Mary Ellen Kohn Buday

Mary Ellen Kohn Buday is an Associate Professor in the School of Arts and Sciences at Mount Mary University. With a Ph.D. in Spanish from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, she specializes in language acquisition and cultural education. Her work emphasizes student engagement through classroom teaching, academic advising, and study abroad programs.

• Education:
  • B.A. in Spanish, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (1982)
  • M.A. in Foreign Languages and Literature, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (1985)
  • Ph.D. in Spanish, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (1994)
• Research Interests:

  Focuses on second-language acquisition strategies, particularly aligning L2 curriculum with L1 acquisition patterns. Develops innovative pedagogical approaches through play-acting techniques for linguistic analysis and promotes cultural immersion through street-level language studies. Advocates for experiential learning models to attract non-majors to study abroad programs.

• Awards & Grants:
  • Recipient of the Mount Mary University Teaching Excellence Award (2013)
  • Received mini-grants and first-time attendee scholarships for conferences
• Professional Engagement:

  Active member of the Modern Language Association, Midwest Modern Language Association, American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese, American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, and Wisconsin Association for Language Teachers. Presented at multiple conferences on topics related to language pedagogy and cultural education.