Investing in Education with Adjunct Professor of Macroeconomics Karla Soria Barreto

Karla Soria Barreto is a Peruvian national living in Chile, and for the past year now, an adjunct professor of macroeconomics for Empire State University’s Spanish BBA program. While her arrival in the world of teaching was circumstantial, in it, she found a true vocation for shaping the minds of learners.

“You become a role model for young people. It’s something to take on with great responsibility,” states Soria, who, as an educator, aims to challenge her students academically but remain a figure of support. The key to maintaining this balance? Sensitivity for the competing priorities students may have, and how those can affect their academic performance.

Originally from Lima, Peru, Soria has resided in Chile for the past 33 years—first in Santiago, for her bachelor’s degree, and then in Coquimbo, where she joined Universidad Católica del Norte. Her appreciation for the variety of Spanish-language dialects, and for linguistic diversity at large, stems from her experience of different geographic contexts.

Since 2024, she has been actively involved in shaping Spanish BBA course modules, particularly Introduction to Macroeconomics. The course, which was sourced from the English-language BBA program at SUNY Empire, has been adapted into Spanish and tailored to reflect cultural distinctions. Its asynchronous format, as with all Spanish BBA courses, is meant to decrease obstacles to learning so students may balance academic coursework with other responsibilities.

When asked about the possibilities of bilingualism for students, Soria explains that “English is the language of science… it gives you a global vision of the world.” At the same time, “Spanish is also a major language. It facilitates communication across almost all of the Americas,” she says. Combining both languages makes for a well-rounded perspective, along with the ability to reach across borders and cultures.

Education shapes lives. In this truth, Soria discovered the value of being an educator, which sustains her passion for teaching to this day. “I first came to teaching without much planning, but one learns to value the impact they can make,” she comments. To Soria, being a professor is much like polishing diamonds in the rough in the hopes of helping students discover fulfilling career paths.

A crucial component of her role in that process is providing encouragement— “A motivated student learns,” she explains, “Students value and mirror your attitude, development, and skills.” Hence, she does her best to lead by example in the classroom, and demonstrate the investment in course content she hopes to inspire in each student.

This trajectory is not without its challenges. “The generational gap keeps growing,” says Soria, “we must try to speak their language to truly connect.” Considering this obstacle to connecting with students, she believes “we have to give them a differentiating factor,” something that helps students believe and become invested in their own academic journeys.

“Economics teaches you that there are multiple needs and limited resources—you must be efficient. Nothing is free; every decision has an opportunity cost,” says Soria. This is why she believes the discipline of economics is an important one to study—beyond achieving an understanding of supply and demand, or understanding tariffs, it contains valuable lessons applicable to the everyday.

To Soria, SUNY Empire’s Spanish BBA—with its international faculty and ability to accommodate diverse students regardless of location—represents a chance to advance and strengthen multiculturalism in higher education. “Education drives progress. It allows people to improve their quality of life,” she says. “Opportunities come only once; you have to take the challenge and move forward. What better way to learn than in your native language?” she adds, encouragingly.

Soria’s own academic formation in economics guides her perspective to this day. One of the most important insights she has derived from her field is “to value everything you receive.” To students, current and future, she says: “Education is the path toward greater wellbeing. Learning stays within you.”