Dalia Magaña

Dalia Magaña is an Assistant Professor of Spanish Linguistics at the University of California, Merced. She holds a Ph.D. in Spanish Linguistics from the University of California, Davis. Her research focuses on Spanish language communication in medical, educational, and social contexts, particularly exploring how language use and cultural competency enhance patient-centered healthcare for Spanish speakers. She has investigated transcultural competency in doctor-patient interactions and metaphor usage in health narratives about cancer.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Spanish Linguistics, University of California, Davis

Research Interests:

• Communication in healthcare settings with Spanish-speaking patients
• Culturally embedded metaphors in health narratives
• Applied linguistics pedagogy in Spanish language education

Teaching:

• Courses include SPAN 103 (Composition/Conversation), SPAN 170 (Spanish Linguistics), and SPAN 177 (Sociolinguistics and Latino/a Health)

Labs/Teams: No specific labs mentioned, but her work intersects with health communication and applied linguistics teams.