About
Paula Gutierrez serves as Senior Lecturer and Lower Division and Placement Coordinator in the Department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures at Pitzer College, where she has held academic appointments since 2009. An ACTFL OPI Tester with Full Certification, she oversees lower-division Spanish language instruction and the Conversation and Tutoring program while maintaining active office hours.
Her academic credentials include:
- BA from Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
- MA and CPhil from University of California, San Diego
Research centers on pedagogical innovation for Spanish heritage learners and community-based language acquisition, complemented by sociological investigations of Latin American political movements, human rights frameworks, and cultural memory practices. Her scholarship bridges classroom methodology with real-world social justice contexts through courses like Spanish in the Community (Span 100) and Contemporary Resistances in Latin America (Span 137).
Professional development highlights include multiple ACTFL assessment workshops and UCLA's National Heritage Language Teacher Training program, reflecting continuous engagement with language education standards. She actively shapes curriculum through courses such as Advanced Spanish for Heritage Speakers (Span 050) and Community-Based Spanish Practicum (Span 031).
