Maria Seila Benavente

Maria Seila Benavente is a Senior Lecturer of Spanish at the University of South Carolina, located within the Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures (College of Arts and Sciences). She holds a double major in Educational Science and Psychology from the University of Oviedo (Spain), a master’s degree in 'Teaching Spanish as a Second Language' from the National Distance University (Spain), and has conducted graduate coursework in Psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Her career includes roles as a School Psychologist and Counselor in Spain’s public education system before transitioning to academia in the U.S.

• Education:
• Bachelor's: University of Oviedo (Educational Science/Psychology)
• Master's: National Distance University, Spain (Teaching Spanish as a Second Language)

Her teaching philosophy emphasizes integrating Spanish language study with personal and cultural development, fostering students' ability to 'own' the language through practical application. She has taught at Columbia College (2002) and the University of South Carolina since 2007, contributing to Spanish language instruction at both high school and college levels.