Ana Irby

Ana Irby is a Professor of Spanish at Missouri Baptist University (MBU) and serves as Executive Director of a Childcare Center in South County, St. Louis. She resides in the city with her husband and children. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes language acquisition challenges, cross-cultural understanding, and fostering appreciation for global diversity through education.

Education: Ana studied at Universidad De Las Americas – Puebla in Mexico during a semester abroad. Her professional background includes teaching Spanish to students from Spanish-speaking families in the Saint Louis Public School system. She combines practical classroom experience with cultural immersion advocacy.

Research Interests: Focus on multicultural pedagogy, language acquisition strategies, and the transformative impact of study abroad programs. Encourages students to engage with diverse cultures as part of God's creation, emphasizing linguistic and cultural competency.

Advising/Grants: No formal advising or grant activities listed. Her professional energy centers on direct teaching, community childcare leadership, and promoting educational access.

Community Engagement: Leverages dual role as professor and childcare director to advocate for bilingual education and family-centered learning environments. Known for advocating intercultural empathy through language instruction.