CARLA Fellow Program
The CARLA Fellow Program is designed to recognize and support the outstanding contributions of graduate students at the University of Minnesota in the area of second language learning and/or teaching, and to engage graduate students in the work being done at CARLA. Each year, up to two University of Minnesota doctoral students are selected as CARLA Fellows. The awardees receive a $1,000 reimbursement allowance for travel to attend or present at a language-related conference and are invited to give a CARLA Presentation during the academic year.
CARLA Fellow 2024-2025
CARLA is pleased to announce the selection of one CARLA Fellow for the 2024–2025 academic year:
Perla Escobar-Faerber is a PhD student in Hispanic Linguistics in the Department of Spanish & Portuguese Studies, where she teaches undergraduate Spanish courses. Her research focuses on applied linguistics and sociolinguistics, with an emphasis on the language practices of heritage Spanish speakers in diverse domains, including educational and community contexts. Perla earned her BA in Spanish Translation from Brigham Young University (BYU), where she also worked with the local Spanish-speaking community through non-profit organizations. She received her MA in Hispanic Linguistics, with a graduate minor in Portuguese, also at BYU.
Her connection to CARLA began when she was selected as a Graduate Student Fellow in Summer 2023 under the mentorship of Dr. Mandy Menke. She was also a recipient of the CARLA Summer Institute Scholarship, which allowed her to participate in the institute on Critical Approaches to Heritage Language Education.
CARLA Fellows (1996–Present)
2024–2025:
Perla Escobar-Faerber (Hispanic Linguistics/PhD)
2023–2024:
Leiry Warren (Hispanic Linguistics/PhD)
2022–2023:
Darren LaScotte (Second Languages and Cultures Education/PhD)
Marie Mangold (Hispanic Linguistics/PhD)
2020–2021:
Vivian H. Franco Díaz (Hispanic Linguistics/PhD)
Amanda Swearingen (Second Languages and Cultures Education/PhD)
2019–2020:
Leah Shepard-Carey (Second Languages and Cultures Education/PhD)
Lauren Truman (Hispanic Linguistics/PhD)
2018–2019:
Mónica de la Fuente Iglesias (Hispanic Linguistics/PhD)
Russell Simonsen (Hispanic Linguistics/PhD)
2017–2018:
Yi-Ju Lai (Second Languages and Cultures Education/PhD)
Corinne Mathieu (Second Languages and Cultures Education/PhD.
2016–2017:
Jenna Cushing-Leubner (Second Languages and Cultures Education/PhD)
Mel Engman (Second Languages and Cultures Education/PhD)
Jenifer Vanek (Second Languages and Cultures Education/PhD)
2014–2015:
LeeAnne Godfrey (Second Languages and Cultures Education/PhD)
Beth Dillard (Second Languages and Cultures Education/PhD)
2013–2014:
Fang (Andie) Wang (Second Languages and Cultures Education/PhD)
Amy Young (Second Languages and Cultures Education/PhD)
2012–2013:
Angela George (Hispanic Linguistics/PhD)
2011–2012:
Angela Pinilla-Herrera (Hispanic Linguistics/PhD)
2010–2011:
Sachiko Horii (Second Languages and Cultures Education/PhD)
2009–2010:
Giang Thùy Pham (Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences/PhD)
2008–2009:
Mandy Menke (Hispanic Linguistics/PhD)
2007–2008:
Pam Wesely (Second Languages and Cultures Education/PhD)
2006–2007:
Karla Stone (Second Languages and Cultures Education/PhD)
2005–2006:
Laurent Cammarata (Second Languages and Cultures Education/PhD)
2004–2005:
Anne Dahlman (Second Languages and Cultures Education/PhD)
2003–2004:
Lisa McCowen (Hispanic Linguistics/PhD)
2002–2003:
Karen Jorgensen (Second Languages and Cultures Education/PhD)
Paul Magnuson (Second Languages and Cultures Education/PhD)
2001–2002:
Mike Anderson (Second Languages and Cultures Education/PhD)
Jenny Yi-chun Kuo (Linguistics/PhD)
2000–2001:
J. Cesar Felix-Brasdefer (Hispanic Linguistics/PhD)
Tara Fortune (Second Languages and Cultures Education/PhD)
1999–2000:
Patsy Vinogradov (ESL/MA)
Bonnie Swierzbin (Linguistics/PhD)
1998–1999:
Karin Goettsch (ESL/MA)
Francine Klein (Second Languages and Cultures Education/PhD)
John Skinner (ESL/MA)
1997–1998:
Andreas Schramm (Linguistics/PhD)
Nima Salehi (ESL/MA)
1996–1997:
Karen Lybeck (Linguistics/ PhD)
Patricia Mougel (Second Languages and Cultures Education/PhD)