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Devin Jenkins

DEVIN JENKINS

Director & Associate Professor

Devin Jenkins

Director & Associate Professor
801-646-7535LNCO 1930
devin.jenkins@utah.edu 

Education: B.A. University of Colorado
M.A. & Ph.D. University of New Mexico

Interests:

  • Spanish in the United States
  • Spanish Sociolinguistics
  • L2 Phonetics

Before joining the University of Utah, Dr. Jenkins spent 23 years at the University of Colorado Denver, including 13.5 years as a Department Chair.  He is a Past President of the Linguistic Association of the Southwest (LASSO).

Catherine Scott

CATHERINE SCOTT

Associate Director, Administration

Catherine Scott

Associate Director, Administration
801-585-9438 LNCO 1930
c.scott@utah.edu

Education: B.A., International Relations, San Francisco State University.

Interests: She has held university administrative roles (UC Berkley, University of Pittsburgh and the University of Utah) for over twenty-five years and has managed federal grants for the last 15 years. She oversees L2TReC's grant activities and manages the day-to-day operations of the Center. 

Lissie Ah Yen

LISSIE AH YEN

Program Coordinator, Administration & Associate Instructor, Samoan

Lissie Ah Yen

Coordinator, Administrative Program 
801-581-7570 | LNCO 1930
l.ahyen@utah.edu

Education: B.S., Information Systems, Brigham Young University Hawaii.

Interests/Hobbies: Before joining the center Lissie served as the Administrative Assistant to the Dean and Chair of College of Human Development and School of Education at the Brigham Young University Hawaii for 7 years. 

  • Culture
  • Language
  • Community Involvement
  • Event Management
  • Designer
  • Music
  • Dance
  • Sports
  • Travel
  • Baking
  • Sewing
  • Photography

RAQUEL NIXON

Program Assistant

Raquel Nixon

Program Assistant LNCO 1930 raquel.nixon@utah.edu

Education: B.A., Weber State University

Interests: Writing, communication, language, culture and music. 

Jill Landes-Lee

JILL LANDES-LEE

State Director, Utah Bridge Program

Jill Landes-Lee

State Director, Bridge Program
801-585-2682| LNCO 1930
jill.landes-lee@utah.edu

Education: B.A., University of Wisconsin-Madison; M.A., Ed.D., University of Utah.

Interests:  K-20 pathways for dual language immersion (DLI) and Heritage language students; Effects of DLI on college readiness, college access & postsecondary achievement.

She serves on the executive board for the Southwest States Association for Language Teachers (SWCOLT) and the state board for Utah Foreign Language Teaching Association (UFLA).

ROBERT M. STRONG

Director of Curriculum & Coordinator, Spanish Bridge Program

Robert M. Strong

Director of Curriculum & Coordinator, Spanish Bridge Program

Education: B.A and M.A., Brigham Young University; Ph.D., University of Minnesota

Interests: L2 writing, L2 pronunciation pedagogy, language attitudes, dual language immersion 

Rob is passionate about teaching and teacher training. He has taught Spanish and linguistics since his undergraduate work and has since held positions at the University of Minnesota, Wartburg College, the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, and Brigham Young University. He holds a Ph.D. in Hispanic Linguistics with supporting studies in Second Languages and Cultures Education from the University of Minnesota. 

 

KATIE MARIN

 CoordinatorSpanish Bridge Program

Coordinator, Northern French, German and Portuguese Bridge Program

Katie Marin

Education: B.A. and Masters of Second Language Teaching from Utah State University, Utah Secondary Teaching License

Interests: Dual language immersion, languages and cultures, second language acquisition, early college access, educator's professional development and support, language pathways

As part of this progressive program, Katie has worked hard to strengthen the partnership between Utah State University and the Utah Bridge Program through L2TReC at the University of Utah.  She has worked with the Dual Language Immersion Program since 2017 through Weber State University, the University of Utah and Utah State University in 10 different schools across 6 different school districts throughout Utah. She teaches with a very talented team of teachers in the Bridge co-teaching model at several high schools across Utah as well as supporting instructors in French, German, Portuguese and Spanish in their Bridge Program positions. Her passion for language learning and knowledge of the program are valuable to its continuation and success.

Keri Gonzalez

CLAUDIA LOUIS

 CoordinatorSpanish Bridge Program  

Claudia Louis 

 CoordinatorSpanish Bridge Program  claudia.louis@utah.edu 

Education:B.A. & M.A., Secondary Education English and Spanish, University of Kiel, Germany;  M.A., Language Pedagogy German, University of Utah;  Secondary Teaching License (Utah, Germany);  Doctoral candidate, Composition & Applied Linguistics, Indiana University of Pennsylvania. 

Interests: Critical Language Awareness, Language learning investment, Spanish L2 & Heritage Language pedagogy, L2 writing. 

Anne Lair PhD

ANNE LAIR

Director of Curriculum & Coordinator,  French Bridge Program

Anne Lair

Professor/Lecturer, French-World Languages and Cultures
8
01-581-7534 LNCO 1930
anne.lair@utah.edu

Education: Ph.D., The Ohio State University

Interests: Teacher training, bilingualism, proficiency, interculturality, teaching of culture, pedagogy, and symbolism of food.

Recipient of the 2020 AATF Dorothy Ludwig Excellence in Teaching Award at the Post-Secondary level. She has been accredited as the Honorary Consul of France in Utah since 2017 and was recognized as Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Palmes Académiques in May 2017. Anne serves on the board of directors of the Language Connects Foundation (ACTFL).

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SHIN CHI FAME KAO

Director of Curriculum & Coordinator, Chinese Bridge Program 

Shin Chi Fame Kao

Director of Curriculum & CoordinatorChinese Bridge Program
801-585-0988 | LNCO 1930
shinchi.famekao@utah.edu

Education: B.S., National Cheng-Chi University, Taiwan; M.Sc., University of Strathclyde, U.K.; Ed.D, University of Utah

Interests: Immersion education; professional development and support for educators; second language pedagogy; Chinese languag and cultures; Chinese language proficiency assessment.

Possessing K-12 credentials in both Utah and California, she brings over 23 years of teaching experience in K-12 schools, along with diverse administrative roles in both states. She has served as a reader for the AP Chinese Language and Culture Exam for the College Board and has been an ACTFL-certified Oral Proficiency Interview tester in Chinese for many years. Notably, she was honored with the 2021 Outstanding Chinese Teacher Award from the Chinese Language Association of Secondary-Elementary Schools (CLASS).

 

MARTY CHEN

 Coordinator, Chinese Bridge Program

Marty Chen

Coordinator, Associate Instructor
801-587-8554 LNCO 1930
u0664450@utah.edu

Education: MEd

Interests: Growing with students. Trying and learning new things.

BLAIR BATEMAN

Director of Curriculum & Coordinator, Portuguese Bridge Program

Blair Bateman

Director of Curriculum & CoordinatorPortuguese Bridge Program
LNCO 1216                         blair.bateman@utah.edu 

Education: B.A and M.A., Brigham Young University; Ph.D., University of Minnesota 

Interests: Language pedagogy; Portuguese language and cultures; teacher education; teaching of culture; immersion education

Before joining L2TReC, Professor Bateman worked for 19 years as a Professor of Spanish and Portuguese Pedagogy at Brigham Young University. He is the recipient of the Benjamin Cluff Award for Excellence in Teacher Education and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Utah Foreign Language Association, where he served as president from 2020-2021.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last Updated: 7/26/24