Sergio Loza

Sergio Loza is an Assistant Professor of Spanish Linguistics and Director of the Spanish Heritage Language Program at the University of Oregon, within the Department of Romance Languages in the School of Global Studies and Languages. He joined the University of Oregon in fall 2019 and has established himself as a leading scholar in Spanish heritage language education.

• Ph.D. in Spanish, Arizona State University (2019)
• B.A. in Spanish Linguistics and English Literature, Arizona State University (2013)

Dr. Loza's research reflects current efforts within the field of Spanish as a Heritage Language to develop and assess instructional interventions that directly respond to the disparities that U.S. Latinx people (SHL learners) have historically faced both within and outside of language education. His work centers on three main areas: 1) language ideologies, 2) critical language awareness (CLA), and 3) oral corrective feedback (OCF). He argues that the experiences of SHL learners are essential for uncovering gaps in language teaching knowledge and that applying critical frameworks of language ideology and pedagogy can help develop transformative teaching approaches.

His publications reveal a strong focus on critical approaches to heritage language education, with particular attention to linguistic equity, language ideologies, and pedagogical practices that honor the linguistic varieties spoken by heritage learners. A notable trend in his recent work is the expansion of critical language awareness beyond the classroom into broader institutional and community contexts.

• Faculty Research Fellowship, Oregon Humanities Center, UO, AY 2023-2024
• Global School of Languages Summer Curriculum Innovation Award (2023)
• College of Arts and Sciences Dean's Diversity Equity and Inclusion Grant (2023)

Dr. Loza actively mentors graduate and undergraduate students, serving as advisor for PhD candidates, MA theses, and honors theses. His grant work includes research on Latinx heritage in Oregon and combating raciolinguistic discrimination. He has received several grants supporting his research on heritage language education and diversity initiatives.

As Director of the Spanish Heritage Language Program, Dr. Loza oversees a program dedicated to providing high-quality educational experiences for Latine students, validating Spanish language use in the U.S. context, and fostering students' critical understanding of language-power relationships. The program emphasizes the connection between language and identity, explores topics related to students' cultural backgrounds, and engages students in community learning.