Genesis D. Arizmendi

Genesis D. Arizmendi, PhD, CCC-SLP, is an Assistant Professor at the University of Arizona with joint appointments in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences and Cognitive Science. She directs the Bilingualism and the Brain in Education and Language (BABEL) Lab, focusing on mitigating educational disparities in Spanish-English speaking communities through interdisciplinary research. Her work integrates implementation science to address systemic challenges in bilingual child development, academic achievement, and language policy.

Education & Training:

• PhD in Speech-Language Pathology
• Postdoctoral training in Educational Psychology (University of New Mexico)
• Postdoctoral work in Special Education (University of Texas at Austin)

Research Interests: Dr. Arizmendi examines how policy and social contexts shape bilingual development and educational outcomes. Her studies investigate the intersection of cognition, language, and academic performance in bilingual children with diverse learning profiles, including those with developmental language disorder or math difficulties. Key themes include working memory systems, cross-language influence, and culturally sustainable instructional practices.

Advising & Advocacy: As a clinician-scientist, she emphasizes community-centered science to drive equitable policies. Her lab collaborates with schools and healthcare systems to develop interventions targeting multilingual learners' academic and cognitive needs.

Labs/Teams: Director of the BABEL Lab, which bridges research, education, and clinical practice to empower bilingual communities.