fostering linguistic diversity, critical thinking, and social justice.
At Brown, María co-coordinates the Spanish language program in the Department of Hispanic Studies.
