Welcome to my personal webpage! Feel free to explore the various areas of this site at your leisure. Please note that access to some areas is restricted and requires registration. Please click on the link/email me if you need access to any restricted content on this site. Just don't be a snoop. If you have a question, feel free to ask. I have nothing to hide.
Over the last couple of years, I have been actively engaged in research on the acquisition of the velarized [l] allophone in learners of English as a second-language: (L1 Spanish-L2 English), as well as the salience of this allophone in the perception of native English speakers. My research covers other, related areas of language acquisition in both early and late bilinguals, in light of universal language constraints and markedness constraints.
I recently presented some of my research into velarized lateral liquids among L1 Spanish-L2 English for the M/MLA Conference at the Union Station Marriot in St. Louis, Missouri. It was an elightening experience on a number of levels, a great weekend, and all of it in a city (and hotel) with fascinating historical significance. Having grown up in Chicago, Illinois, it was nice to be able to see my home state again, albeit across the Mississippi River from where I was staying.
I am currently working as adjunct professor of English at the University of Miami, Broward College, and Miami-Dade College. I was employed by Miami-Dade College as a College Prep Lab Coordinator for over eight years (though I have worked there in one capacity or another for almost fifteen years at this point). It was an experience that has taught me much about people. I began as a part-time English tutor for the English as a Second Language program (now the English for Academic Purposes program), and later as an adjunct professor once I completed my Bachelor's degree (and later my Master's degree). I continue to teach various classes as an adjunct now for both the College Prep Department and the EAP Department at the College, and my reputation there is still as strong and positive as ever.
My children are my greatest interest at present. I intend to post an online photo album of my children and my interests as soon as I can find some free time to do so. I am also a musician. I have played drums and percussion since the age of nine. I can't imagine life without music. I am an avid organic gardener, I love to cook for my family and friends. As for my reading interests, I've had a strange private passion for American Revolutionary War history for several years now, but as a former literature major, I love the masters of American fiction too. As an undergraduate, I double-majored in English Literature and Philosophy, so I have a vast collection of philosophical texts to choose from, though I generally prefer social-political philosophy, postmodernism, and existentialism. Naturally, I try to keep up with current research in the field of linguistics as well by reading professional journals and other related publications as well.
As an interesting sidenote, I once worked as an intern at Crescent Moon Recording Studios in Miami, owned by the amazing and highly-talented Estefan family, under the tutelege of Eric Schilling, recording engineer of such greats as The Eagles and David Bowie (in addition to his numerous successes with various other acts, including, of course, Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine).