Dr. Francia Martinez

Biography

Francia Martinez is an Associate Professor at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, specializing in Spanish Applied Linguistics and Language Acquisition. She was born in Cali, Colombia, known as the capital of salsa music, and earned her baccalaureate degree in Foreign Language Teaching and Education from Universidad del Valle in 2003. After moving to the United States for graduate study, she received her Ph.D. from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa in 2009. Before her current position, she worked at Ohio University as a Visiting Assistant Professor and held various administrative roles within the Spanish Language Program. At the University of Michigan-Dearborn, she teaches courses ranging from introductory to advanced Spanish, covering topics such as oral and written expression, linguistics, and foreign language methodology. Her research interests focus on Sociolinguistics, particularly examining the linguistic landscape of Hispanic communities in Detroit, Michigan, including Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, and Colombians. She has published extensively in refereed journals on topics involving language and cultural identity.

Research Interests