Diana Ruggiero is Associate Professor of Spanish at the University of Memphis where she specializes in world languages for specific purposes (WLSP) and community service learning. She teaches Spanish for healthcare, Spanish for commerce, Spanish for community engagement and Spanish for medical translation and interpretation. Dr. Ruggiero's graduate course on teaching Spanish for specific purposes is a methodology course that prepares future language teachers to teach WLSP and Spanish for the professions. Her research interests to date include WLSP, heritage language learners, cultural competence and intercultural sensitivity development, service-learning project design and assessment, language interpreting and body language, and issues and methods in WLSP, L2 and heritage language learner pedagogy. Other research interests include Afro-Hispanic literature and fitness access and wellness among underserved populations in Memphis. Dr. Ruggiero's contributions to the academic community are recognized by her many awards, including a University of Memphis Strengthening Communities, Capacity Building Grant and several research travel awards. Dr. Ruggiero's research appears in the Cuadernos de ALDEEU, Revista Signos, Revista de lenguas para fines específicos, Journal of Languages for Specific Purposes, Global Business Languages, ADFL Bulletin, Hispania, and Latin American Music Review among other peer-reviewed journals and edited volumes. 

Diana Ruggiero

Associate Professor of Spanish

PHONE
901.678.2507
EMAIL
dmrggero@memphis.edu