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. 

CARLA Fellow Program Opportunity 2024-2025

The Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition (CARLA) seeks applications for the CARLA Fellow Program. This 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. Applicants should be University of Minnesota doctoral students nearing the end of their program of study who have not previously received CARLA Fellow funding. Fellows are expected to give an online CARLA presentation during the fellowship year and to attend CARLA events and presentations as their schedule permits.   

Selection criteria include: strength of the letter of application; number of publications and presentations at national and international  conferences; activities as a language teacher, advocate, consultant, or teacher educator; strength of the letter of recommendation from a faculty member; and strength of the writing sample. 

CARLA anticipates awarding two CARLA Fellowships for the 2024–2025 academic year.

Benefits of being a CARLA Fellow:

  • Receive up to a $1,000 reimbursement allowance for travel to attend or present at a language-related conference
  • Give an online CARLA Presentation during the academic year

Application Instructions:

Prepare a 1-2 page letter of application outlining the following:

  • Your research interests and activities
  • Plans for using the CARLA Fellow funds
  • Your past involvement with CARLA and potential future involvement as a CARLA Fellow


Include the following documents in your application:

  • Academic writing sample related to language learning and/or teaching
  • Transcript of academic work (unofficial)
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Letter of recommendation from a faculty member


Email your application materials directly to the CARLA Director at: [email protected]

Application Due Date: Monday, November 4, 2024.

For more information, email Karin Larson at: [email protected]

CARLA Fellows (1996–Present)

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)