David Engel

David Engel is Senior Instructor I in Spanish and Interim Program Coordinator for American Studies and Liberal Studies at Oregon State University-Cascades. He has been teaching Spanish language courses at the 100 and 200 levels since 2015 and is actively involved in curriculum development, faculty leadership, and community engagement. He co-directs the Faculty Support Center, serves as a Unit Representative on the Academic Faculty Council, and is a fellow with the OSU Center for Teaching and Learning. He also advises the Spanish and Culture Club.

David Engel earned his M.A. in Spanish Language Teaching from Southern Oregon University and Universidad de Guanajuato, a Diploma in Spanish as a Foreign Language from the Cervantes Institute in Madrid, a Master of Divinity from Denver Seminary, and certifications in Catalan and Outdoor Leadership from institutions in Spain.

His research and teaching focus on integrating literature and authentic cultural materials into Spanish language acquisition. He advocates for immersive, student-centered pedagogy that connects classroom learning with real-world communication and community engagement. His work emphasizes cultural understanding, equity, and experiential learning through travel and service projects.

David has been recognized with several honors, including the OSU-Cascades Bend Beavs Culture Award (2022), the COCC Faculty Achievement Award as Part Time Instructor of the Year (2017), and the Robert G. Mead, Jr. Travel and Research Scholarship (2016). He has presented at national and regional conferences such as AATSP, COFLT, WAFLT, and LATINA.

He co-founded Ventanas, LLC, which leads cultural immersion programs in Spain and Portugal, and has provided Spanish instruction and translation services to numerous organizations across Central Oregon. He has led service-learning trips to Honduras, Mexico, the Navajo Reservation, and urban Los Angeles, reflecting his commitment to global citizenship and community-based education.

David is also the instructional coordinator for COSSI (Central Oregon Summer Spanish Immersion Program) since its inception in 2016 and contributed to the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese’s Statement on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion through his service on the Higher Education Committee.