Sandra Rodriguez-Arroyo

Biography

Dr. Sandra Rodríguez-Arroyo is an Associate Professor of ESL/Bilingual Teacher Education and a faculty member with the Office of Latino/Latin American Studies (OLLAS). After earning her Bachelor’s degree in Secondary English Education from the Universidad de Puerto Rico en Cayey, Dr. Rodriguez-Arroyo began her career as an educator teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) at the junior high school level in public and private schools in her island. She received her Master in Education (M.Ed.) in Bilingual/Multicultural Education and a Doctorate in Education (D.Ed.) in Curriculum and Instruction from Penn State University. Currently, Dr. Rodriguez-Arroyo directs UNO's undergraduate and graduate ESL and Bilingual teacher education programs. Also, Dr. Rodriguez-Arroyo is the faculty liaison for Metro Area Teachers of English Language Learners (MATELLS).

Teaching Interests

Undergraduate and graduate courses in areas of expertise related to ESL and Bilingual Teacher Education. Supervise field-based experiences for future and current language teachers.

Research Interests

Educational opportunities for English Language Learners (ELLs) in the state of Nebraska; Preparing future and current teachers to work with the growing rate of ELLs in the state; Translanguaging perspectives in bilingual education teacher preparation; Asset-based service-learning experiences with diverse learners and families; Latina faculty testimonios.

Awards and Honors

Nebraska Campus Compact 2015 Excellence in Community-Based Teaching & Scholarship Award, Teaching - 2015

UNO Faculty Service Learning Award, Teaching - 2016

University of Nebraska at Omaha, UNO Service Learning Academy (SLA) Faculty Fellow, Service, University - 2016

Professor Robert Ackerman Faculty Fellow of Community Engagement, Service, Community - 2020

Administrative Faculty Fellow - 2021

Selected Publications

Rodriguez-Arroyo, Sandra, Pearson, Ferial. 2020. Learning from the History of Language Oppression: Educators as Agents of Language Justice, Journal of Curriculum, Teaching, Learning and Leadership in Education, 5, 1, 28-37.

Rodriguez-Arroyo, Sandra, Vaughns, Ashley. 2015. Is service-learning the answer? Preparing teacher candidates to work with ELLs through service-learning experiences, New Waves-Educational Research and Development Journal, 18, 1, 18-35.

Pearson, Ferial, Rodriguez-Arroyo, Sandra. 2020. Even if our voices shake: Refusing to teach inside the lines, Routledge Press.

Rodriguez-Arroyo, Sandra. 2013. The never ending story of language policy in Puerto Rico, Revista Comunicación, Política y Cultura, 4, 1, 79-98.

Media Contributions

Internet Publication, UNO’s Community Engagement Spotlights, Interviewed and featured on UNO’s Community Engagement Spotlights. These spotlights include students and faculty who exemplify commitment to community engagement, representing the breadth of UNO’s involvement in various causes. Summer 2016. Available online at: http://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1002&context=engagementspotlights , 06/01/2016