In this post we’ll introduce you to a new member of the Middlebury College staff. Please join us as we welcome Sonja to campus!

On April 1, 2016, Sonja Burrows joined the Instructional Design team in the Office of the Associate Provost for Digital Learning, where she provides guidance and support for digital projects across the institution with particular focus on the Language Schools and Schools Abroad. As a language educator, second language acquisition scholar, and digital language-learning expert, Sonja brings to her work an on-the-ground understanding of the diverse ways in which digital projects can amplify language and cultural learning environments.

Prior to joining the Office of Digital Learning, Sonja developed curricula for summer language academies as well as digital language courses at Middlebury Interactive Languages. She also taught Spanish both at Middlebury College and the University of Oregon, where she developed a specialization in Spanish Heritage Language pedagogy. A self-described language geek and cultural scholar, Sonja has lived, worked, and taught in five countries outside of the United States. She speaks English and Spanish, some Italian and French, and aspires to learn Portuguese.

Sonja holds a Ph.D. in Romance Languages from the University of Oregon, as well as Master’s degrees in Spanish literature from the University of Oregon and in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) from the School for International Training. Her fields of expertise and scholarly research aim to bridge the disciplinary gaps between literature and linguistics, and include Spanish Heritage Language pedagogy, Spanish in the U.S., and English-Spanish bilingualism.