Karla Del Carpio Ovando

Karla Del Carpio Ovando is a Professor in the Department of World Languages and Cultures at the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Northern Colorado. She previously served as Associate Professor (2020-2024) and Assistant Professor (2014-2019) at the same institution, with earlier teaching experience at the University of Alberta and various educational institutions in Mexico.

Her educational background includes a Ph.D. in Secondary Education from the University of Alberta focusing on Spanish-Indigenous Bilingual Education in Chiapas, Mexico, an MA in Applied Linguistics from the same institution, and a BA with honors in Teaching of English as Second Language from the Autonomous University of Chiapas, Mexico.

Dr. Del Carpio's research focuses on Bilingual Bicultural Education, Spanish-Indigenous language dynamics, Preservation of Minority Languages, and Second Language Teaching methodologies. Her work particularly examines the Tsotsil language community in Mexico and draws comparative insights with the Neapolitan language community in Italy, investigating how educational systems impact linguistic human rights and cultural preservation.

Her extensive publication record demonstrates consistent scholarly output with over 25 publications since 2017, primarily focusing on indigenous language rights, bilingual education models, and cultural preservation through educational frameworks. Her research shows a clear trajectory toward increasingly influential work in international venues, including collaborations with UNESCO.

• Mexican Youth National Award for Academic Achievements 2013 (Premio Nacional de la Juventud)
• 2020 Humanities and Social Sciences Excellence in Teaching Award
• 2020-2021 Humanities and Social Sciences Diversity in the Classroom Award
• Multiple Emergent Researcher Scholarships for international conferences
• Strengthening the Indigenous Culture Award from the Government of Chiapas

Dr. Del Carpio actively engages in advising and mentoring, with a teaching approach that emphasizes creating positive learning environments that respect students' cultural and linguistic identities. Her work with UNESCO on indigenous language preservation demonstrates her commitment to applying academic research to real-world challenges in language rights and educational equity. She has developed innovative teaching methodologies that incorporate diverse activities to motivate language learners while preserving cultural heritage, positioning education as 'an excellent opportunity to respect, maintain and promote indigenous children's cultural and linguistic richness.'