Education Professor Earns U.S. Fulbright Scholar Award
Maria Teresa de la Piedra, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Teacher Education, says that she always dreamed of conducting research in her home country of Peru and teaching at her alma mater, Pontifica Universidad Católica del Peru. Starting in Fall 2025, de la Piedra will make that dream a reality as the recipient of a U.S. Fulbright Scholar Award.
De la Piedra, whose focus at UTEP includes bilingual education, translanguaging and biliteracy, will spend four months in Peru. Her work abroad will center on strengthening the preparation of teachers and social science researchers. Beyond her work with faculty, de la Piedra will also teach a graduate level course that will provide students with the opportunity to explore current theories and pedagogies in bilingual contexts in the U.S.-Mexico border and in Latin America.
“Through my research in the El Paso-Ciudad Juárez border region, as well as in Cuzco, Peru, I have identified ideologies and patterns of language use that are similar in both contexts,” said de la Piedra. “This award will give me an opportunity to use novel theoretical ideas of translanguaging in a context that I have not studied – the metropolis of Lima. I believe that research I conduct in Peru through the Fulbright Award will not only amplify my past work but also strengthen UTEP scholarship and its visibility internationally.”
The application process, which de la Piedra began over a year ago, required a research and teaching proposal, a letter of invitation from the host institution and ultimately, a recommendation from experts in her field.
“Professor de la Piedra’s achievement as Fulbright Scholar is testament to the exceptional research she conducts in drawing connections between the U.S.-Mexico border and Peru’s multilingualism,” said Clifton Tanabe, Ph.D., UTEP College of Education dean. “Her efforts in Peru will advance her scholarship but also set the table for future opportunities between students and researchers from both universities to build and share pedagogical knowledge.”
De la Piedra is one of six members of the UTEP community – four graduates, one faculty and one staff member – who were selected this year for the prestigious Fulbright program. If you are a current student or recent graduate interested in applying, contact the Office of Student Fellowships and Awards at studentfellowships@utep.edu. If you are a faculty member, information about the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program is available at fulbrightscholars.org/us-scholar-awards.
Last Updated on July 21, 2025 at 12:00 AM | Originally published July 21, 2025
By MC Staff UTEP Marketing and Communications
