Ada Zamarripa

Ada Zamarripa is a Lecturer in the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), within the College of Liberal and Fine Arts. She serves as Director of La Comunidad, LLC, an initiative focused on supporting Heritage Spanish learners through community engagement and cultural empowerment. Zamarripa earned her Master's (2022) and Bachelor's (2019) degrees in Spanish from UTSA, with a minor in Education.

• Lecturer in Modern Languages and Literatures
• Director of La Comunidad, LLC
• Specializes in Heritage Spanish education

Her research interests center on Heritage language pedagogy, cultural advocacy, and community-based educational models. Zamarripa has received grants through the Student Experience Project (SEP) and the First-Year Student Experience and Faculty Engagement program, totaling $2,500 since 2022. She is actively involved in national symposia and digital humanities conferences related to Spanish heritage education.

Recent presentations include:

• "Preservando y empoderando: OER en español como Lengua de Herencia" (2023, San Luis Potosí)
• "Agentes Comunitarios y Culturales..." (2024, Texas A&M San Antonio)
• "La Comunidad: Engaging Heritage Spanish Learners..." (2024, TeCHs Summer Workshop)

Zamarripa's work emphasizes connecting Heritage learners with cultural resources and academic pathways. She combines curriculum development (e.g., "Spanish for Heritage" courses) with community-building strategies, focusing on the unique experiences of students from diverse backgrounds.