Janet Eckerson

Dr. Janet Eckerson is an Associate Professor of Spanish and Graduate Program Chair at the University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK). She holds a Doctorate in Education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). Her professional roles include serving as President of the Nebraska International Language Association (NILA) and former President of the Nebraska Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (NATSP). She has 15 years of experience teaching Spanish in secondary schools, with a focus on heritage language learners. Her research emphasizes language pedagogy, curriculum development, and educational equity for Latinx students.

Education: Doctorate in Education from UNL, complemented by extensive K-12 teaching experience in Lincoln, Crete, and West Palm Beach, Florida. Her career transitioned from secondary education to higher education via adjunct roles before joining UNK full-time.

Research interests include foreign language teaching methods, assessment strategies, teacher professional development, and policies impacting Latinx students. She actively contributes to educational equity through initiatives like the Seal of Biliteracy program and community-focused language exchange programs.

Professional Contributions: Advocacy through leadership roles in language education organizations, development of heritage language curricula, and research into rural educational environments. Collaborates on projects enhancing international student integration through language tables and campus-community partnerships.

Labs/Teams: Engaged with UNK’s Modern Languages department initiatives and professional networks like NILA, focusing on policy advocacy and pedagogical innovation.